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March 31, 2017 |
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VANCOUVER, B.C - Tony Tony Tony, a feel good transfer pickup for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Tony Tchani joined his new teammates for his first training session on Friday morning at B.C. Place. A defensive midfielder, Tchani brings an excellent work rate, physicality, and the occasional goal-scoring contribution as a number eight on the pitch.
Carl Robinson and the Whitecaps had been working on this particular transfer for the last six weeks. The Caps gaffer was pleased to finally get this transfer over the line.
"A bit of power, a bit of strength to the midfield area," said Robinson, when asked what Tchani brings. "The guys that I've got in those positions, all bring certain qualities, but Tony brings a different quality, a connector type player that I've been looking for since I lost Gershon Koffie last year. I've been trying to identify a player that I wanted and obviously we managed to do a trade with Columbus. I'm really happy for that."
The 27 year-old, Tchani will be in the eighteen when Vancouver hosts the LA Galaxy on Saturday night. He did not feature in any Columbus Crew matches this season. Tchani comes to Vancouver with 172 MLS caps, with 10 goals, and 21 assists. He had an idea that something might be in the works, but to finally have a new team. Tchani was taken back when he learned about his move to Vancouver.
"A little bit," admitted Tchani, "I wasn't sure that it was going to happen this soon. I was maybe hoping that something would happen, but not as soon as possible."
Imagine walking into a new classroom at the beginning of a new school year, or switching to a new professional sports team. Sometimes a player might recognize a familiar face, and other times he might be a fish in a new pond.
"It looks like a very good group of guys," said Tchani upon meeting his new teammates. "They are really friendly. I was a little nervous coming all the way from Columbus and just not knowing a single guy on the team, just by playing against them. I was a little bit nervous, but in the locker room they've been really friendly."
Born in Bafang, Cameron, Tchani has represented the "Indomitable Lions" in two 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He brings a box to box midfield mindset that Vancouver has been looking for since the departure of Gershon Koffie.
"I've always been a guy that's comfortable on the ball," said Tchani. "Doesn't shy (away) from any challenge. I'm a good passer, and sometimes I can get into the attack."
Columbus paid a pretty significant price for the services of Kekuta Manneh. Vancouver had a strong asset, and the Crew handed over a large return. Most noticeably, $225,000 in Targeted Allocation Money, and $75,000 in General Allocation.
Whitecaps FC President, Bobby Lenarduzzi spoke to the press on Thursday, and revealed that the club Vancouver have plenty of forward options in the hopper. Spending some or perhaps all of the combined $300,000 could bring in a terrific new forward.
How soon will Vancouver bring in a new forward to help the offence? Red Nation Online posed that very question to the gaffer, Carl Robinson.
"Well you can ask Bobby, maybe he'll tell you tomorrow," said a cheerful Robinson. "It was a very good deal for us, it's a very good deal for Columbus. Obviously Gregg (Berhalter) and Columbus are very happy, we're very happy, because it gives us a little bit of flexibility. We are looking at certain areas of the field, I won't tell you where, but obviously you know because someone's told you. We're working on a daily basis. We've got a number of targets that we want to bring in. Yes, before this transfer window, hopefully, but I can't guarantee you that, because if I do, and I don't, you'll give me a bit of stick."
The current transfer window is open until Monday, May 8. Yes, that does indeed give Vancouver and any other MLS team, a solid month to transfer players in and out. It's no secret that Vancouver needs help scoring goals. Finding a goal-poacher that can provide help in that area should be a top priority with the money acquired from Columbus.
When a player does move on, it can be tough for teammates to process the reality that professional sports is also a business, and players come and go. Erik Hurtado and Kekuta Manneh were both drafted by Vancouver in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.
"With Kekuta, it fully hasn't processed yet," said Hurtado. "It started hitting me today when he wasn't at training, when we weren't laughing, making jokes in between different drills. Not seeing him in the locker room, he sits next to me. It's a new challenge. We're going to keep in touch, FaceTime every now and then. I'll keep tabs on him, and he'll keep tabs on me. Hopefully we can visit each other in the offseason."
Columbus will visit Vancouver on Saturday, September 16. Hurtado and Manneh will no doubt have to do some proper catching up. They've become the best of friends, and Hurtado will miss all the fun activities they enjoyed together.
"Just hanging out playing FIFA," said Hurtado. "Watching movies, going around downtown, walking, getting to know the city. Going around the Seawall, going to the beach, just everything in Vancouver."
Manneh was briefly at B.C. Place to say goodbye to his former teammates, and collect his belongings to take with him to Columbus. The soft-spoken Manneh is doing his best to adjust to what will be a new life with the Crew.
"He's taking it ok," said Hurtado. "He's excited to get to Columbus, and start a new challenge, start a new chapter in his life. I wish him the best."
It will be a new chapter for both Tchani, and Manneh. Vancouver wanted a defensive midfielder with some goal-scoring attributes, and also wanted to transfer a winger. Columbus gets a young talented prospect who could potentially blossom in a new environment. It was a big blockbuster transfer that benefits both teams.
Notes: In the event Crew SC signs Manneh, who is in the last year of his contract, to a new contract, then Vancouver will also receive Columbus’ natural first round MLS SuperDraft selection in the immediately following draft. Whitecaps FC will receive additional General Allocation Money if Manneh is traded by Columbus prior to December 31, 2018 and Vancouver will retain a percentage of any future transfer fee if Manneh is transferred outside of MLS.
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