EXCLUSIVE: Q&A with Charlotte FC star Idan Toklomati
Shy but standout 21-year-old Israeli striker breaks silence in responses for Futbol Friday on the eve of Charlotte FC's playoff opener vs. New York City FC, plus advance of Game 1
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Rare interview: As Charlotte FC starts the playoffs tonight, Idan Toklomati opens up about life in America and how Dean Smith stoked his hunger for goals and assists
Idan Toklomati scored all three goals in a 3-0 win over Miami on Sept. 13. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Remember Charlotte FC’s first game of the season in Seattle? When the young Israeli kid — if you knew his name, you’re an educated fan — Idan Toklomati came off the bench and created a game-tying goal out of thin, if not rainy, air?
In three touches, one interception off his head, one dribble off his right foot and one dangerous cross, Toklomati turned a punt from goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina into a 2-2 tie in extra time. The cross deflected off a Seattle defender into the goal, officially an own goal.
Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith was about to rail on his players for an otherwise poor performance. New Charlotte FC superstar Wilfried Zaha was back in England for the birth of his daughter and had yet to debut in Major League Soccer. But something intriguing had just happened.
“We just tied against a top-4 team at [their] place, without our best forward,” a Charlotte FC fan named Austin Settar noted on Instagram. “This might be our year.”
It might be. Charlotte FC just finished in the Top 4 of the Eastern Conference for the first time in history, winning the most games (19) and the most at home (13) in the club’s four years in Major League Soccer. But they’re going to need some more magic from Toklomati, without Zaha, in a rainy opener tonight — this one in the First Round playoff series against New York City FC at Bank of America Stadium.
Charlotte’s superstar winger is suspended for a red card he received in the regular season finale against Philadelphia. Zaha can’t play until Game 2 of the best-of-three series Saturday afternoon in New York.
Toklomati, 21, is leading Charlotte FC with 11 goals, ahead of both Zaha (10) and first-half MVP Pep Biel (10), who is likely out for the rest of the season. Toklomati slid into the starting striker spot in mid-June when Charlotte was in the process of selling Patrick Aygemang to England’s Derby County for $10 million. Toklomati, who signed last summer as a Under-22 Initiative player for a reported $3.4 million, has not only held his own; he has been even better.
By now, Toklomati is a well-known commodity, at least on the field. Off the field, he’s been harder to get to know. Toklomati, who has twerked a goal celebration and blown a kiss to a camera, is reluctant to speak in front of them. He hasn’t spoken to the media all season long. Even after scoring three goals to beat Inter Miami and help Charlotte FC tie the MLS record with nine wins in a row, his postgame reaction was relayed in writing, from a recording inside the locker room.
For this story, Toklomati agreed to field a series of questions from The Ledger through a Charlotte FC staff member, who then shared Toklomati’s responses in an audio recording. It’s a start. From the 13 minutes and change, you can tell the soft-spoken kid has made big strides not only in his game but in his English. And it offered a rare glimpse inside the mind of Charlotte FC’s up-and-coming star.
Below is the audio version of the conversation between Idan Toklomati and Charlotte FC manager of communications John Gasparoni, with questions supplied by The Ledger.
Here are excerpts from that question and answer session:
Q. Why sign with Charlotte, and what effect did having fellow Israeli countryman and teammate Liel Abada here have on your coming here?
I talked with Liel before I came, actually. He says a lot of good stuff about Charlotte, about the stadium, about the fans, about the people here. And I thought for me, it was a good decision to take, and I’m very happy so far.
Q. How did it go for you, starting with Crown Legacy FC last season and then after a month joining the first team in September?
When I look back, I think that was good to start playing with Crown Legacy to build myself, physically, mentally and everything, and then to come into the first team in the beginning of the season and get a belief from the coach and from the coaching staff. I felt way more confident and comfortable to play.
Toklomati leads Charlotte FC with 11 goals on the season. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Q. How has it been adjusting to the culture here?
That was actually hard when I came here last year, the culture, to be so far from home without anyone, just by myself. It was hard in the beginning, but then you meet people. I had Liel as well. It helped me a lot. And now I feel American, actually. I feel very good.
Q. How much English did you know before arriving last August and how much have you learned since?
I knew really basic English, but the club really helps me with that. They gave not just me but all the players who [don’t] speak English, English classes. And I took also English classes online, and it helps me a lot. And also I met my girlfriend. That helps me. Now I feel way more comfortable to speak.
