Dwayne Rosario showing his technique

Toronto FC captain Dwayne De Rosario is fulfilling his goals on the field, locally and abroad

It took 10 years of playing soccer abroad for Dwayne De Rosario to finally make his way back to Toronto. Despite a passport checkered with destinations from globetrotting with the Canadian national team or playing Major League Soccer south of the border, the Scarborough native always took a piece of home with him.

If you’ve ever witnessed the Toronto FC captain put the ball in the net (which is often, as he is second in MLS goal scoring) then you’ve seen his signature celebratory dance. “The Shake & Bake came from playing with the Malvern Magic as a youth,” says De Rosario, who is of Guyanese parentage. “It’s just a tribute to the players I grew up with who were phenomenally skilled, but didn’t make it as far as I did. I do that every time I score, to show I didn’t forget where I came from.”

While his heart may be local, his conscience is global. De Rosario is a passionate voice for Nothing But Nets (governed by MLS W.O.R.K.S. and the United Nations) as well as its Canadian counterpart, Spread the Net. Both organizations raise global awareness about increasing the use of prevention tools and mosquito nets in Africa and ending malaria.

“Every 30 seconds a child in Africa dies from malaria,” he says. “I couldn’t believe it, from a mosquito bite!” On a trip to Mali with his wife, De Rosario witnessed the epidemic firsthand and was moved to help. Through his company, DeRo Entertainment, the soccer star started an in-school program that encourages kids to spread the message of getting communities to help provide bed netting and funding.

This July, DeRo Entertainment is also organizing the inaugural De Ro Futbol Clinic, a soccer camp in Scarborough for kids aged five to 16. “It’s not only focusing on soccer, but also on health and nutrition,” he says. “Apparently, Ontario was classified as one of the most obese provinces and it’s something that needs to be addressed.” With other non-soccer themes like money management and yoga, De Rosario stresses the camp is just as much about life skills. “To know that you helped a kid to become a better person, a better individual in the community, a better player — that’s the most rewarding thing for me.”

Another rewarding scenario for De Rosario would be to lead his team to its first post-season appearance and to the MLS Cup, which will be hosted in Toronto this fall. “That’s the ultimate right there,” he says. “That’s what you dream of. There’s no greater feeling than when you finally accomplish the achievement of winning it all and you see the joy in the faces of the fans.”

For De Rosario, winning the MLS Cup at BMO Field would not only be a dream fulfilled, it would also raise the profile of soccer in Canada and show players that they can pursue their goals while playing at home. That type of a hat trick would definitely merit a little “Shake & Bake.”

DeRo’s tips for staying fit:

1) Make sure to stretch and remember to breathe as you exercise.

2) Start with basic exercises like sit-ups and push-ups. They’re important because they work the core

3) Run and jog. However, concrete puts a lot of pressure on the knees and back, so if you can, run on grass or sand.

4) Run and jog up hills because it helps to alternate your routine.

5) The more sports you play, the better. It’ll also help you to become better rounded in soccer

6) Stay as athletic as possible and be in tune with your body. More importantly, take care of your body.