Steve Nash trains with Residency
September 18, 2009
By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com
Thursday was a unique day for members of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency team, as NBA basketball star and Vancouver Major League Soccer (MLS) 2011 co-owner Steve Nash took part in a special private training session with the squad at Brockton Oval.
A sunny and warm late summer's day greeted Thomas Niendorf's new-look squad, selected members of the Whitecaps men's team, and the Phoenix Suns point guard for the 90-minute training session on Brockton Oval's rugby pitch. A large contingent of media and invited guests were on hand to see one of basketball's top players mix in with some of the club's promising young talent, as Whitecaps men's team head coach Teitur Thordarson conducted the training session for the absent Niendorf.
Thanks to the presence of Nash, Thursday's training session was a unique opportunity for the club and the Whitecaps Foundation to raise the awareness of the full-time Residency program and its importance within the structure of the Whitecaps Club Model. The event also allowed the Whitecaps Foundation to highlight to potential donors the innovative and one-of-a-kind opportunities for investment in the development and education of future Whitecaps men's team players.
"One of the areas that Steve is most passionate about within our club is the Residency program," Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said before Thursday's training session. "As a Vancouver MLS 2011 co-owner, it's appropriate that he is here today to train with the guys and lend his experience as a professional athlete to our young players."
Thursday's event began with a brief press conference, as Nash and Lenarduzzi were joined by Residency players Bobby Jhutty and Russell Teibert. Then following a short question-and-answer session with the media, Nash joined the Residency team for a short warm-up before taking part in a spirited 'keep away' session of ball possession. Nash then showed his soccer abilities were in fine order during a 'crossing and finishing' drill, while his work rate at both ends of the pitch was evident during a well-contested team scrimmage. At the end of the training session, Nash spoke to the Residency players and passed on some of his wisdom and experience of what it takes to be a successful athlete in professional sport.
"For me to come up here and have a training session with the Residency team in fantastic," Nash said. "To get a closer proximity to the daily mechanics of how these young guys train and how they are getting ready for a career as soccer players is a real privilege. Having not had an opportunity like this myself, it's great for me to see these young players are having the chance to maximize their potential as soccer players by being in the Residency program."
Teibert felt training with Nash was a special moment in his young career. "Like Steve had mentioned earlier, today was like being a kid in a candy store for me," he said. "I didn't know what to expect at the beginning, but he showed that his awareness and understanding on the soccer pitch was there. To then listen to his first-hand experiences as a pro athlete after training was amazing. For me, it doesn’t get much better than that."
After having his soccer skills put to the test by the Residency team, the Victoria, BC, native then spoke to around 30 invited guests at a Whitecaps Foundation fundraising event for the Residency program at the Brockton Cricket Pavilion.
Don't miss this Saturday's 'Showdown in Downtown' event at Vancouver's David Lam Park, as Nash and his team of basketball and soccer celebrities take on members of the Whitecaps men's team and Residency program in a special eight-a-side soccer match in support of The Steve Nash Foundation and local charities. There will be a 'Showdown Street Festival' that begins at 1 p.m. at David Lam Park, while kick-off for 'Showdown in Downtown' is set for 3 p.m. Admission is free!
Click here for more information about 'Showdown in Downtown'.
