BURNABY, B.C. — The Vancouver Whitecaps head into Columbus this Saturday looking to build some momentum from their 1-0 win against FC Dallas last weekend.
Vancouver will have no shortage of inspiration heading into their tilt with the Crew, as hometown boy Michael Nanchoff will be making the trip this year.
Nanchoff, a 23-year-old native of Ohio, is expecting over 500 friends and family at the game and says it will be like a home game for him.
“You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this,” Nanchoff said.
“My only word to explain it is ecstatic. There will be people from all over coming not only to hopefully see me play, but cheer on the Whitecaps and I think it will feel like a home away from home.”
Picked eighth overall by the Whitecaps in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Nanchoff has only made five appearances for the club, playing a total of 137 minutes because of injury problems. He has yet to make a appearance for the Whitecaps in 2012.
“It was really tough for me, I wanted to play so bad. I’m such a competitor so for me not to be out there with the guys is heartbreaking, but I have been working hard, I feel good and I hope I am able to play come Saturday,” said Nanchoff.
Salgado shines
After the Whitecaps’ performance vs. FC Dallas last weekend there was one player that stood out for coach Martin Rennie and his coaching staff, and it was 18-year-old Omar Salgado.
The first overall pick in last in last year’s MLS draft, Salgadp has impressed coaches with his work ethic both on and off the field.
“Omar has come in and earned a spot to be in the 18-man roster every week. The way he carries himself as a professional, the countless hours he puts in after training is really paying off. He is deserving of everything he is getting right now,” Rennie said.
All of this leads me to believe that Salgado will once again be in the starting eleven for the Whitecaps playing in the new left-forward role.
From what I gathered at training on Wednesday the Whitecaps probable starting lineup against the Crew will be: Joe Cannon; Jordan Harvey, Jay DeMerit, Martin Bonjour and Y.P Lee; Gershon Koffie, Jun Marques Davidson and Matt Watson; Omar Salgado, Eric Hassli and Sebastien Le Toux.
Camilo did take a knock earlier in the week at training and I don’t see Rennie being in any rush to get him back onto the pitch, even though he did score the brilliant lone goal in the team’s win last week.
Rennie has built this team around its depth and knows what he can get out of each and every player on his squad.
The Scottish tactician also has the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship to worry about, with the Whitecaps travelling to Alberta to take on FC Edmonton on May 2 in the first leg of their semifinal.
With the way the tournament ended for Vancouver last time around, I know it is something that is very high on the “to do” list for the Whitecaps.
Irfaan Gaffar is a Vancouver-based writer who works out of the Sporstnet Pacific Bureau. Follow Irfaan on Twitter.