Only days before they’re set to open their MLS season against Toronto FC, the Whitecaps have <a href="http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2011/03/whitecaps-fc-sign-four-more-players-mls-side">added four more players to their MLS roster</a>. The new signings are midfielders Russell Teibert and Alexandre Morfaw, central defender Michael Boxall and striker Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo. All are 23 or younger, so they may not prove critical parts of the club this season, but they could be an important part of Vancouver’s future.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Teibert will be a familiar name to many fans of the blue and white, as he’s been in the team’s residency program since 2008. He’s the team’s fourth homegrown signing, after midfielders Philippe Davies and Nizar Khalfan and goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre. He’s also on a Generation Adidas contract. Teibert's only 18, but has already seen plenty of high-calibre action, suiting up for Vancouver in USSF-II play last year and playing for Canada at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels. Teibert is the youngest of the four players, but he certainly has plenty of potential as both a Whitecaps’ player and a Canadian international. He’s not the biggest guy (he’s listed at 5’7’’, 145 pounds), but has good touch and a considerable turn of speed. He may be kept to limited duty this year, though, thanks to his age.
Morfaw is another name that many will remember. He’s a 23-year-old from Cameroon and has played for their U-17, U-20 and U-23 teams. He came up through the development system of FC Nantes in France, but has also played in the English Championship with Scunthorpe United and in Sweden with Bodens Bandyklubb. He joined the Whitecaps in August last year and made six Division II appearances for them. We’ll see if he can work his way into their midfield rotation.
Boxall, 22, was selected by the Whitecaps with the top pick in the MLS supplemental draft in January. He’s a New Zealand native who played four years in the NCAA with the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos, and he’s already been capped by the Kiwis’ senior team (as well as playing for their junior teams). The Whitecaps do already have an experienced corps of central backs, including Jay DeMerit and Greg Janicki, so Boxall also may not see much time at first, but he’s definitely an intriguing prospect.
The most interesting player may be da Silva Sanvezzo, though. He’s also 22 and just joined the Whitecaps after a successful trial. Born in Brazil, he’s played for Oeste Paulista Esporte Club and Sport Club Corinthians Alagoano there. He also had a great run with Malta’s Qormi FC in 2009-10, scoring 24 league goals and six cup goals for them (and leading the league in both categories). Most recently, he played for South Korea’s Gyeongnam FC, but only saw seven first-team appearances there. That doesn’t necessarily bode well for his chances of playing with Vancouver, but head coach Teitur Thordarson and the Whitecaps’ personnel staff must have seen something they liked from him in his trial. Vancouver’s lineup also might have plenty of room for rotation up front, so he could perhaps find some playing time.