VANCOUVER — It was only the first day of the Vancouver Whitecaps’ preseason training camp and already newly signed Japanese striker Masato Kudo faced a difficult question.
Considering the number of Latin American players on the Whitecaps’ roster, was it more important for Kudo to learn English or Spanish?
"I am currently learning English right now," a laughing Kudo said through an interpreter Friday. "If I have the option, and if I feel very comfortable with the team, I would like to learn Spanish."
Whitecaps’ coach Carl Robinson won’t care what language the 25-year-old from Tokyo speaks as long as he scores goals for the Major League Soccer team.
"Having different personal with different characteristics is important to me," said Robinson. "Masato brings a different element to our game because he’s in the box all the time.
"Sometimes I think last year we were very pretty on the eye to watch but we didn’t get numbers in the box. He will do that."
Vancouver finished second in the Western Conference last season with a 16-13-5 record. The Whitecaps lost 2-0 on aggregate to Portland, the eventual MLS champion, in the conference semifinal.
During the regular season Vancouver scored 45 goals, fourth-fewest among the 12 playoff teams, while allowing just 36. During the final six games of the season Vancouver went 1-3-2 and scored just five goals, three coming in the last game.
Kudo, who began playing soccer when he was 10, is the all-time leader for his J1League club Kashiwa Reysol with 92 goals in 260 appearances. He also has two goals in four senior international appearances for Japan.
Kudo denies feeling any burden from the expectations being placed on him in Vancouver.
"There is no additional pressure," he said. "I already knew I am coming here for goal scoring in general.
"I usually score goals in the penalty area. I try my best to score a lot of goals there."
Kudo also hopes to open the door for more of his countrymen to come to MLS. Currently, league games are not broadcast in Japan.
"My aspiration is to play very well so more Japanese players will come here to play and Japan will broadcast more MLS to see what it is like," he said.
The Whitecaps have also signed Costa Rican midfielder Christian Bolanos. The 31-year-old has played in over 400 matches and scored 55 goals in Costa Rica, Denmark, Norway and Qatar.
Robinson said the team is also looking at signing a new right back.
"It’s taking a little longer than I would have liked but we are getting closer," he said. "Hopefully in the next few days."
Robinson said adding new players helps make the Whitecaps less predictable.
"Last year we did very well at certain times and we struggled at certain times when teams were able to figure us out," Robinson said. "The additions are different to what we had.
"We will try different things in preseason, whether it’s formations or personnel. It’s good as a manger to have choices."
Goalkeeper David Ousted comes to camp entering the final year of his contract. The 30-year-old MLS all-star said talks continue on a new deal.
"Hopefully we get something sorted before everything gets going," he said. "Like it is with any negotiation, it’s a little bit of back and forth.
"We will see what happens the next couple of weeks."
He doesn’t believe the contract talks will be a distraction.
"My job hasn’t changed," Ousted said. "My job is to get ready.
"My job is to prepare myself as well as I can for the upcoming season."
Vancouver will have 22 first-team players at the preseason camp. Medicals will be Saturday with fitness testing Monday.
"Monday will be hard work," said Robinson. "There won’t be many smiles on their faces then."
Also attending will be eight Whitecaps FC 2 players, three residency players, three unsigned 2016 MLS SuperDraft selections and three camp invitees.
The team departs Jan. 31 for 11 days to compete in the Desert Friendlies against Seattle, New England and Houston. Vancouver opens open the MLS regular season March 6 at BC Place Stadium against the Montreal Impact.
