Jonathan David and Promise David dey part of Canada squad wey go make noise for 2026 FIFA World Cup. Since Canada be co-host of di tournament, na special opportunity for everybody wey make di roster. Canada journey go start on Friday, June 12 at home for Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At least one of dia players wit di surname David go play big part. But many fans dey ask: dem be related? Di answer na no. Di two players wey share di same last name no be family. Jonathan heritage trace to Haiti, while Promise get Nigerian background.
But dem get plenty for common. Dem both be forwards for Canada for World Cup, wey be big deal. Di coolest overlap na dia club soccer upbringing for Belgium. Jonathan play for Gent before moving to Lille for France and then Juventus for Italy. Promise dey on di first step of dat journey now, playing for Union SG for Belgium.
Jonathan David high school teacher no remember am ever taking lunch break. Dat na because di budding soccer star never want to leave di training dome. Joé Fournier, program director and head coach of di Louis Riel Soccer Academy, talk say: “If e no be for us kicking am out of di dome, I no sure e go don go im classes. E go take as much time as possible to play soccer.”
David get Haitian parents. E spend im early years for Haiti before im family move to Ottawa when e be six years old. Dat na where e begin im path to become Canada all-time men leading scorer on di cusp of playing for im second World Cup.
David start playing soccer at age 10 for Gloucester Dragons Soccer Club. At 11, e join Ottawa Gloucester SC Hornets. E also play for Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club and represent Canada at under-17 level. When im U15 Hornets beat Ottawa South United Force for di first time, David tell local outlet Ottawa Sports Pages say “big crowd” dey. E yarn say: “E intense, dis rivalry. We know you got to come in hard, play physical and we do wetin we get to do to get di win.”
For high school, David be student for Louis Riel sports study program, where athletes fit take part for high-level training during school hours as part of adapted gym class. Vanessa Gilles, Olympic champion wit Canada women soccer team, attend di same school.
Fournier yarn say David ultimate goal na always to play soccer for Europe. “Everything wey e do na to go Europe,” e tok. A trial wit KAA Gent for Belgium come for 2017 after scout see am for video. E go Belgium two times dat year, spend time wit di second team before earning full-time invitation. David wait until e turn 18 for January 2018 before e fit sign pro contract.
For August 2020, David make di move to France Lille for reported transfer fee of 30 million euros. Last summer, e sign five-year contract wit storied Italian club Juventus. Now, David set to represent im country again when co-host Canada kick off dia World Cup on Friday against Bosnia-Herzegovina for Toronto.
Canada roster get 13 players wey represent di country for 2022 World Cup for Qatar, including David. Fournier say e notice from David first tryout from di high school program say e be “special player.” “Just di way e move, di way e use space, di way e position imself, im body profile, you fit tell say e understand di game,” Fournier tok. “E just be im soccer IQ, you fit tell right away say e understand di game and want to learn.”
Fournier describe David as quiet and reserved student wey dey unleash for di soccer pitch. “Di memory wey I get of am wen e no dey on di field na say im friends go dey goof around and e go just dey for background laughing quietly,” e yarn. “E dey shy, but wen e dey on di field, dat na where e dey have fun. Wen e dey on di field, e be beast.”
