MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Manitoba Soccer Association Visits 'Caps to Kick off Second Year of Partnership

Published on April 29, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
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Manitoba Soccer Association visits 'Caps to kick off second year of partnership Apr 29th 2016, 23:16

Last May, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Manitoba Soccer Association announced a groundbreaking player development partnership. As part of that growing relationship, the 'Caps welcomed the technical leaders of the MSA and their five district partner clubs from Winnipeg this past week to learn more about Whitecaps FC's player development and operation strategies.

"It's an exciting time for us as a province and as technical leaders in Manitoba," said Yiannis Tsalatsidis, assistant technical director of the St Charles Soccer Association. "This week we got a good look at how the club operates at the various levels from the prospects to the first team. It was encouraging to see the great investment put into the youth teams. We had a great week with a lot of value we can bring back to our clubs."

MSA Technical Leaders

Marinos Papageorgopoulos Manitoba Soccer Association

Paul Thompson Manitoba Soccer Association

Scott Ansell Manitoba Soccer Association

Tonya Derkson Bonivital Soccer Club

Laurie McIvor FC Northwest

Larry Ladobruk FC Northwest

Fabio Capone St Charles Soccer Association

Yiannis Tsalatsidis St Charles Soccer Association

Hadyn Sloane-Seale Winnipeg South End United

Adam Mooi Winnipeg South End United

Blerim Iljazi Winnipeg Pheonix FC

The traveling contingent spent the week learning and discussing player development and best practices in Vancouver to help further programs in Manitoba.

"These trips are always tremendously beneficial as we grow our programs and work together to further player development in Canada," added Whitecaps FC director of soccer development Dan Lenarduzzi. "It's been a fantastic first year working with the MSA, but we've only just scratched the surface. We look forward to great things ahead."

Whitecaps FC currently have six players at the club from Manitoba, including MLS players Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese, as well as Residency players Andre Baires, Kyle Gomes, Georges Mukumbilwa, and Daniel Sagno.

The group were taken on a tour of BC Place Stadium and watched a first team training session, followed by a meeting with MLS assistant coach and head of high performance Gordon Forrest.

First day of @WhitecapsYouth professional development with MBs technical leaders #growingthegame pic.twitter.com/eHmB1st8gF

- Manitoba Soccer (@ManitobaSoccer) April 26, 2016

@WhitecapsFC Gordon Forest speaking w/club staff @phnxsoccer @fcnorthwestclub @WSEUSoccer @BonivitalSC @StCharlesSA pic.twitter.com/obKKPoDIeI

- Manitoba Soccer (@ManitobaSoccer) April 26, 2016

Following that, they took in a Girls Elite REX training session and met with women's head coach and academy director Emma Humphries.

Checking out a @WFCElite game tonight with the technical directors of MB @WFCManitoba pic.twitter.com/1Ai5ZYx0V8

- Manitoba Soccer (@ManitobaSoccer) April 27, 2016

Day two brought a visit to the front office, followed by a tour of the Residency program facilities and training program.

Getting to know the club with director of development Dan Lenarduzzi and the rest of the @WhitecapsFC staff pic.twitter.com/n4ch5ehHaM

- Manitoba Soccer (@ManitobaSoccer) April 27, 2016

The evening was capped by watching the MLS match between Whitecaps FC and Sporting Kansas City.

At the @WhitecapsFC game with MB technical leaders! Great environment! Go caps go pic.twitter.com/2X2GLAlqce

- Manitoba Soccer (@ManitobaSoccer) April 28, 2016

To wrap-up the trip, a workshop with Residency coaching staff, including technical director Craig Dalrymple.

Workshop with @WhitecapsYouth Residency program pic.twitter.com/eICplWwZWx

- Manitoba Soccer (@ManitobaSoccer) April 28, 2016

That was followed in the evening by a pre-prospects training session led by James Merriman on the boys side and Humphries on the girls side.

Checking out the Pre-prospects with technical leaders of Manitoba @WFCManitoba @WhitecapsYouth pic.twitter.com/RmT7nDvpHI

- Manitoba Soccer (@ManitobaSoccer) April 29, 2016

Manitoba now hosts both a Whitecaps FC Boys Residency Prospects program, as well as a Girls Elite REX Prospects program. The programs run from U-13 to U-17, with Pre-Prospects from U-9 to U-12. The MSA programs also include regional District Prospects Centres and Prospect Camps which feed into the Pre-Prospects group.

The MSA program is a part of the Whitecaps FC Academy Centre network, including locations on Vancouver Island, in the Okanagan, Kamloops, Northern BC, the Kootenays, the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, Saskatchewan, and London, Ontario.

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