ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (August 29, 2019) – The kid from Toronto is quiet and reserved in day-to-day life. In interviews, you have to ask him to speak up so the microphone can catch his words.
But when he’s on the field, the kid from Toronto is loud and expressive.
Malik Johnson stole the show Saturday night in a 5-0 win over Memphis 901 FC in the latest excellent performance of his first season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He’s transitioned to a new role, playing as a wingback, and has three goals and five assists in 14 matches.
The bigger transition, though, was signing with the Rowdies in the first place.
Johnson grew up in Toronto and joined the Toronto FC Academy as a teenager. Eventually, he signed a professional contract and joined Toronto FC II for four seasons in the USL Championship. When his contract ended last year, Johnson had options. He could have remained with TFC II as they dropped to USL League One or he could have explored opportunities in the brand-new Canadian Premier League.
Johnson knew he needed a change though. He didn’t plan on spending his whole life in his hometown. At some point, he was going to have to leave.
When the Rowdies called, things fell into place. It turns out calling a Canadian in winter and offering them the chance to move to Florida is pretty appealing.
“I was really excited for the chance to sign here,” Johnson said. “I knew I needed a change and what’s not to love about the Rowdies? It’s a club with history that plays a style I enjoy. I spoke with the coaches and we decided it was the right fit. St. Pete is a great place, Tampa is great and I’m just enjoying my time.”
Johnson arrived in Tampa Bay eager to make a good impression with his new teammates. Unfortunately, less than a week after camp opened, Johnson suffered a torn rotator cuff that required surgery. He was sidelined for nearly four months before returning to action May 25 in a win over the Swope Park Rangers.
Three days later, he made his first start of the season in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match in Oklahoma. Less than 10 minutes in, Johnson was on the receiving end of a swinging elbow that broke his nose. No foul was called on the play and Johnson was forced out of the match visibly upset.
Determined not to let another injury cost him game time, Johnson was fitted with a protective mask and fought on to start a game just three days later in Birmingham, notching his first assist in Rowdies colors.
He played angry that night and he’s played angry ever since.
“It’s just passion for the game,” Johnson said. “I’m pretty quiet off the field but I just love playing the game and I really enjoy myself once I get on the field.”
That passion has helped motivate Johnson.
He played as a winger in Toronto and has had to adjust his game slightly, moving to a wingback spot and adding more defensive work to his play. The move has been wildly successful with Johnson scoring three goals and adding five assists in 14 games this year. All that despite being a 21-year old living in a foreign country away from his family for the first time.
Johnson figures to be a key player for the Rowdies as the regular season winds down and Tampa Bay heads toward a potential postseason berth. The Rowdies are in second place with nine games left, starting with a heavyweight bout against third place Nashville SC on Saturday night.
