VANCOUVER – A new and difficult journey begins for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, one that they’ll have to make without their captain.
The Whitecaps lost a vital player in their home opener last weekend when Jay DeMerit, arguably the face of the franchise, went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon a mere six minutes into a 1-0 home win over Toronto FC.
DeMerit underwent surgery and was subsequently ruled out for six to eight months. The Whitecaps will play their first game without their injured captain on Saturday when they host the Columbus Crew.
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What lies in store for DeMerit in Vancouver remains to be seen.
The American defender is in the final year of a three-year deal with the Whitecaps that pays him roughly about $350,000. He has had his share of injury issues while in Vancouver but through it all has been able to bounce back and return to the lineup.
As the first ever MLS signing for the Whitecaps, DeMerit has done everything the team has asked of him and more. Countless appearances, autograph signings and not to mention the leadership he’s shown on the field.
Now that he’s being forced to the sidelines with a long-term injury, it might be a good time for both DeMerit and the club to look at their options. The obvious question is this: does coach Martin Rennie see DeMerit, at the age of 33, in his long-term plans?
The Whitecaps signed Brad Rusin (26) and Honduran international Johnny Leveron (21) prior to the season. At the time both players appeared to be depth signings, but now they are looking like what the future has in store for the Whitecaps, especially after Rusin gave a credible account form himself when he came on in place of DeMerit versus Toronto.
That’s not to say DeMerit can’t come back from an injury like this and be as good if not better than he has been in the past. But the likelihood of that happening is very slim, even with the Wisconsin native being the fierce competitor that he is.
To be sure, DeMerit has had a remarkable career considering what he had to overcome and go through to get to MLS. He has also helped grow the Whitecaps franchise and take it to where it is today.
Being part of history on March 19, 2011 (the club’s MLS debut) is something DeMerit always references when he speaks about soccer in Vancouver and in Canada. There is no doubt that DeMerit wants to continue playing the game he truly loves, but maybe father time is telling him to slow down.
If the Whitecaps do not offer him a contract before the beginning of next season, another team will, provided he’s fully fit, because of his experience, knowledge of the game and of course his abilities on the field.
It is then up to DeMerit to decide if he wants to continue playing, or call it a career. If he decides to call it quits, he’ll likely be offered some sort of coaching or soccer operations job with the Whitecaps.
Either way, his teammates and Vancouver fans will miss his presence for the next six to eight months.
