2009 Rookie Of The Year Returns To Whitecaps
April 9, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - After claiming Rookie of the Year honours during the 2009 season, Marcus Haber is returning home and re-joining Vancouver Whitecaps FC on loan from English Football League Championship club West Bromwich Albion FC. Haber will be available to the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) D-2 Pro League outfit until June 15, 2010 - pending international clearance and league approval.
Haber, 21, returns to Vancouver after the Whitecaps transferred the striker to West Brom for an undisclosed amount during the January transfer window. The native of Vancouver, BC, will be available for up to 14 matches with the Whitecaps men's team, including all four of Vancouver's games in this year's Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Haber's final available match will be the USSF D-2 Pro League away contest versus Austin Aztex on Saturday, June 12. Following his loan spell with the 'Caps, the striker will return to West Brom for pre-season training ahead of the 2010-11 season in England.
With West Brom, Haber scored one goal in four appearances with the West Midlands club's reserve side and spent a month on loan at English League One club Exeter City. The striker started three of his five appearances for 250 minutes of action during his four-week loan spell with The Grecians.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound striker's move to West Brom followed a successful rookie season with the Whitecaps in 2009. Last year, Haber scored eight goals and recorded four assists for 20 points in 30 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) regular season matches. He also added three goals in six playoff games and one goal during the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. For his efforts, the striker was named USL-1 Rookie of the Year, as well as the Whitecaps Newcomer of the Year and Fan Favourite.
Haber will arrive home in Vancouver this evening and take part in the final training session before Sunday's USSF D-2 Pro League season opener versus NSC Minnesota Stars at Swangard Stadium. Saturday morning's training session takes place at the Whitecaps Training Centre on the campus of Simon Fraser University. The striker, however, will not be available to face Minnesota on Sunday.
Whitecaps 2010 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men's and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for Vancouver MLS 2011 in BC Place. For more information on the 2010 season ticket packages, call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit whitecapsfc.com.
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