Posted by

Harjeet Johal ,

March 5, 2016 Twitter

@HarJournalist

Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device





VANCOUVER, B.C - The Vancouver Whitecaps will kick off the season on Sunday afternoon at BC Place against the Montreal Impact. After finishing second in the MLS Western Conference last season, expectations are even higher in 2016. Winning the MLS Supporters Shield is certainly an attainable goal with David Ousted, Kendall Waston, Matias Laba, and Pedro Morales making up the nucleus spine of the Whitecaps.



Vancouver has brought in a trio of players on the offensive side of the ball who should help elevate the Whitecaps goal totals. Masato Kudo, Blas Perez and Christian Bolanos all have the ability to get on a hot run of form and carry the team for a large stretch.



Costa Rica international Christian Bolanos is by far the most talented and accomplished footballer Vancouver has signed since skipper Pedro Morales joined the Whitecaps exactly two years ago today. Bolanos is excited to make his MLS debut on Sunday and already eager to please Whitecaps fans.



"This is my first game so I'm just looking forward to fit in with the club and with all the fans. I hope we can win the game."



Although Bolanos has yet to play in MLS he has watched the league and players from afar and has an idea of what to expect. His older brother, Jonathan Bolanos previously played for North American clubs Chicago Fire (2003 MLS), and Seattle Sounders (2004 USL).



"I think MLS is going with good progress. It's a strong league. They have good quality in the players and that means the quality in the game is more physical, more tactics, you have to be more in shape, and you have to be focusing every game. I think it's a good league to play in and Ilook forward to the game. I'm very happy to be here."



For highly skilled players like Morales and Bolanos, they tend not to need the long rigors of a preseason. They've played football all their lives and know how to train and what to expect heading into a season. While it can take time for familiarity and link-up play to form on the pitch, the former FC København man isn't worried about finding chemistry with his new teammates.



"Normally we need some time to know each other, but that's part of football," said Bolanos. "I think we have good qualities in the players. We have a strong team, I hope we can make it a good year."



The move for Bolanos to join Major League Soccer has been eased by fellow Costa Ricans, Kendall Waston and Jordan Smith. Having a pair of countrymen to help assist with being in a new city and the fun surprises of MLS is a boost for any player coming into the league. It also helps for a bit of banter.



"It's good to have some friends from my country. It's a lot of jokes in the dressing room, we speak the same language and we know each other from Costa Rica," revealed Bolanos. "It's nice to have some friends in the dressing room to speak about life and football. I am older than both of them so I have to teach them something in life and something in football. We speak about everything and it's fun to be with them."



The 31 year-old Bolanos has 60 caps for Costa Rica, 2 goals, and few more years of football experience than Waston and Smith. Both defenders have already noticed how involved Bolanos is. Waston is looking forward to getting back on the pitch and showing how much the Whitecaps have improved with Christian Bolanos ready to go.



"He's a nice guy. With the boys he's speaking English, so he's involved very well in the locker room. I think now on the pitch is where we as players have to speak and now we are just wishing to play this game."



Waston who is coming into his own as the top defender in MLS knows how important it is to have experienced players in the locker room. Carl Robinson's young roster needs players like Bolanos who have played in the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Gold Cup, and Champions League matches.



Christian Bolanos can be an encyclopeadia of information for Marco Bustos, Kianz Froese, Octavio Rivero, Cristian Techera, Kekuta Manneh, Nicolas Mezquida, and Erik Hurtado.



"His experience has helped him a lot because he's played against good players, he's played in Champions League," said Waston. "He knows more or less how to play against those teams. All that experience he's going to bring to the club is hopefully help us a lot this season."



What can Whitecaps fans expect to see from kit no.7 on come Sunday?



"Just see in the first game," revealed a confident Bolanos. "I feel comfortable to play on the left or the right. I'm a creative player, I can create many chances for the strikers, I can score goals. This is natural if you're comfortable to play in front of the goal. I'll do my best for the team."



Vancouver will be a fun team to watch this season and the fire-power additions on offense should be a treat for fans. The depth the Whitecaps have will give them plenty of different goal-scoring options. Opponents won't be able to just key in on Morales and Rivero with Christian Bolanos all out attacking.



Notes: The Whitecaps have expanded regular season capacity at BC Place to 22,120. Matches on April 2 vs LA Galaxy, October 2 vs Seattle Sounders FC, and October 23 vs Portland Timbers will see capacity rise to 25,000.