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The Vancouver Whitecaps announced their 2018 Player Awards on Wednesday. It is no surprise that Alphonso Davies was voted BMO Player of the Year by fans. Although he was unable to be named Man of the Match, due to it being sponsored by Budweiser, Davies was clearly the best Whitecaps player in at least half of the club’s matches. Davies was the lone representative at the 2018 MLS All-Star game and has set a new league record with 121 completed dribbles, while leading MLS in duels won at 255. Sunday will be his final match as a Whitecaps player, as he is set to join FC Bayern Munich after the season.
Adding to his winnings, Davies also received the award for Goal of the Year, for his strike on July 14th against DC United
The long(est) time Whitecaps Russell Teibert also picked up an award, receiving the Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero award, selected by the club’s technical staff. It may be surprising to some that Teibert is in his 10th season with the club (8th with the first team). Teibert has found a way back into the first team rotation this season and has shone. His pairing with Aly Ghazal in the first half of the season led to positive results for the club, while his late-season switch to a more offensive role led to his first goal in five years. Overall, Teibert leads the Whitecaps in passing accuracy, at 88%, and ranks fourth on the team with 35 interceptions.
Newcomer Doneil Henry was selected by the club’s community relations staff as the Humanitarian of the Year, for his numerous charitable appearances with BC Children’s Hospital, Day of Giving, Pride Parade, and Community Clinics.
Signing his first-team Homegrown contract in July, 18-year-old Michael Baldisimo was selected as the Most Promising (Male) Player. Baldisimo played on the Whitecaps FC U-19 side, helping them to a semifinal finish in the Academy Championship, and featured for Canada’s U-21 national team. Next month, he will represent Canada at the U-20 CONCACAF Championship.
17-year-old Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX Centre Caitlin Shaw was awarded the Most Promising (Female) Player, and Youth Soccer Player award. Caitlin made seven appearances for the Canadian national team at the U-20 and U-17 CONCACAF Women’s Championship tournaments.
Finally, newcomer Kei Kamara received the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot award for his 14 goal (currently) tally.
What are your thoughts on the award winners? Surprised by any of them? Who would have been your winners?