If everything goes as planned a few days from now, Latif Blessing will have what he wants most in the world.
In early January, the Los Angeles Football Club received $400,000 in general allocation money from the New England Revolution for Blessing, a 26-year-old sparkplug in the midfield who along with Carlos Vela were the lone LAFC originals on last year’s league championship roster.
Coming shortly after the team won the MLS Cup in November, Blessing’s trade request followed unsuccessful attempts over five years to secure the arrival of his mother and wife to L.A. Otherwise, the green card holder was limited to visiting them once a year in Ghana.
“I don’t want to do that. I need my family with me,” Blessing said prior to returning to a city said he loves for a match on Sunday against his old friends at BMO Stadium.
Despite LAFC’s sincere efforts and on-field success, frustration mounted as the immigration process failed to deliver like Blessing hoped while other international players arrived with their families in tow.
“I want to play and see my wife in the stadium cheering for me,” he said. “That’s why I said to (LAFC) I want to move to somewhere I can be with them.”
Blessing expects the move to pay off. His family, including a 6-month-old daughter, could reunite in the Boston area as early as next week.
“I’m so happy,” he said. “It’s happening.”
When it does, Blessing will show off the LAFC championship ring he is handed in the pregame ceremony on Sunday.
“Not just any soccer player achieved this, so when I achieved this I have to be happy with myself,” Blessing said. “I’m excited to receive this ring and show it to my wife and my mom. They’re going to be as excited to see it as I am to receive the ring.”
Blessing appeared in 30 league games throughout the Supporters’ Shield-MLS Cup double last year, but none in the playoff run. Sitting on the bench upset him and also contributed to his desire to leave after conversations with head coach Steve Cherundolo didn’t change anything for the club leader in games (145) and minutes (9,749) played. Blessing wondered if he wasn’t good enough. Cherundolo told him he was, but that quality players sit on the bench sometimes.
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With the Revs, Blessing can claim a pair of wins to feel good about to start the 2023 season, playing 85 minutes and contributing an assist in their second straight shutout last weekend. New England’s Hall of Fame coach Bruce Arena “understands” Blessing, the player said, and his buzzing energy and winning mentality will be counted upon to make New England better.
Meanwhile, Blessing’s removal from the LAFC midfield has been offset by newcomer Timothy Tillman, whom Cherundolo praised for his performance off the bench during their 3-0 CONCACAF Champions League win in Costa Rica on Thursday.
“I think the whole club wants to get another ring, so we’re working hard,” said Tillman, who along with defender Sergi Palenica and attacker Stipe Biuk could earn more minutes against New England as LAFC (1-0-0, 3 points) plays its third of five matches over 14 days.
“We have guys that can start games for sure,” Cherundolo said. “Can help us out and our level does not drop one bit.”
How to watch
When: Sunday, 7:39 p.m.
Where: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles
TV/Radio: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV/1110 AM, ESPN LA App, 980 AM