Unless you've been in early winter hibernation these last few months, you'll know that Vancouver Whitecaps' focus for this coming season is on developing their plethora of up and coming young talent.
Midfielder Marco Bustos is one of the players pushing for a homegrown MLS contract. Named the Whitecaps' Most Promising Player at the end of last season, the 17 year old Residency player isn't resting on his reputation, knowing he needs to put in the hard work to make his dreams a reality.
Two days into the Caps' preseason camp, Bustos has looked one of the hungriest and stand out players on the training pitch, eager to impress and show he has what it takes to land a MLS contract.
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The Winnipeg native began playing organised soccer at the U4/U5 level, making the move west to join the Whitecaps' Residency program in September 2011. His footballing career has been on an upward trajectory since.
An impressive debut season, that saw Bustos head to the USSDA playoffs with the Caps U16s, was followed up by a breakout 2012/13 campaign where his dominant performances at his age level saw him moved up a year early to the U18 squad when Gordon Forrest took charge of the team.
Bustos continued his development, scoring 14 goals from his 33 appearances last season in the attacking midfielder role. Five of those goals came in the postseason, with Bustos showing that he had a flair for the big occasion.
His performances also earned him a look in the Caps' Reserve team. The club needed to see how he would perform at the next level and playing against men, not boys. His one goal and two assists (all coming in two games against Seattle incidentally) in just four appearances gave them some idea.
The highlight of 2013 for Bustos though was travelling to the UAE to play for Canada in the U17 World Cup. He played in all three games, starting two and contributing an assist, and it was an experience he won't forget.
<i>"Oh it was good. Being in Dubai, which is just such an amazing city, and being part of the Under 17 World Cup is not something that many people can say. It was a good experience overall and we didn't get the results we wanted but saying I've played in a World Cup is perfectly fine with me."</i>
But all that is now in the past, and whilst it still counts for something when looking to his future, at the same time, in the training camp environment, it counts for nothing.
Competition for a MLS contract is fierce. If you've learned anything from financial ads over the years it's that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
To get to that holy grail, Bustos needs to work harder than he ever has before in the preseason camp. Nothing will be handed to him on reputation alone. He has to earn that spot and that's the approach he has taken with him into this week.
Does that lure of a spot on the MLS squad hang over him?
<i>"Not really. I just really want to show my best. I mean a MLS contract is there but I just want come out and have fun and hopefully they can see what I can do and see that I'm having fun. I'm always smiling."</i>
And he has a lot to smile about.
It goes without saying that Bustos still has a lot of development ahead of him if he wants to carve out a career in the professional ranks. Like all players, his game still needs work. No-one is saying he's going to come into the MLS squad and be an immediate starter or a member of the gameday 18. For now this is all about the first step on his journey.
There's always a danger in building up a young player too much, and we know we're guilty of it at times here on AFTN, but Bustos has not only impressed those of us watching the opening days of training camp from the sidelines, but also the Caps' management.
So what does head coach Carl Robinson want to see from Bustos for the rest of this week and carrying on into Arizona and the rest of preseason?
<i>"Just exactly what he's shown in the first two days.
"I think he brings an energy. He's got a bit of character about him. He's got a swagger in his step, but he keeps his feet on the ground and if you see him and Nigel reacting in training together and getting combination play, that's what I want.
"That's why I'm bringing these players in in preseason. To get them mixed with the older players because once they're able to do that and cope with that then the ability comes out and I think we've seen that in two days from Marcus cos I think he's been fantastic in the first two days."</i>
Bustos has trained with the first team before but a preseason camp is always that little bit different. How has he found it so far, especially coming back in after the winter break?
<i>"It's been good, really sharp. It was good to get moving again and we're slowly getting in to it, fitnesswise, everybody. The medical staff are looking after us.
"It's just great to get back with everybody. Being in the first team environment is really good and getting experience from guys like Nigel Reo-Coker and Andy O'Brien."</i>
With six of his Residency teammates in the camp to share the experience, both on and off the field, familiar faces are not only good at easing the pressure on the training pitch, knowing each others games inside and out helps them shine too.
<i>"Yeah for sure. Playing with them everyday in the Residency and coming in, some of us are in teams together so we pass the ball maybe with a bit more chemistry.
"It's good seeing how the Residency is progressing and having a bunch of us here with the first team and preseason is really good for the Residency, good promotion."</i>
The Whitecaps are training at UBC until Monday morning before heading down to Casa Grande in Arizona for ten days and three practice matches.
Vancouver are regular visitors to Arizona but this will be Bustos' first time on a preseason trip that is felt to be a key part of the squad's bonding as both a cohesive team on the pitch and a close knit group off it.
It's also a time when the rookies have to pay their dues to the older guys and in recent seasons that has involved putting on a talent show.
Has Marco been told what to expect down there?
<i>"I've talked to a couple of guys and they just told me to expect to work my hardest and to show my hunger and that I want to be here and expect to maybe get pushed around a little bit! But to be there is a great experience and hopefully I get the best out of it."</i>
Whilst there are never any guarantees in football, especially for young players trying to make the grade, Marco Bustos is doing all his talking on the training pitch.
We'll soon find out if his hunger in the scrimmage games and in training has earned him a spot on the MLS roster in time for First Kick or if he just needs to bide his time for that little bit longer. But if he keeps up his early showing and attitude in camp, then you have to think that the odds will be ever in his favour.
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