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MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Whitecaps FC Activate Winger Kamron Habibullah and Loan Midfielder Damiano Pecile

May 2, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release


VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Sunday that the club has added winger Kamron Habibullah to the first team roster and the Homegrown product will be eligible for tonight's match against Colorado Rapids.

"Kamron has been knocking at the door, he showed up the right way, humble, worked hard, discipline and he deserves to be added to our active roster," said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director and chief executive officer. "Now, it's important for him to continue on the same path because one thing is for sure, there are no gifts. Our team is competing for important points, every single game is competitive, and all our players need to convince the coach they can contribute and be a solution."

Habibullah, 17, has been with the first team since the start of preseason camp and signed an MLS contract just over a week ago.

Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and raised in Vancouver, Habibullah first joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System as a 12-year-old in 2016. Over three seasons playing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy from U-16 to U-19, he amassed 21 goals in 58 appearances.

At the national team level, Habibullah represented Canada's U-17 men's national team in 2019, scoring three goals during qualifying and then starting twice and making three appearances later that year at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.

The club also confirmed on Sunday that Homegrown midfielder Damiano Pecile will be loaned to the youth team of Italian Serie B club Venezia FC next month, pending medical. The loan is through June 2022 and includes an option to purchase.

"Damiano made a big step last year and he is much closer to earning meaningful minutes with our first team squad; however, to get only a few minutes this year is not enough for his development," added Schuster. "After connecting with Damiano, his family and his agent, we all agreed that the right platform for him, at this moment, is to continue his growth on loan with Venezia FC. We will be following him closely and we hope that after this year, he will have developed a lot, and will be ready for the next step."

Pecile joined the first team in February 2020 and made his professional debut late in the 'Caps season finale last year. The VWFC BMO Academy product, who turned 19 last month, will continue to train with the 'Caps for the next couple weeks before moving to Italy in June.

A Canadian-Italian dual citizen, Pecile originally joined the club's Academy program at age 13 in 2015, eventually moving up to the Development Squad in 2019.

Prior to joining Whitecaps FC, Pecile had a training stint with Serie B club U.S. Cremonese youth teams in 2013.

Born in Vancouver and raised in Burnaby, Pecile has represented Canada at the youth level, most recently starting all three matches at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

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