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Posted by
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November 6, 2015 |
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VANCOUVER, B.C - The Vancouver Whitecaps thirty-four match MLS season was sprinkled in with some Amway Canadian Championship matches, and CONCACAF Champions League matches as well. The journey from training camp in January to the MLS Playoffs in November can become a long, tiring, and continuous grind for football players. The Whitecaps won the Amway Canadian Championship Final by defeating the Montreal Impact 4-2 on aggregate on August 26 at BC Place. This is the first time the Whitecaps have hoisted the Voyageurs Cup and as Canadian hip hop artist Drake puts it...
"They need some really big rings
They need some really nice things
Better be comin' with no strings
Better be comin' with no strings
We need some really nice things
We need some really big rings."
Rings, and nice things did indeed come the Vancouver Whitecaps way. To help remember the momentous occasion of winning the 'Ship'. Whitecaps centre-back Pa-Modou Kah purchased rings for the entire Whitecaps team and coaching staff out of his own pocket. The championship rings were introduced on Friday, October 30 following the Whitecaps training session in Vancouver before playing the Portland Timbers in the 1st Leg of the MLS Playoffs on Sunday November 1.
Kah who is sidelined with a nagging groin injury, wanted to motivate his teammates and help build confidence for a potential run to the MLS Cup on Sunday, December 6.
"They were happy and that was the gesture of it. They were very happy and I hope it will spur us motivation for what we need to do (going) forward and that's trying to win a championship."
Presenting a winning championship team with a championship ring is common place in North American sports. In football this is something we don't see often enough. Kah took a tradition from North America and added his own little spin on it.
The 35 year-old is hoping he built a lifelong memory for his teammates.
"No I've never done it, but I felt it was deserving because in Europe you just get your medals and that's it. As a tradition in North American sports it's that your teammates get rings. I thought that we deserved it after winning the Canadian Championship and being the first time in club history. You remember for the rest of your life that you achieved something together and hopefully we can achieve more."
The rings resemble a bit of a Super Bowl like appearance. Kah didn't bring in a designer with a portfolio background in jewellery design. In fact, he designed the ring himself with some help.
"Well I designed it myself together with a friend of mine who has a company. Like I say, it's a tradition."
Notes: The Vancouver Whitecaps are expecting a sold out crowd of 27,500 on Sunday.
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