Toronto FC received a surprise recruit at soccer practice – a Florida gator!

Orlando, Florida - The temporarily relocated Toronto FC found themselves in a soccer match with... an alligator!

The Toronto FC shared that they received a visit of one of Florida's most famous representatives during training.
The Toronto FC shared that they received a visit of one of Florida's most famous representatives during training.  © Screenshot/Twitter/@TorontoFC

An alligator in a sports field, a golf course, or even a backyard isn't an unusual sight in Florida. Most locals know to give the animals their space, and a groundskeeper usually rounds them up.

But for Canadians, the sight of a prehistoric reptile is enough to cause more than mild panic. Posting to Twitter, the Toronto Football Club shared photos and a video of their encounter with a Florida local who just wanted to join the match.

The teammates were clearly shocked when they realized the slow-moving alligator was ambling towards them. They had no idea what to do.

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When an employee approached in a golf cart to get the gator turned around, it didn't want to cooperate.

The team decided they would offer the guest a shot to train with them by kicking a ball over, but the gator responded by running towards them, causing even more chaos.

The team should have given the creature its space, as the reptiles can run faster than humans and don't usually attack unless a human has disturbed a mother's nest of eggs, according to Wild Florida.

TFC has been relocated temporarily to Orlando for training due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt, and the alligator was likely relocated to a nearby swamp.

Cover photo: Screenshot/Twitter/@TorontoFC

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