Posted by

Harjeet Johal ,

February 17, 2015 Twitter

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VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Vancouver Whitecaps are a team that are on the up and up as they steadily gain assets under the guidance of Carl Robinson and his coaching staff. The Whitecaps organization are working towards growing depth and a stockpile of young talented footballers at each and every position. Sam Adekugbe is one of many young players hoping to push his veteran Whitecaps teammates for more playing time this season. The Whitecaps Homegrown player has earned two starts and three appearances off the bench in his two MLS seasons with the Whitecaps. Jordan Harvey has been a mainstay at left-back for Vancouver and has started 56 matches during the last two seasons. Adekugbe has a lot of respect and a strong relationship with the Whitecaps first team full-back. "Jordan's a good player, he's done well last season and he's doing well this (pre)season. He's going to push me and I'm going to push him. It comes down to whoever is playing better during preseason." The 20 year-old started and played 63' minutes in the Whitecaps 6-0 win over the University of Victoria Vikes on Sunday afternoon. Adekugbe also earned a pair of starts and a total of 120' minutes of action in Vancouver's three preseason matches in Tucson, Arizona earlier this month. Carl Robinson is using the preseason to build player chemistry, while also integrating new players and trialists. Adekugbe has enjoyed the preseason environment and team comradery. "It was useful, obviously a very good level against MLS teams. We played different mix-ups in the starting eleven so it was obviously good to get back in there and play 11 v 11 in a good quality environment." The addition of Whitecaps FC 2 could potentially provide plenty of USL playing time for youngsters like Adekugbe, Christian Dean, Ethen Sampson, Marco Bustos, Kianz Froese, Ben McKendry, Caleb Clarke, Andre Lewis, and goalkeeper Marco Carducci. Adekugbe would prefer to play with the Whitecaps first team, but he understands the development route the Whitecaps may ask him to take, which might include matches with Whitecaps FC 2. "Of course I'm going to try and get myself into the first team, but if that means developing through the USL team then so be it. At the end of the day, I think everyone's job is to try and get into the MLS team." The Whitecaps have a condensed schedule this season with the inclusion of the Amway Canadian Championships and CONCACAF Champions League matches starting in August. With a possibility of an extra 8-10 matches in 2015, Adekugbe will find himself competing with Jordan Harvey for Cup competition playing time. "Hopefully, it comes down to how well I'm training and how well Jordan's playing as well. We're going to keep pushing each other, me and Jordan have great banter, we get along well. He's going to push me and I'm going to push him, and if that means him getting on the field and not me, then so be it. At the end of the day there's a USL team which will also help boost my performance." Adekugbe is a player to keep and eye on this season. He has a bright future with the Vancouver Whitecaps. So much so that Carl Robinson sent him on a training stint with Liverpool FC in December. The London, England born, and Manchester, England raised Adekugbe moved to Calgary when he was nine. Sam was able to visit family in Manchester while over in England during the offseason. While he supports Manchester City, Adekugbe was happy to share his Merseyside training experience. "It was a really good experience, and it was a great level of play. It's definitely a very famous club, they had about three matches in a span of a week, including Champions League and Premiership. They were mostly getting ready for their next matches, but I did get to meet some of the staff and some of the players." The Whitecaps are in good hands with Sam Adekugbe, and he should be push Jordan Harvey for much more playing time in 2015. If Adekugbe keeps progressing, improving, and showing that he belongs, Carl Robinson will no doubt have some tough lineup decisions to make this season. Notes: Welsh striker Robert Earnshaw has continued to trial with the Whitecaps in Vancouver. Previous preseason trialist, Dane Richards has now joined the New York Red Bulls on trial. The Whitecaps hold his MLS rights. Bobby Lenarduzzi and Whitecaps players visited BC Children's Hospital on Monday.