VANCOUVER, BC – Carl Robinson believes in his young Canadians.
That’s why he started Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese in the first leg of the 2014 Amway Canadian Championship and added the teenage duo to Vancouver’s MLS roster in September.
That’s why Marco Carducci was rewarded with a first-team contract at the age of 17 before starting both legs of the Amway Canadian Championship. And that’s why Carducci was named the 2014 Whitecaps FC Most Promising Player – as Bustos was last year.
The ‘Caps believe these players, not to mention others like fellow Residency product Sam Adekugbe or current Residency striker Dario Zanatta, have all the tools to succeed at the next level.
Now, they just need a pathway to help prepare them for what’s to come.
Enter USL PRO.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the launch of Whitecaps FC 2, the club’s new USL PRO team that will begin play in the spring of 2015. For Whitecaps FC, the goal is to create a professional team that provides a bridge between its Residency program and MLS.
At its core, the new team is meant for young Canadians like Bustos, Carducci, and Froese.
“Without a doubt,” Robinson told whitecapsfc.com. “I’m not saying that they won’t step into the first team right away. If they do, brilliant. If not, then they don’t lose time and get lost in the middle ground, which has happened to a few of our players before.”
Bustos, Carducci and Froese, who made his MLS debut in front of 55,765 in Seattle, are currently in the midst of their final season with Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency.
The trio, along with Adekugbe and their Residency teammate Jordan Haynes, recently helped the Canadian U-20 men’s national team post an undefeated 2W-0L-1D record in a series of friendlies against England, Russia, and the United States.
And before departing for camp earlier this month, they led Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency to a perfect 9W-0L-0D start to the season.
Bustos had a league-high 13 goals in nine games before departing for camp, while Carducci had an unblemished 5W-0L-0D record with three clean sheets and a 0.60 goals against average.
But what’s next for these players?
They’re each already signed to MLS contracts, but what if they’re not quite ready to step into regular first-team roles right away?
For years, that’s a question Whitecaps FC and other professional teams have been pondering.
The ‘Caps, like most MLS teams, believe USL PRO is the answer.
“It’s that link that we’ve been missing,” said Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency assistant coach Steve Meadley. “From what we do, it finishes the circle and provides a pro environment for these talented young players to make the next step in their careers.”
As its name suggests, USL PRO is a professional league that MLS has partnered with to enhance player development. When you compare it to the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA), the league in which Vancouver’s Residency teams compete, USL PRO is made up of older, stronger, and more experienced players – some who have already played at the MLS level.
“If they come out of the Residency and they’re not quite ready, sometimes they get lost in a two, three or four-year cycle,” Robinson said. “So it’s definitely a much-needed tool for us to try and fast track some of our younger players.”
Last year, Whitecaps FC had a partnership with USL PRO’s Charleston Battery, which required them to loan a minimum of four players to the South Carolina-based outfit. But having a club-operated team close to home opens up even more avenues.
For example, last year Whitecaps FC were only able to recall players from Charleston during the two North American transfer windows. But transfer windows only come into play when dealing with out-of-country teams, so Whitecaps FC and WFC2 will be able to execute loans at any point before the MLS roster freeze.
LA Galaxy were the only MLS team to operate their own USL PRO team last season, but six more teams (Portland, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto, Real Salt Lake, and Vancouver) have already committed to do so in 2015.
“For us coaches to be able to watch these players regularly, and if they do well, reward them with integration into the first team is so beneficial,” said Robinson, adding that it would be a great tool to keep up the match fitness of MLS players who aren’t seeing regular playing time.
Although their goal is to play in MLS on a consistent basis – as it should be – Bustos and Froese both see the benefits of the proposed USL PRO team as well. Froese referred to it as a “stepping stone that would benefit everyone” and Bustos was singing a similar tune.
“It would be super beneficial,” he said. “Once you get both feet into the USL, then you start putting one foot into MLS. And once you get both feet there, anything is possible.”
For more information and news about WFC2, visit the official website at whitecapsfc2.com and follow the team on Facebook.
Whitecaps FC 2 matches will be a unique, affordable experience for soccer fans, families, students, and supporters. The club is now accepting $50 deposits on Season Tickets, which start at $118 plus applicable fees – just $8 per match – for current MLS Season Ticket Holders and the UBC campus community including residents, students, staff, and faculty. A limited supply of family packs are also available, starting at $199. For more information on all ticket options go to whitecapsfc2.com or call 604.669.9283 ext.1.
