CARSON, Calif. — Tesho Akindele is a man with options.
The MLS Rookie of the Year was born in Canada but will soon be eligible to represent the United States in international competition. He's been in touch with both camps and is currently training here at the United States national team camp selected by manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
There is one built-in advantage the United States, or at least this region of the country, has on Canada. "The weather is great," Akindele said after being asked about his early impressions of the January camp.
In the California sunshine, the FC Dallas forward was up top during a drill run by U.S. assistant coach Andy Herzog and was put through his paces with the rest of the team during fitness training. But while things are no different for the 22-year-old in camp, he says it's unlikely he will play for the United States in upcoming friendlies against Chile and Panama.
Klinsmann also said Akindele is unlikely to join these two matches and said players like Akindele and Mexican-American forward Julio Morales aren't being rushed into decisions.
"We are not pressuring that. We are not pushing them," he said. "We said, 'Take all the time in the world' because once you make that decision, it’s a lifetime decision."
Akindele represented Canada in an under-17 match against Costa Rica, but since that match was only a friendly, he can represent the United States despite not being a U.S. citizen at the time of that match.
While Akindele still could end up wearing the Maple Leaf over his chest, he says he's settled in quickly with the Stars and Stripes, marveling at the first touch of other players and noting that while he usually considers fitness a strong suit, here he's "barely above average."
He feels like one of the guys off the pitch as well, though one of the biggest surprises came when he realized the intensity that can come with a national team camp.
"I think a lot of the guys, it’s just crazy the switch that gets flipped," he said. "Like, once training starts, guys get super intense and if you make a mistake everybody’s getting on you. But in the locker room, everybody’s joking around and having a good time."
Being inclusive is one of the American side's selling points, with dissent in the clubhouse seemingly rare. Players often cite good locker-room chemistry and the collective being better than the sum of individual parts as keys to past successes.
"I think this is a big plus for this team and has always been a big plus for the American team that they make it easy for new players to come in and to feel welcome and to feel part of the group right after a couple of days," Klinsmann said.
Klinsmann has wooed a number of players eligible for other nations to join the United States including fullbacks Fabian Johnson and Timmy Chandler, midfielders Julian Green and Joe Corona and forward Aron Johannsson. All of those players are expected to contribute to the team as the U.S. looks to the 2018 World Cup, and many other dual or triple-nationals might also play a part.
"I think we’re doing well in that process because we are honest," Klinsmann said. "We leave it up to the players and their families to make that decision. We tell them how we run things, how we organize it."
In Akindele's case, Klinsmann says he's been honest with the forward about how he stacks up within the U.S. player pool at a position where there are a number of options. Akindele hopes he can use this camp to impress, no matter where he ends up.
"Now that I’m here I just want to make a good impression," he said. "I’m not here just looking. I’m obviously trying to do my best now that I’m here."
