Big year ahead for new-look Whitecaps

By Bob Mackin

Vancouver Whitecaps men's team begins training camp tomorrow at Simon Fraser University atop Burnaby Mountain. They'll play a half-dozen games on a southwest B.C. pre-season tour before starting their 19th season at Swangard Stadium on April 22 against the Portland Timbers.

It might be the most important year in the history of the organization, which debuted at Swangard as the community-owned Eighty-Sixers in 1987 and adopted the old Whitecaps' moniker during 2000's off-season. Like the waves in the team's logo, it's been an up-and-down, sometimes turbulent ride. These days, it's mostly smooth sailing under secretive owner Greg Kerfoot.

He's a Lotusland version of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, but his sports investments are decidedly modest and he shies away from the limelight. He lets charismatic president John Rocha and soccer boss Bob Lenarduzzi do the talking.

Talking they've done lots of this off-season, as they sell the merits of Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. Kerfoot bought up the railyard behind Waterfront Station last summer and Rocha and Lenarduzzi unveiled plans last October (before Thanksgiving). They've given up on fast tracking for next year's FIFA World Youth Championship, instead they've taken up navigating through city hall's process with a feasibility study to be presented in May.

They've been trying to educate Downtown Eastsiders opposed to the project. There are the usual members of Vancouver's ubiquitous anti-fun squad who won't be swayed. Others have legitimate concerns about what else Kerfoot dreams of building above the railway tracks to the east of the site. Some even think the stadium could house the homeless when it's not booked. (Not a bad idea, so long as they're not fed that orange liquid cheese served on nachos at stadiums. That would be cruel and unusual.)

Whitecaps are spending lots of money on advertising to tell the rest of the Lower Mainland that they're the local sports franchise that best embodies Canada's 21st century multicultural ethos. Regulars already know how delightful it is to gather on a spring or summer night at Swangard to worship the world's game with fellow fans from every continent.

To amplify that, the club is hosting its first Nations Cup friendly tournament in July with India's national team, China's under-20 squad and Wales' Cardiff City FC.

On the field, it'll be a different Whitecaps team under sophomore coach Bob Lilley.

Defender Chris Franks has retired to become a physiotherapist. A tad ironic, since the former Vancouver College and University of B.C. star certainly was a patient of many physios during a career riddled with injuries. Carlo Corazzin has severed ties with the club, while Nick Dasovic is taking a reduced role because he's the new reserve team coach when he's not assisting Dale Mitchell with Canada's youth men's team.

SFU star Andrew Corazza, the Whitecaps' top draft pick, will be competing for a spot up front with last year's USL First Division MVP Jason Jordan and American newcomers Daniel Antoniuk and Corey Woolfolk.

The frontline depth is under pressure to produce goals to propel the team into the league championship after nine consecutive playoff berths and early exits.

published on 03/24/2006