Full name Bayete Smith 1998-2001 Toronto Olympians Position Defender Years Team Role Soccer player | Playing position Name Bayete Smith Place of birth Canada 2002 Toronto Lynx | |
Bayete Smith (born April 11, 1972) is a Canadian former soccer player who played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, and the USL A-League.
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Playing career
Smith began his career in the Canadian Professional Soccer League with the Toronto Olympians. Throughout the 1998 CPSL season, he achieved an undefeated season with the Olympians - the first club within the league to achieve this milestone. As well as winning the double by winning the regular season and the Open Canada Cup. The club reached the playoff finals but where defeated by St. Catharines Wolves by 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout. He re-signed with the Olympians the following season where he contributed in the club's second consecutive undefeated season which allowed them to claim the regular season championship; the first club to reach that milestone in the league's history. Within that year he managed to win a Treble with the club by claiming the Open Canada Cup, CPSL Championship, and the League championship.
During the 2000 season, Smith was again instrumental in Toronto's successful campaign where he led the Olympians to a 10-game undefeated streak, as well as claiming the Open Canada Cup in the process. The victory in claiming the Open Cup marked the first time in the league's history a club winning the trophy three consecutive years in a row. Though he did manage to lead his team to the playoff finals, they were defeated by Toronto Croatia by a score of 2-1. For his efforts he was awarded the CPSL Defender of the Year award for his contribution for helping the club achieve the best defensive record. In 2002, when the Olympians relocated to Mississauga, Smith signed with the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League. He made his debut for the Lynx on May 3, 2002 in a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Silverbacks. The next day Toronto faced Charlotte Eagles and Smith scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 defeat. Shortly after he was released from his contract with Toronto.
Following his release he returned to the CPSL to sign with Vaughan Sun Devils. Smith best season with Vaughan came in 2003, where he assisted the club in placing third in the Eastern Conference allowing a playoff berth for the club. In the postseason Smith recorded goals in both the quarterfinal and semifinal matches and helped the Vaughan reach the finals. Unfortunately Smith was absent from the match due to a family baptism, while his team lost 1-0 to the Brampton Hitmen. In 2004, he signed with Brampton Hitmen and helped the club reach the postseason by finishing fourth in the Western Conference. They were eliminated early on in the semi-finals to eventual champions Toronto Croatia.