VANCOUVER, BC – Your eyes weren’t deceiving you if you spotted Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Stanley Park on Tuesday morning.
After concluding their season-long five-match road trip, the ‘Caps switched things up and held a recovery session at Second Beach ahead of Sunday’s home date with Sporting Kansas City.
- Photo gallery: Soccer tennis at Stanley Park
Here are some news and notes from the day.
KEEPING IT LIGHT
The ‘Caps kept things light on Tuesday, going for a 25-minute run before getting into a soccer-tennis tournament. On second thought, “light” may not have been the best choice of words.
It was a fun, but extremely competitive, competition that culminated with Uruguayans Nicolas Mezquida and Cristian Techera defeating Americans Steven Beitashour and Jordan Harvey in the final.
Kekuta Manneh and Mauro Rosales finished third.
“It was all Mauro,” Manneh joked. “If it was just me, I probably would have finished last.”
KAH UPDATE
Robbo talks SKC, transfer window, and more
Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson said that centre back Pa-Modou Kah, who left Saturday’s match with a calf strain, was “touch and go” for this weekend’s tilt with Sporting Kansas City.
“It’s not as bad as originally thought, I believe,” Robinson told reporters. “He’s gone for a scan today … it’s a big loss for us. He’s been fantastic for us over the last couple weeks especially. We’ll deal with it. If he’s out, then someone else will step in.”
Kah was not with the team at Second Beach on Tuesday. He was back at the club’s UBC Training Centre receiving treatment, along with Pedro Morales (calf) and Sam Adekugbe (ankle).
SIGNING SEASON
Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window, which allows teams to both acquire players currently under contract in another country and make trades within MLS, is set to open on Wednesday.
Does Robinson expect the ‘Caps to be busy?
“We’re always looking and I think every team will do that,” he said. “Will we be signing an Andrea Pirlo? Probably not, no. But we’re always looking to try and add. I’m very content with the group we’ve got. There’s a great spirit in amongst them. If someone becomes available that I think would add to that, not harm or hurt that, then I’ll look to add it. And I can do because there are things on the table that I can maybe look at, but I’m in no rush. We’re okay at the moment.”
HOME SWEET HOME
It’s been over a month since Whitecaps FC last played a game at BC Place.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup had them on the road for five straight matches, but the ‘Caps return home on Sunday to host Sporting Kansas City, who are just five points back of the Blue and White with three games in hand.
“Everybody is excited to get into BC Place again,” said David Ousted, who referred to SKC as one of the best teams in the West. “I think you’ll see a Whitecaps team that’s going to be at it from the start … we need to come out from minute one and play the kind of football we need to in order to win the game.”
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