Returning to school after playing pro, Fayia making an impact with the Griffins and in the community

EDMONTON – Showing his character by giving back to the community that helped him, T-Boy Fayia took on his first coaching job in May.

Alongside fellow Griffins teammate Jason Vuzi, they were at the helm of the U14 boys Free Play squad.

In his youth, the MacEwan fullback got his start in soccer through Free Footie, so it was a full circle experience for him.

"I think it's important," said Fayia. "You've always got to give back to your community and give back to the organizations that helped you. Free Footie was one of them. I played it in school, and it was an amazing program. After school, you got to go play other schools and see how good other players were, and get the team feeling. You get to meet teammates and be around high-level players from other schools. It was a great experience. 

"Giving kids the opportunity to do that who don't really have a chance is important. Every kid should have a team bonding, team experience to know you've got people behind you who actually care about you."

They were one of the only Free Play teams to go to provincials.

"It was a great opportunity for me," said Fayia. "I never knew I would like coaching like that. 

"I think Free Play is an amazing organization and I loved working with the kids. I was just super proud of my boys. I hope I can go back and do it again."

Fayia will lead the Griffins into home action this weekend when they host Saskatchewan on Saturday and Lethbridge on Sunday (both 12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish Dome, Canada West TV).

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 T-Boy Fayia takes to the air to intercept a ball against Alberta last Saturday (Norman Bo photo).

Coaching has given Fayia yet another perspective on a life full of his share of different experiences over the years. 

After growing his love of the game through Strikers and Sherwood Park Phoenix soccer clubs, he was scouted to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps along with fellow St. Nicholas Soccer Academy member Alphonso Davies, who needs no introduction.

"We went there together," said Fayia, who was in Grade 8 and Davies in Grade 9 at the time. "I remember our flight. My uncle still has a picture of us together on our flight. We went there just two guys dreaming about making pro. 

"Obviously, he went crazy. He went there and had the vision and the dream. He was grinding. I remember going to some of his games when my games weren't going on. I went to watch him during Youth Academy, and he was going crazy. He was scoring goals and just moved up so quickly. We were there a year, and he was already playing second team. 

"You could see it. He wanted to be pro, and he did it. It was amazing to watch."

He's still in group chats and in fantasy soccer leagues with the Team Canada star, who is regarded as one of the best fullbacks in the world.

Fayia had his shot at pro soccer, too, playing in the Canadian Premier League for FC Edmonton during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. But when the club folded, he decided to go back to school, joining the Griffins ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Because of a rule that prevents pro players 20 years old and older (as of Aug. 16 of that year) from playing in U SPORTS within a full calendar year, he was ineligible to play for the Griffins until Oct. 14, 2023, so he saw five games of action at the end of the team's regular season.

 After two seasons of pro with FC Edmonton, T-Boy Fayia made his U SPORTS debut on Oct. 14, 2023 against Calgary in the Edmonton Scottish Dome (Joel Kingston photo).

Set to play a full slate in 2024, Fayia unfortunately suffered an injury that limited him to just three games.

That takes us to Year 3 of his time at MacEwan where he's already been impactful. Logging a full 90 minutes against Alberta last Saturday, Fayia was a big reason why the Griffins emerged with a point from a 2-2 draw, locking down attackers, sticking tackles, winning battles and driving play.

"He's been nursing a little bit of an injury, so for him to play at that level in the heat on Saturday was great," said Griffins head coach Adam Loga. "I thought Saturday was one of his best games, if not the best game he's played at MacEwan. 

"It was tough for him to find his foot off the bounce coming here from the CPL. Life was a big change – back to school, had played pro and was at the Whitecaps before in Vancouver, so everything looked like a pretty clear path that footy was going to be his life. Then to have the setback and to find himself over the last two-and-a-half years, it's been great, in terms of his maturity and what he brings to the team. 

"Great spirit to him – hilarious, funny guy. He does a lot of great work in the community, as well. Just an awesome guy."

Fayia said he's learning to listen to his body and the Griffins Athletic Therapy staff as he aims to stay healthy and on the field.

"It's a really demanding league and it goes by fast, too," he said. "It's back-to-back games, so it's really demanding on the body. I think I'm now listening to my body more, just doing the right things before games, just eating right, and just talking to the physios. We have amazing physios who take care of every detail, so checking in with them every game and after every practice what I can do to help out the team."

Fayia's presence, like that of Chance Carter and Ali Yildiz – who also played pro before coming to MacEwan – is huge for a Griffins team trying to return to the Canada West playoffs for the first time since 2021.

"There are some guys on the team who have another level," said Loga. "The hope is we can get some of the depth going to shrink that gap and then we also make sure those guys – our horses, if you will – are going. Guys like T-Boy, Chance, Ali and Paul (Amedume – a new signing, also coming from pro and not eligible until Oct. 5) – when they're going, it's going to be a really different group, a different vibe. 

"T-Boy's phenomenal."