FRISCO, Texas – Players always talk about being mentally prepared to start every match, even when their name isn’t on the team sheet, and Jalil Anibaba put that mantra to the ultimate test on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Stadium.
Listed on the substitutes’ bench for the Revs’ season opener against FC Dallas, Anibaba was warming up with the reserves when starting center back Michael Mancienne pulled up with an injury. After receiving treatment for several minutes, it became apparent that Mancienne would need to be replaced.
It was just 30 minutes before kickoff.