A lot has changed in the soccer world in the 40 years since the Vancouver Whitecaps captured a North American Soccer League championship.
Players have different haircuts now and donB次元官网网址檛 often sport moustaches, and many are covered in tattoos.
But todayB次元官网网址檚 team has a lot to learn from the squad that captured a title back in 1979.
B次元官网网址淭he fashion has changed so much. The game has changed, some of the rules have changed,B次元官网网址� Whitecaps coach Marc Dos Santos said. B次元官网网址滲ut the need for commitment to succeed and humility and character and personality, that is a need that was there 40 years ago.B次元官网网址�
Dos SantosB次元官网网址檚 players met with members of the B次元官网网址�79 team on Thursday, a day before the club celebrates the 40th anniversary of the championship when the Whitecaps host Toronto FC.
B次元官网网址淭here were a lot of things done 40 years ago in that locker room that could be done today in our locker room,B次元官网网址� Dos Santos said. B次元官网网址漈hereB次元官网网址檚 always things to learn from generations. The speed of the game changes, maybe some of the tactics change, but the spirit of the winning mentality, the belief, (has been around) since the days of the gladiator.B次元官网网址�
Fifteen players from the championship-winning team will be on hand for FridayB次元官网网址檚 ceremonies. Coach Tony Waiters will also be present and will be inducted into the clubB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渞ing of honour.B次元官网网址�
After two and a half seasons with the Whitecaps, Waiters went on to coach Team Canada at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the national teamB次元官网网址檚 first World Cup appearance in 1986.
Now 82, Waiters reflected on the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� historic win Thursday, saying it doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem all that long ago.
B次元官网网址淔orty years has gone by like nothing on Earth. It seems like yesterday,B次元官网网址� he said.
The former goalkeeper for EnglandB次元官网网址檚 national squad spent two and half seasons in Vancouver, chalking up a 66-30 record in NASL play.
He remembers the B次元官网网址�79 team as a mix of Canadians and a group of Brits who were B次元官网网址渉ard livers but hard players as well.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he fans enjoyed the way we played. Because they were tough guys B次元官网网址� had to keep a good eye on them because they could get out of hand very quickly B次元官网网址� but they played hard and there were some very attractive players,B次元官网网址� Waiters said.
B次元官网网址淲e had a good team and we had to have a good team to do what we did in the end.B次元官网网址�
to one of the greatest parties Vancouver has ever seen.
B次元官网网址� Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC)
Celebrate with the '79 champs tomorrow: |
An estimated 120,000 people came to celebrate in downtown Vancouver after the Whitecaps won the championship, he added.
Meeting Waiters and other members of the B次元官网网址�79 team was B次元官网网址渧ery coolB次元官网网址� for current B次元官网网址楥aps and Team Canada midfielder Russell Teibert.
The group is still incredibly tight-knit and continue to be passionate about the club, he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just a championship. ItB次元官网网址檚 something that they live and breathe,B次元官网网址� Teibert said. B次元官网网址漈he Whitecaps are a team that they love. And the championship didnB次元官网网址檛 mean something just for one year. This is a championship that weB次元官网网址檙e celebrating 40 years later.B次元官网网址�
There are a lot of lessons todayB次元官网网址檚 Whitecaps can take from the former champions, said centre back Derek Cornelius.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to build a team thatB次元官网网址檚 built off championships, built off winning and theyB次元官网网址檝e done that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭o be a club like that, itB次元官网网址檚 great to lean on someone whoB次元官网网址檚 already been there and take tips and see what we can do to bring us to the next level.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 important for current players to know the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� winning history, Dos Santos said, noting that there are photos from the clubB次元官网网址檚 greatest moments all around its training facilities.
B次元官网网址淭hat shows that youB次元官网网址檙e a club that wants to go somewhere and a club that respects the past. I think itB次元官网网址檚 very important,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭his is what I think a club is about. Many years of history, many things that happened and now weB次元官网网址檙e here and we want to try to also write a page somehow in the history of our club.B次元官网网址�
Knowing that more than a dozen members of the title-winning team will be in the crowd on Friday will be an extra bit of motivation.
B次元官网网址淚f there was ever a time to win a game for someone or something, itB次元官网网址檚 (Friday) against Toronto FC,B次元官网网址� Teibert said. B次元官网网址漌e owe it to the B次元官网网址�79 team.B次元官网网址�
ALSO READ:
ALSO READ:
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
