Creative Winnipeg forward Milambo commits to Griffins after leaving lasting impression at WCSG
Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Flash back to the summer of 2019 with Adam Loga's Team Alberta preparing for the challenge that Team Manitoba would present in the boys soccer final at the Western Canada Summer Games.
Video preparation for him and fellow Alberta coach Chris McKaig led them to an urgent conclusion: they had to find a way to limit creative Manitoba forward Issac Milambo.
Alberta did well enough in that regard to win 2-1, but the gold medal wasn't the only lasting memory that stuck with Loga from that August day in Swift Current, Sask.
The play of Milambo wouldn't leave his mind.
Fortunately, he won't need to rely on a memory to see the Winnipeg product's play as Loga announced Thursday that the talented striker has committed to the MacEwan Griffins for the 2021 Canada West season.
"We just knew he'd cause us problems defensively, so we had to adjust," explained Loga of the Western Canada Summer Games. "We played with a back four, so we had to make adjustments accordingly.
"It was interesting because our (Alberta) women's coach (Jordan Stewart, one of Loga's former assistants with the Griffins) was watching the video for our final, too, and I was on a call with him last month, and I said, 'remember that No. 7 from Manitoba in our gold medal game?' He was like, 'yeah.' 'Well, we just signed him.'
"He even remembered him. So he clearly leaves an impression. We're pretty excited about (his addition)."
Milambo was born in Burundi, but grew up in Winnipeg, attending Glenlawn Collegiate high school – the alma mater of current Griffins Evan Berube and Nick Stefansson.
"He's very athletic, he's fast, he's strong," said Loga. "What I like about him is he competes. He just competes and works so hard.
"His level of compete is something we've sometimes missed in the past as a collective group. We're hoping that attitude can be contagious throughout the room."
A former member of the Vancouver Whitecaps residency program, Milambo has been recently training with FC Manitoba (USL League 2).
"I think his style of play will fit the Canada West style very well," said Loga. "He's big, strong, pacey and it's a very athletic conference. He'll fit in very well.
"Hopefully he can keep progressing. He still has aspirations in the game. With the CPL (Canadian Premier League) and U SPORTS draft, there is that pathway for him. Obviously, he's gained some solid experience being in a pro environment with the Whitecaps and we're aiming to help him get to the next level."
