“I know Jason is there”: family award ceremony at CF Montreal

MONTREAL – Giulia Garofano nervously settled into a seat in the small auditorium of the Center Nutrilait as she was about to begin the traditional presentation of individual honors at CF Montreal. On his right accompanied him his daughter-in-law, his daughter and some other relatives. In front of her, won over by a childish excitement, the members of her second family were finally piling up.

Kwame Ampadu, one of the assistants of head coach Wilfried Nancy, came to greet each visitor individually, warmly, until he arrived at the height of the matriarch. She stood up straight away to give him a long hug.

When the slightly late Kei Kamara took her seat, Ms Garofano introduced herself as Jason Di Tullio’s mother. The big striker’s eyes lit up and he immediately approached his neighbor to give her a kiss.

“That’s what’s beautiful, the lady was moved once calm returned to the room. By being present with the players, it is as if he were with us. We have created a link with the players too. It’s made the family. And then I know that Jason is there. “La Grinta”, she is really there. We feel it. I think all the players have that in mind and then they will win the cup! »

On Thursday, members of the Di Tullio clan were invited to the CF Montreal training complex to attend the presentation of a brand new trophy bearing their name of their missing love. Former Impact player and coach Jason Di Tullio succumbed to brain cancer last July. He was 38 years old.

In remembrance of his contribution to his favorite club and the sport he cherished, a plaque will now be awarded annually to the player of the team “having demonstrated a fiery and combative state of mind worthy of the mark that Di Tullio left at CF Montreal and that the club wishes to pass on to its players”.

“We wanted Jason’s memory to live on for a long time,” explained club president and CEO Gabriel Gervais. In 2002, we had a trophy for the third star or the obscure hero. Jason often won it. He was in the shadows, but we appreciated his hard work, his dedication on the field, for the logo and for the city. I think we needed a trophy like that. What better way to do that than by honoring Jason? »

The attention was appreciated by the bereaved family.

“I was touched, really touched, insists Ms. Garofano, a black armband stamped with the signature of her son and the logo of “La Grinta” around the left arm. It’s a beautiful gift [le club] gives us. It’s a very emotional moment, but it’s beautiful. »

“It’s another step in their grief. But when I see them here, when I see all the players going to see them, recognizing them, it’s really special, appreciated Gervais. I’m really glad they agreed to be here. »

Giraldo, the first recipient

The mandate to choose the first recipient of the Jason-Di-Tullio Trophy fell to the players of the first team. They pulled a rabbit out of their hat by awarding it to Tomas Giraldo, a 19-year-old midfielder who is still looking for his first few minutes as a professional.

“The fact that the players thought of me, I really did not expect it, was still struggling to realize the young man a few minutes after accepting his reward. Honestly, I just came to clap my hands and in the end I see them calling me on stage. When I went up I was a bit scared! »

Giraldo has been slowed by injuries since signing for MLS two years ago. A foot problem that “took longer than expected to heal” initially plagued his first season. Muscular problems then came to add to his misfortune. The unexpected recurrence of his foot pain finally forced him to go to the operating table. He now says he sees “the light at the end of the tunnel” and hopes to be able to find the pitch again soon.

“When you see [les autres jeunes de ton âge progresser], you ask yourself questions, you say to yourself ‘why is this happening to me?’. I was doing everything right, it wasn’t really stuff like I didn’t take care of myself. It was downright bad luck. So why me? At some point, you just get accepted. It’s you, so just keep working. »

Obviously, his resilience did not go unnoticed by veterans.

“He had a lot of it, but constantly, we saw him around the locker room with this huge smile on his face, noticed Alistair Johnston, himself named as the defensive player of the year at the CFM. He never complains about his fate, he is here and he is working. It’s something that we all respect enormously because we know that there is nothing worse than being part of a team, but to have the impression of not being a member of it at all. full because you can’t help on the pitch. »

Giraldo did not know Jason Di Tullio intimately at the Impact Academy, but the two had worked together during a camp with the national under-17 team. He remembers the coach’s impassioned speeches on the topics of perseverance and team spirit.

“I liked him Jason, he was always there. I am proud to be able to honor it. »