TORONTO - Gianni Cimini watched with pride when Malik Henry, newly promoted to the first team, came off the bench Aug. 9 to set up Deandre Kerr's stoppage-time goal as Toronto FC rallied for a 1-1 draw at the high-flying Philadelphia Union in MLS play.

"That's really what the goal is for us … We want to be able to produce players for our first team," said Cimini, coach of Toronto's reserve side.

Cimini, who joined the Toronto academy staff in 2012, has worked with Henry since the midfielder was 13.

The 23-year-old Henry is one of a dozen players that Cimini helped make the jump to the first team (Kerr made the move from Toronto FC II to the first team just weeks before Cimini took over the reserve side in March 2022 but worked with him on the academy under-16 and U-17 teams).

The 42-ye

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