VANCOUVER, BC - Whitecaps FC returned to the pitch for their first training session back home in Vancouver after an undefeated start to preseason at the 2016 Desert Friendlies in Tucson, Arizona.
Here are a few notes from Friday's training.
#ThxGersh
Gershon Koffie came by the training centre to clean out his locker and say goodbye to his former teammates.
Since Thursday's trade, several 'Caps players took to social media to send their friend and former teammate their well-wishes in the next stop of his career.
Koffie stood and watched on the sidelines as the team trained, then addressed his former teammates after the session, and received a standing ovation from his peers when he was finished.
"We wish Koffie the best. We're going to miss him as a club, and as players on and off the field," defender Tim Parker said. "He's a great person and we want him to do the best for himself and for his career."
INTRODUCTION TO VANCOUVER
New acquisition Fraser Aird, who arrived in Vancouver the night before departing for Tucson, has now had his first taste of the city after returning from Tucson on Wednesday.
"I've just been getting my bearings and finding where everything is," the defender said. "It's my first time here in the training facility, first time on the pitch with the boys in the training grounds. It was a good tactical session today."
One thing that is not new to Aird on this wet Vancouver morning is the training condition.
"It's the same as Scotland where it rains all the time. It's something I'm used to, it's normal for me."
NEW FACES FITTING IN
In addition to Aird, new acquisition Christian Bolaños also had his first training session in Vancouver.
"They're fitting in pretty well and having them will really benefit this team," Parker said of his new teammates.
Another player was officially welcomed to the roster while the team was in Tucson as rookie Cole Seiler was signed. After a successful rookie year in 2015, Parker has already shared some tips with Seiler, who was picked 16th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
"I just told him to keep doing his thing, keep plugging away. I told him to use every experience and every advice and fine-tune it to his game, hear what he needs to hear," Parker said about his conversation with his fellow centre back. "Just keep plugging away and good things will come."
If the first three preseason matches are any indication, it appears that good things are coming indeed.
OLD FRIEND
A familiar face was seen on the field Friday. Goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi is in town and will be a guest player at camp for the next week. The former 'Caps goalkeeper is training with his former teammates in order to maintain his fitness levels.
Tornaghi spent the last two seasons with the 'Caps and helped the club win the Voyageurs Cup in 2015.
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