Ten is a Magic Number for Toshi Davis and Ristozi FC
By Sean Maslin/NPSL.com
It is not easy being ten. Whether it is in soccer or in life, the number carries a great level of respect to it but also expectations with it as well. In a sport where physical play is increasingly taking over the special game, having a number ten gives a team an advantage an ace in the hole especially in critical moments.
That advantage for Ristozi FC this season has been in the form of Toshi Davis. He joined the team early in the season after playing for Annapolis Blues FC and has helped the expansion NPSL team explode in their first season. The Baltimore-based side placed second in the Mid-Atlantic Conference regular season earning an 8-0-2 record on 26 points. Their strong run of form has continued into the playoffs, booking victories over Alexandria Reds (2-1), Virginia Dream FC (2-1), Jackson Lions FC (3-0), and West Chester United SC (2-1) to earn their spot in the NPSL National Semifinals.
Ristozi will face Hickory FC in the NPSL National Semifinals at 7:00 pm on Saturday.
For Davis, the club’s success starts with the coaching staff.
“I have to look at our staff first when I hear that [the club’s success],” he said. “Our team is allowed a high level of freedom to play within the system they design. We are able to show our strength and the areas that we excel in but they will also call us out if we are doing things that don’t have a purpose. I think we are given a structure that benefits all of us. We are very lucky to have the staff that we have and especially since the playoffs have started everyone has been on the same page and we have been on a good run.”
Their style of play has greatly aided their efforts throughout the season, with the coaching staff giving the players a high level of flexibility within a 4-4-2 framework.
“We are very compact defensively in a 4-4-2 formation, and I push up with Toga [Katsuma], who has been amazing this season,” he said. “We are playing a two top [style] in defense with the both of us pressing together. Then we have Taichi [Nogami] and Yosuke [Ohno], our two center midfielders that hold it down for us. They communicate so much for us which help us press. I mean honestly without them we would be kind of disorganized in the press. So when we play a 4-4-2 defensively and then offensively we just let loose. I’ll drop down a lot and just try to find pockets of space.”
Playing as a number ten is something that Davis is certainly familiar with and relishes. Growing up his favorite player was Isco, the sleek pacey midfielder that led Real Madrid to three La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns.
“I feel like that is a rare favorite player for a little kid to have,” he said. “I have always had a lot of admiration for players who have a smaller size and that you know have to use everything possible to be creative and express themselves. I’ve always tried to find little opportunities to showcase the creative side of the game, even though I know the game of soccer is changing a lot and it is way more physically demanding.”
Isco’s influence at the ten position has paid off handsomely for Ristozi, including Davis setting up Josh Petty for the eventual game-winning goal against West Chester United.
“In the ten position, our coaching staff really lets me interpret the game,” he said. “If I am having a good day then Toga plays off of me. He does a good job of kind of seeing where I go and then basing his movement off of that. Like I said earlier, I am super lucky to have these teammates that understand what I want to do and then vice versa. I try to do my best to match my play with what they are thinking as well and it has really worked out well for us. Especially since the playoffs have started, we have really found our rhythm.”
That rhythm is also a byproduct of many of the players having played with or against one another throughout their youth and collegiate careers. Many of Ristozi’s players come from the Baltimore-Washington D.C.-Virginia Metro area, including Davis who played club soccer at the Bethesda Soccer Club and currently features for American University.
“Growing up, there were so many good clubs in the area,” he said. “I feel like no matter where you live in the area you can pick a great club with great coaches. All the coaches that I have had up to this point have been great and helped me grow as a player. Throughout my career, including college, I have stayed somewhat local and so I have played a lot of pick-up in the offseason and I have seen that there is so much talent across all the age groups. The level of talent is just super consistent. So why does this area have so much talent? I can’t think of one specific reason but I know we are just lucky to have it.”
Outside of the pitch, Davis is finishing up his collegiate career at American University where he is majoring in sociology. After college, Davis wants to serve in the Peace Corps and give back to the community.
“What I would like to do after my service is come back and use that experience to help any sort of community in need,” he said. “I don’t have a specific path yet but I would really like to help fulfill my goal of helping others.”
For right now, Davis and the focus of Ristozi is on Hickory and their next match. For Davis, much like how the requirements of the ten position itself, confidence is key.
“The most important thing is to play with confidence,” he said. “The staff gives us a lot of film and we have training tonight and Thursday night as well. We’ll do everything we can to prepare physically and mentally, but every individual player needs to have the same confidence that we’ve had since we’ve been in the playoffs.”
In addition to keeping their edge, keeping the same level of energy that they have had throughout the playoffs is critical.
“I keep mentioning it but we have picked it up another gear during the playoffs,” he said. “Something has clicked recently, and we have been able to enjoy the game the right way. It is supposed to be fun at the end of the day but it is even more fun with results. Hopefully we can keep our same form and everyone’s on the same page with our substitutes playing great as well. We are really looking forward to the next game.”
Photo Credit: Matt Ralph/NPSL.com
