Vancouver Whitecaps News Release - www.whitecapsfc.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
VANCOUVER, BC -- Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced that they have re-signed defenders Adrian Cann and Diaz Kambere. Cann and Kambere have agreed to one-year contracts, plus an option. The Canadian Soccer Association also announced that Kambere has been named to Canada’s U-23 Olympic qualifying roster.
Cann, 27, returns for his third season with the Whitecaps and fifth in the United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1). The six-foot-three, 184-pound centre back enjoyed his best season last year with the ‘Caps, earning the club’s Outstanding Defender award. Cann started 25 of 26 matches and lead the team in minutes played with 2,253. The defender scored his first professional goal in a 3-1 away victory against the California Victory on May 19 and was named to the USL-1 Team of the Week three times.
Last January, the native of Thornhill, Ontario, earned his first senior national team cap in a 1-0 away victory against Martinique. Cann also earned two U-23 Olympic team starts during the 2001 Francophone Games in Ottawa, Ontario.
As a top prospect from the University of Louisville, Cann was invited to the Major League Soccer (MLS) combine and was later drafted 16th overall by the Colorado Rapids in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Cann, who was also drafted by Montreal Impact in the first round of the USL-1 College Draft, was released by the Rapids in mid-season and immediately signed by Montreal. He made his USL-1 debut with the Impact on July 14, 2004. Cann played two years with the Impact before signing with the Whitecaps.
Kambere, 22, will enter his third season with the Whitecaps. The five-foot-nine, 160-pound defender played in 15 matches for 933 combined minutes in 2007. He was named to the USL-1 Team of the Week in Week 10, where he led the ‘Caps to a scoreless draw at Puerto Rico Islanders.
A native of Kasese, Uganda, Kambere moved to Canada with his family in 1992 and now resides in Surrey, BC. The defender has been selected to Canada’s U-23 Olympic team and will look to help Canada earn a spot in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Kambere is one of 20 players to be selected by head coach and former Whitecaps defender Nick Dasovic. Canada will open the round-robin competition against Mexico in Carson, California, on Wednesday, March 12.
Kambere played his youth soccer for Vancouver’s Italian Canadian Sports Federation (ICSF) and the Eagle Ridge Rogue Selects in Coquitlam, BC. The defender attended Langara College from 2003 to 2004 and was named the British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association (BCCAA) Rookie of the Year. In 2004, he was named BCCAA Player of the Year and a Canadian Colleges Athletic Association All-Canadian. From 2005 to 2006, he attended Trinity Western University and helped the Langley-based school to back-to-back Canada West championship titles. Kambere claimed CIS Second Team All-Canadian and Canada West First Team All-Star honours in 2005.
Vancouver Whitecaps open the 2008 regular season at Swangard Stadium against the Montreal Impact on Saturday, April 12. Season tickets are now on sale, starting at $199. Call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit whitecapsfc.com for more information.
