Revolution Youngsters "Not Afraid"
Revolution Youngsters "Not Afraid"
Ema Boateng: "These guys just go out there and play the game, so it’s fun watching and watching their development.”
The faster speed of play, older competition, and more daunting atmospheres can make the jump to Major League Soccer difficult for young players.
But New England Revolution midfielder Ema Boateng is impressed by how Esmir Bajraktervic, Jack Panayotou, and Peyton Miller have adjusted so far.
Bajraktervic, a 19-year-old with two goals and three assists this year, is a dynamic player who likes to take people on.
The 20-year-old Panayotou, who had two assists in four starts with Rhode Island FC, has quick feet and understands space. He has a goal and an assist in his last two games for the Revs.
Miller, 16, has started three straight games at left back and has looked fast and strong. He would’ve had an assist in his first start, but it was deemed that a Dallas player—and not Bobby would—touched the ball last.
“They're not afraid,” Boateng said when asked what stands out about the young players.
“I mean Esmir from when he first started coming on the team, sometimes we would yell at him, 'Hey, like just pass the ball sometimes' and all that, but he still does what he does. The more he does it, he's learning from it and naturally evolving.
“Peyton is not afraid of anybody. He will get in a tackle. Like in the first half, he and [Nashville SC defender] Shaq Moore went pretty hard at it. He's attacking, he's defending, he's not scared of anybody.
“Jack is the same way, too. He believes that when he's on the field, he can make something happen.”
Boateng noted that all players make mistakes, regardless of age. The 30-year-old, who lifted the MLS Cup in 2020 and the Supporters Shield in 2021, said that it’s important that those moments don’t affect your confidence.
“You're going to make mistakes; nobody plays a game 100 percent without making any mistakes,” Boateng said. “So, just be confident in your decisions and make sure you're making the right plays. I think that's what they have.”
Of course, all three players have plenty of years ahead of them. The hope is that they continue to improve.
But so far, so good.
“They have the quality and at that age, a lot of guys have the quality, but do they want to pull it up?” Boateng asked. “Do they want to show it in a big game? These guys just go out there and play the game, so it’s fun watching and watching their development.”