After starring performances against Wrexham AFC, Tavio Ciccarelli has one goal: 'Get into the first team'

Tavio Ciccarelli's first professional minutes came last October, a cameo appearance off the bench, in an otherwise disappointing Halifax Wanderers season.

He remembers getting word that he was going in and donned his kit in preparation to replace striker Tiago Coimbra. Although he spent his youth career in England, playing for both Sheffield and Leeds United's academies, Ciccarelli opted to return to Canada and sign an Exceptional Young Talent contract with the Wanderers. He felt ready to fulfill a dream.

But his debut wasn't without wrinkle.

"I had a bit of a weird circumstance because I was supposed to go in at the 83rd minute but the ball just didn't go out for five or six minutes so I was just waiting on the line," Ciccarelli tells HFX Football Post.

"I guess it gave me extra time to prepare myself but I was waiting a while and nerves and stuff kicked in. That's just when you have to breathe and relax and take it all in with the fans. I was on the field for five minutes or so and once you're in, everything just leaves your head and you're in the zone.

"It was a dream come true."

Ciccarelli's 90th minute appearance on October 19 versus York United FC — a 2-1 Halifax win — capped off the Wanderers' underwhelming 2024 season. Coincidentally, it's also the last time he earned minutes with the first team.

Make no mistake: Ciccarelli is the first to admit he's needed to adapt physically to the CPL.

The youngest of four siblings, the 19-year old striker is listed at 176cm (5ft 8in). Ciccarelli says he's getting stronger everyday but noted the jump in level between U-18 football and training with the Wanderers.

"The physical side of it, that's what my biggest challenge has been," he says. "I knew it was going to be tough and the quality is very high in training with a lot of senior players like Jérémy (Gagnon-Laparé) setting examples. I've also learned a lot from Julian (Dunn) and (Andre) Rampersad, Jérémy, they're just super professional and I've just learned a lot from it.

"This is my first experience with a first team, and, obviously, I'm still only (19) so I'm playing against men, which is the biggest difference. I'm getting there. I'm strong enough, now."

Ciccarelli, by virtue of his disposition, is a goal scorer. He likes to set the ball for his teammates and get into the box; he covets spaces to exploit and aims to strike quick, well-placed shots. By his own admission, as an ardent Liverpool supporter, Ciccarelli loves to create chaos for defenders, something he sees in Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez's game.

His older coaches, Ciccarelli shares, say he's a fox in the box for his ability to sniff out chances, a trait on full display during Halifax's annual International Summer Series versus Wrexham AFC: if you didn't know who Ciccarelli was before starring against the U-21 squad of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Hollywood darlings, you certainly do now.

Ciccarelli wasted no time in making his mark at the Wanderers Grounds, the first match of the three part series, on July 5. Fighting for a high ball in the eighth minute, he managed to play it back to a teammate before sliding into space on the hip of Wrexham's defence. He remained outside of the nearest defender's line of sight as the play develops and, just as the ball is moved to the top of the box, commits to a run back post, beating his man for a tap in that proved to be the match winner.

Later, in Charlottetown, Ciccarelli showcased his patience as he was sprung for a breakaway. The Winnipeg-born striker waited until the right moment to calmly poke the ball between the Wrexham goalkeeper's legs to give his side a 1-0 lead for a consecutive Wanderers' win. He was named Man of the Match for two out of three contests.

"It's a class experience," Ciccarelli says of facing Wrexham. "Obviously, I was in England before, I've played in the English pyramid and I know how tough it can be. It's a great opportunity for a lot of the guys to show the city what we're about."

Ciccarelli continues to train with the first team and feature for the developmental squad. Be it himself, other prospects or more senior players like Dunn, who has played two development matches in recent weeks as he builds match fitness, everyone is looking to progress.

"That's my goal: get into the first team," says Ciccarelli.

But a path to minutes is not easy as Coimbra has quietly put together a U-21 Player of the Year calibre season leading the front line. Ryan Telfer, of course, remains a solid No. 9 and is both a large part of Halifax's leadership core and one of head coach Patrice Gheisar's most trusted players.

Like his goal in Charlottetown, Ciccarelli knows he needs to show patience to get his opportunity.

“You just always have to be ready because you genuinely never know when it's going to come. There’s a lot of players in the past, for other reasons, a few of my friends, who have had chances come and go and that’s their first opportunity to impress," he says.

"You have to be ready for that. Just always be mentally prepared, taking care of your body, doing the right things off the field and hopefully, when that chance comes, you have to take it.

"I'm just waiting for a chance and hopefully it'll come soon."

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC