Whitecaps FC kicked off the second week of their six-week long training camp at SFU with one new addition in 22-year-old trialist striker Long Tan and the return of midfielder/striker Cornelius Stewart.
The club acquired Tan’s USSF D-2 rights back on July 20, 2010, when they traded away midfielders Ricardo Sanchez and Jonathan Steele to FC Tampa Bay. Last season with Tampa, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound native of Dailian, China, started 22 of his 25 appearances for 1,726 minutes of action. Offensively, Tan scored three goals and added two assists for eight points.
Prior to joining FC Tampa Bay, Tan played for FC Atlanta Blackhawks in the USL PDL in 2009 where he was a top goal scorer with seven goals in 14 matches. Before his move to North America, Tan played professionally in China with Shanghai United FC, Shanghai Seven Stars, and Pudong Zobon FC.
Stewart's returns to Vancouver this week after nearly two months away on international duty with his native St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The young midfielder/striker scored two times in six matches for his country before they were eliminated in the Qualifying Group - Stage Two of the 2010 Caribbean Cup.
The addition of Long and return of Stewart will keep the training numbers up as Thordarson will be without midfielders Philippe Davies and Ethan Gage, and striker Kyle Porter for the next 11 days. The three products of the Residency program have all been called up to Canada's U-23 Olympic team for an identification training camp in Sunrise, Florida.
'Caps striker Randy Edwini-Bonsu – recently returned to the Whitecaps FC Residency program – and goalkeeper Julien Latendresse-Lévesque - currently enjoying his second season on loan with FC Energie Cottbus - will also be in Canada's U-23 camp.
Meanwhile, Whitecaps FC have loaned striker Cody Arnoux to the club's USL PDL side. The native of Wilmington, North Carolina, scored one goal in 10 appearance with the 'Caps first team last season.
The six-week camp includes morning on-field training sessions at the Whitecaps Training Centre at SFU from Monday to Friday, as well as strength and conditioning sessions at Burnaby 8-Rinks for the first four weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The final two weeks will see players and staff travel south to California for the remainder of the camp. Additional details about the camp in California will be available shortly.
