

Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

May 14, 2014 Email

Steve Bottjer

On Twitter:

@BottjerRNO

With 21 year old Canadian International Russell Teibert poised to captain the Vancouver Whitecaps once again when his side faces off against Toronto FC in the second leg of their Canadian Championship semifinal round on Wednesday evening, the decision by Caps Head Coach Carl Robinson to give him the captain’s armband is somewhat symbolic of Teibert’s current state of being as a maturing up and coming player within the Whitecaps organization.



The Niagara Falls, Ontario native has been part of the Whitecaps organization since 2008 and his time with British Columbia’s premier football club has seen the usual ups and downs that most players go through as they endeavor to make the jump from talented prospect to established top level professional.



The Whitecaps Residency product had something of a breakthrough season last year in terms of both playing time and production with two goals and a team high nine assists in 24 appearances.



Asked about his goals heading into the current campaign, Teibert was quick to state that his current focus is more on his mindset rather than goals, assists and minutes played.



“I think my goal at the beginning of this year was to be happy both on and off the field,” Teibert told RedNation. “I think in the 3-4 years that I have played at this club there has been times that have been really rough with injuries and things on and off the field – not getting playing time and things like that. For me, the plan is just to be happy and to let the stats take care of themselves and to really focus on myself in terms of getting better as a person and better as a player all year long.”



“I think (I am hitting my stride as a professional player) and I’d like to think that,” Teibert added. “Obviously there is a long way to go and this is just the beginning of my career. I’m still a young player. I’m very excited to see what the next step is for me at this club.”



The two-time Canadian U-17 Player of the Year was also quick to highlight recently hired Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson as a key component with respect to the positive comfort zone that he is currently in with the Whitecaps.



“It has been a great transition (from Martin Rennie to Carl Robinson),” Teibert said. “I really enjoy playing under Carl. He is a great boss and he was obviously a great player and he was a great assistant coach last year. He has been a phenomenal manager for us this season. He puts trust in his young players and his veteran players and he has been doing a great job so far.”



“Everybody on the team is excited,” Teibert added. “The main thing is that everybody wants to play for the boss and is excited to get results for him because we know that he puts a lot of faith in us and the least we can do is put out 100% on the field for him every time.”



In addition to being buoyed by the ascension of Robinson to the Whitecaps Head Coach position, the former TFC Academy prospect also sees the overall makeup of Vancouver’s squad as a side brimming with young and talented players as something that can bring out the best in him as a player.



“I think the qualities of the personnel that this squad possesses really complement how I play,” Teibert explained. “It’s not just with the personnel that the squad has and the style of play, but also being under Carl Robinson as the boss of the football club. I think we can all excel under him. He puts a lot into not only myself, but all of his young players.”



With Kenny Miller leaving the club last week and veteran midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker rumoured to be on his way out, it will be exciting to see how far the Whitecaps youth movement will take the club this year.



Given the transition that is under way in Vancouver, Teibert is now one of the most long-serving players in the Whitecaps organization and something of a symbol for young Canadian players in the organization who are aiming to be regulars with the senior team in the future. In that vein, the 21 year old burgeoning team leader admitted that he would like to do whatever he can to help along the young Canadian players in the Whitecaps organization who now look to be following in his footsteps.



“I want to help them in any way that I can,” Teibert said. “I don’t necessarily see myself as a role model because I think every young player has to try to be their own person. I’ve done that and tried to make my own mark with the help of some older guys. If I can now be one of those older guys that helps one of the younger guys, I’d be honoured to play that role as well.”