Canadian defender Awuah keen to impress during trial with Vancouver Whitecaps

VANCOUVER - Kwame Awuah believes he has extra to offer a Main League Soccer membership — and he believes the Vancouver Whitecaps are that membership.

The 26-year-old Toronto-born defender is getting an opportunity to make his case this week as he joins Vancouver’s pre-season coaching camp on trial.

“I knew this was a spot I may take a step in the suitable path to realize my ambitions and assist the group to realize their objectives as nicely,“ he stated.

It’s been three years since Awuah parted methods with New York Metropolis FC, the MLS group that drafted him from the College of Connecticut in 2017.

He went on to ply his commerce within the Canadian Premier League, serving to Hamilton-based Forge FC to a few straight stellar campaigns, together with back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020.

The left again tallied a purpose and three assists in 26 CPL appearances in 2021 and added one other essential purpose in a CONCACAF League recreation.

“Coming into the CPL, you didn’t know what to anticipate,“ he stated. ”However the final three years have most likely been the very best three years of my profession. I got here off two years at NYCFC the place I used to be studying how you can be a professional and only a day-in, day-out grind. And I took that have into Forge and have become a pacesetter.“

Whitecaps sporting director and chief govt officer Axel Schuster stated Awuah has the pliability to suit into the Whitecaps’ system.

“What we actually see in him is that he suits in our system as a result of we play with the wingback positions however out wing backs and our centrebacks need to interpret their roles in a sure manner. And he has this versatility,” he stated.

Awuah is one among seven unsigned gamers on the ‘Caps pre-season camp. The group additionally introduced in striker Tossaint Ricketts and goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer, who each performed for the membership final season, and 4 gamers Vancouver picked up within the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

“Nobody appeared, I might say, a fish out of water,“ Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini stated of the brand new faces on Monday. ”They appeared all sharp and able to be combating for a spot.“

Coaching camp will give workers a chance to see how the unsigned expertise would possibly match into both the primary group or the approaching MLS Subsequent Professional squad, he added.

The ‘Caps have already got a Canadian left again in Cristian Gutierrez. The 24-year-old Quebec Metropolis native performed 19 video games final season, tallying three assists.

The membership is eager so as to add extra depth to the roster, Schuster stated.

“We prefer to have numerous younger guys competing as a result of a contest and getting challenged each single coaching to see your opponent, to see robust opponent there's additionally useful to develop as a participant,” he stated. “We wish to discover out if (Awuah) may be that challenger for (Gutierrez) in order that on the finish each gamers turn into a greater participant.”

In his temporary time on the helm final season, Sartini was recognized for juggling his lineup. The then-interim coach used 22 completely different gamers within the beginning 11 throughout 14 video games.

The strikes paid off with the ‘Caps going 7-2-5 throughout the stretch and securing their first playoff look since 2017.

“You must earn your spot within the squad. And everybody can earn his spot within the squad,” Sartini stated. “So each week might be like a contest to try to be within the beginning 11, to attempt to be even on the bench. I believe everybody now has the chance to be on the group and be a protagonist.”

Awuah has lengthy watched the Whitecaps from afar, following the progress of a number of of his pals.

There’s his former faculty roommate, Jake Nerwinski, who’s blossomed right into a stalwart defender for the group, and Russell Teibert and Lucas Cavallini, who he befriended by the Canadian nationwide group.

Awuah thinks there’s quite a bit he can add to the group, together with technical means, defensive safety and a few levity within the locker room.

And because the ‘Caps push to make the playoffs an annual incidence, it doesn’t harm that he’s performed in numerous massive video games lately.

“I used to be in a position to expertise numerous video games in CONCACAF, numerous championship video games. So I believe I do know what it takes to win,“ Awuah stated. ”And I believe it could possibly translate coming again to this stage.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 18, 2022.