Tiger In Training: Malik Pinto Spends Preseason With FC Cincinnati
4/7/2021
A defensive midfielder’s best skill is often their versatility. Coaches will ask their middies to adapt to the run of play, adjust assignments on the fly and be ready to make an impact in all thirds.
Given the positional requirements needed to excel on the field, it is no surprise that Malik Pinto made the best of the upheaval COVID-19 has caused. The first-year player for Jim Barlow has adapted and adjusted as expected, pivoting into a unique “internship” – training with FC Cincinnati’s first team ahead of the 2021 MLS season.
Pinto had planned to be on campus with his teammates this past fall even after the 2020 season was cancelled. However, when the University decided that the entire campus would be closed, Pinto found a home in “The Queen City” where he played for FC Cincinnati’s U19 team in MLS Next.
“When the situation on campus this fall changed, I had a chance to turn a negative situation into a positive one,” said Pinto. “Over the summer, some Academy teams had inquired about my plans but I was committed to being on campus and building a relationship with my teammates. Once that option was removed, my dad suggested calling some of those teams back and gauging if the opportunity was still available. Things clicked with FC Cincinnati and I am glad they did.”
Pinto started seven games with the U19 team, balancing his remote class work with soccer. Eventually, his efforts on the field – three goals and two assists from his defensive midfield spot – caught the eye of the first team technical staff and an invite was extended to train with the club ahead of the MLS season. After clearing protocols with Princeton’s compliance and academics staff, Pinto was one of two Academy players who joined FC Cincinnati for a few early training sessions in Ohio before the club moved preseason preparations in earnest to Orlando.
“It’s obviously a thought we all have as players,” Pinto said when asked if he envisioned a call coming to train with the pros. “The staff talks about progressing players to the first team field so you know that reward is there if you put in the work. I was focused on doing my best in academics and on the field and letting everything else take care of itself. I knew that gaining experience with pros would be valuable for me personally but also to share these experiences with teammates as we prepare for the fall.”
The Young Garys protected their den against @MichWolves1974 taking all 18 points from 6 matches on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/ty4dGk6FVp
— FC Cincinnati Academy (@FCCincyAcademy) September 27, 2020
So how does an 18-year old college freshman acclimate himself to a team of professional athletes preparing for a season? By relying on some of the skills that got him there in the first place – adaptability and balance.
“Everyone involved was great at making the situation as manageable as possible for me,” he said. “The staff at Princeton – both the coaches and administrators – worked to make sure everything was okay from their standpoint. And the technical staff at FC Cincinnati respected my schedule of having to balance school and training. They wanted me to learn and improve as much as I could and help the club prepare for the MLS season while balancing everything.”
Pinto hasn’t missed academic requirements and didn’t miss any training with the MLS club while managing a full schedule that started with an early breakfast before 9:00 class. After shutting down Zoom and virtual learning, he’d head out to the field for training before lunch. Then, the laptop would be fired back up for an afternoon class which was followed by homework, dinner and evening soccer requirements with FC Cincinnati.
Any downtime in that busy schedule was spent connecting with family – both at home in Durham, N.C. and the Princeton Soccer family he is still getting acclimated with.
“The passion for soccer I have starts with my family,” Pinto said from home in Durham during a break from training. “My parents were both collegiate athletes at UNC – my dad played soccer and my mom played softball. There has also been just as much of a focus on academics. The expectation in our family is that you give your best in both.”
With his older sister, Brianna, finishing her collegiate career with the Tar Heels this season and older brother, Hassan, preparing for the upcoming USL season with Loudoun United FC there was plenty of time spent on supporting each other during unique situations.
“It’s been a tough year, but that’s been the case for all of us in our family and around the world,” said Pinto. “You put things in perspective and focus on the positives. We’re fortunate to have Brianna chasing a national championship and a future professional career while Hassan is in the beginning stages of his pro run. We all support each other and push each other.”
The same support and push are true of Pinto’s Princeton Soccer family. Despite being spread out across the globe this year, the Tigers have focused on setting in place the building blocks required to return to campus in championship form.
“We have stayed connected like everyone else does these days, through Facetime and Zoom,” he said. “At the same time, we cannot wait to be together on campus. Everyone is dialed in for that first day of training. The coaches and upperclassmen have shown tremendous leadership and continue to set the tone. We expect to be fit and playing at a high level right out of the gate.”
Until then, Pinto will return to Cincinnati to resume his MLS Next schedule. He’ll continue to balance his remote classes with the FC Cincinnati U19 team and any opportunities to train with the first team that come up. And he’ll be undaunted every step of the way.
“Being an 18-year old player, I had the mindset that going up against players twice my age didn’t change my approach too much,” he said. “If I am at the proper level ‘up here’ in my mind, I shouldn’t be at much of a difference physically. At the end of the day, it’s still soccer.”
