Subrata Paul has promise, but he's not ready to start in MLS: Whitecaps
BY BRUCE CONSTANTINEAU
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps will not offer contracts to recent international trialists Subrata Paul and Dimitri Durand.
But the Major League Soccer-bound squad continues to scout new players as the July 15 transfer window approaches and 23-year-old Vancouver midfielder Alex Elliott has shown up on the team's radar.
Elliott is a Magee high school grad who played for the University of Portland before spending two seasons with Mainz 05 II of the German third division.
A Whitecaps representative said Elliott will likely train with the team before the transfer window opens.
Paul failed to secure a contract despite the fact he's India's No. 1 national goalkeeper.
His agent, Arvind Narayan, said the Whitecaps felt the 23-year-old keeper had promise but was not yet good enough to start for an MLS team.
Durand, a 28-year-old French striker, had nine goals in 23 appearances last season with French fourth-division side Red Star FC 93.
MLS IS A HOT TICKET: The Whitecaps said 2011 season ticket sales have gone well since reopening the second phase of sales last weekend but would not release a number. The team, which joins MLS next year, has already sold more than 10,000 season ticket deposits and want to cap the number at 16,500.
DOME TURF TURFED: PavCo has scrapped plans to use the old artificial turf at BC Place at the temporary Empire Fields stadium.
The new AstroTurf installed at the temporary facility has been approved by FIFA, meaning the Whitecaps can play on the surface when they move to Empire Fields next year.
The old BC Place turf was not FIFA-approved.
bconstantineau@vancouversun.com
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