Q. What have you learned and improved in your time with the club?
Before I came here, I moved between [positions]. I was a striker, and I also played left and right winger. Like every young player, I try to show my abilities, try to do dribbles and everything. I just realized that it’s not helping me that much, and then I became a player who focuses more on being in the box and scoring goals because at the end of the day, that’s the money.
Q. What specifically have you learned from Coach Dean Smith?
Before I left at the end of the season, he talked with me, and I remember that he gave me an example of Jack Grealish, when he was the head coach of Aston Villa, that he told him the numbers that are important are goals and assists. So I worked on that. I focused more on being in the box always and trying to score goals and assists.
Q. What are your strengths as a striker?
Last year, I wasn’t the kind of player who every time wants to score. Now, I feel like if I don’t score, even if I’m the MVP or something, I don’t care. If I’m not scoring, I go back home and I’m watching [the game] again, and I’m upset with myself. I want to score every time. That’s a big difference.
Q. Where can you improve?
I used to be a player who makes a lot of dribbles in a game, until I realized it doesn’t help me, but now I become a player who doesn’t do dribbles at all. Maybe to not be afraid to take some player on, to try to do 1-against-1 and shoot, something like that.
Q. When Patrick Aygemang left for England, how did you handle being put into a starting role?
First of all, Patrick is a good friend. He’s a good player. We had a good relationship as well. And even before he left, I believed in myself. I knew sometimes I’m going to be there in the starting 11. And since it’s happened, I think I’ve handled that well.
Q. What’s your favorite goal of the season and why?
Against Chicago, even though we lost that game [3-2]. I really believed that we were going to win this game. It’s a good first touch, go into the box and then a good finish.
Q. When you did the twerk celebration against New England, did you borrow that from the female soccer player [Lo’eau LaBonta of Kansas City]?
People know this celebration probably because some players have done it before, but I actually felt my hamstring after 80 minutes, and then I was like, “OK, if I score, I will do that.”
Q. What do you like about this team?
A lot of stuff. We’re really together in the locker room, outside of the field. They welcomed me also very well.
Q. What are your soccer dreams?
Every football player who is asked this question who came from low [levels] will tell you the same answer, to get into the top levels of football in Europe, the best leagues, the best teams. And yeah, that’s my goal as well.
Q. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I’m a homeboy. I look like, maybe, a rock star or something, but I like to be at home. I like to enjoy my time with my family and friends.
Q. What do you like to do when you’re at home with family and friends?
Probably holiday meals. I don’t know what to call it here, but in my culture, we have a lot of holidays, so we’re sitting around the table, talking, spending time with them. That’s the best.
Up Next: Round One Game 1, No. 4 Charlotte FC (19-13-2) vs. No. 5 New York City FC (17-12-5)
When/Where: Tuesday 6:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium
How to watch: FS1 and FOX Deportes. MLS Season Pass and Apple TV. Find information about how to subscribe here.
How to listen: WBT Radio 1110 AM and 99.3 FM in English, WOLS 106.1 in Spanish.
Notable:
Charlotte FC is expecting an attendance of between 34,000 and 35,000 for the second home playoff game in franchise history. Given the chilly rain that’s expected, the actual numbers will be interesting to see.
Charlotte FC has won 11 of its past 13 games and is 13-3-1 at home this season.
Charlotte FC is 5-2-1 all-time against New York City FC, but is a perfect 4-0 against them at Bank of America Stadium.
Charlotte FC is 0-2 against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium, including a 2-0 loss Sept. 20, which broke Charlotte’s record-tying streak of nine straight MLS wins. (Charlotte drew at Citi Field and won the first game in the series at Red Bull Arena.)
While Charlotte FC is going without Wilfried Zaha, Liel Abada is a logical choice to get the start on the wing, though Dean Smith has also mentioned Tyger Smalls and Brandon Cambridge as possibilities.
Harry Toffolo (lower back), Ashley Westwood (back spasms) and Brandt Bronico (quadriceps tightness) have all missed practice time since the Oct. 20 win over Philadelphia. But Smith said all three have returned to practice and expect to be ready for Tuesday night.
New York City FC’s Alonso Martinez leads MLS with 10 game-winning goals.
NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, who is Harvard-educated, is making a run at the starting spot on the U.S. Men’s National team for the 2026 World Cup.
Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now in her fourth season covering Charlotte FC. She would love to hear from you. E-mail her with questions, suggestions, story ideas and comments!
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Good to hear from the kid. I look forward to a bonafide interview between you and Idan, Carol.