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Orlando City striker Tesho Akindele embraces reunion with long-time coach Óscar Pareja

KISSIMMEE, Florida — For Orlando City forward Tesho Akindele, Óscar Pareja’s first season with the Lions feels like a return to his roots.

This season reunites the striker with the coach who took a chance on him, drafting Akindele out of college and developing him for the first five years of his career.

Akindele enjoyed a successful career as a four-time All-American at the Colorado School of Mines, where he set a school record with 76 career goals. But playing for a Division II school, he hadn’t earned any hype ahead of the 2014 MLS draft.

In the weeks leading up to the draft, Akindele checked mock drafts and couldn’t find his name on any of them.