Atlanta United 2’s midfield has certainly been busy in 2024. There has been the development of players like Alan Carleton and Adyn Torres, and who could forget the butter in the coffee question that broke minds and rekindled long-dead trauma of high school chemistry class.
But one of the more noticeable pieces is, well, noticeable.
Noble Okello is listed at 6’5” and looks every bit of it when you walk past him. At first glance, he looks like he could moon-light on the third line of your local hockey team but to just run him out there and expect him to clean out everyone’s midfield would be a disservice to Okello’s ability.
Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, the 24-year-old was not always the biggest player on the field, but a growth spurt as a teenager started him down the path into being a unique player.
“When I was younger, I was always trained to do a lot of ball work,” said Okello.
“Around grade 9 when I got taller, and things were a bit harder for me, like moving around stuff like that, I just tried to maintain and still work on dribbling and passing. More than probably other guys did”
The result was a big and physical player who can be a force in the center of the park when called upon, with the ability to also float off the ball and find space for himself or create it for others.
“A lot of young players struggle with that part of the game - trying to impact the game without the ball, whether it’s getting on it or trying to be an option,” said Okello.
“For me personally, because I’m bigger…it’s something that I think about more because it’s definitely something that helps the team a lot more.”
Okello joined the Toronto FC Academy as a teenager and progressed through the system, highlighted by a tournament-winning shootout victory over Juventus’s academy while with the U17s.
Eventually he made his debut with the first team and was one of a number of young players to get chances to play and grow at the MLS Is Back tournament during the stoppage of the 2020 season.
Okello says he valued that time to grow and work on his game.
“MLS is Back was just kind of the opportunity to play as many games as you could. You’re only playing soccer, you’re not focusing on other things. You’re not distracted by any other things. I think it helped a lot of us develop. At that time we were away from our families and soccer was number one.”
Along with first team minutes, Okello also earned a call up to the Canadian National Team in 2020, making two appearances with The Reds.
But after a loan spell spell in Denmark and the expiration of his contract with Toronto, he found his way to New England, earning a trial with the first team before signing with their MLS Next Pro club. Injuries became a problem for Okello, limiting him to just 12 appearances with the Revs. But instead of sulking in the missed opportunities, he used the year as a learning experience with the goal to come back better and wiser.
“It’s been tough, in my head, dealing with injuries and dealing with the pressures of trying to push myself,” said Okello.
“I think over the years I’ve learned that recovery and taking your body seriously.”
As for the 2024 season, Okello has tallied two goals and two assists while flashing a dangerous long ball that he has used to spring Atlanta’s young but talented wingers free during their recent hot stretch.
But where he’s been found the most is manning the midfield with MLS Superdraft selection Javier Armas. He and Armas have developed a fruitful chemistry that keeps the ball moving while providing options for a young backline and keeper in Jayden Hibbert.
“Playing with him (Javy) it’s been really easy because I feel like we understand each other as the season’s gone on,” remarked Okello on their partnership.
“We understood our movements and what our tendencies are.”
As the MLS Next Pro season winds down, Okello’s future is still up in the air as the club reported him as under contract through the 2024 season. But the Canadian International is back healthy and producing and there remains big potential for the big man.
✍️: Jarrett Smith
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