Posted by

Harjeet Johal ,

April 25, 2017 Twitter

@HarJournalist

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VANCOUVER, B.C. - He's good, He's good, He's great, and Alphonso Davies is only going to get better with direction and development from the Vancouver Whitecaps. You may have heard, he's only 16 years-old. Still, that isn't stopping him from taking on seasoned MLS defenders and making them look silly. The Caps wonder kid is the next great MLS prodigy. He's a well-rounded respectful talent already garnering big praise. It's something he takes pride in and enjoys. "It's a great feeling," said Davies following an event in Vancouver last week. "I wanted to play professional ever since I started playing soccer, and I'm glad it's happening so soon." Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Davies starting playing football at the tender age of four. After spending time in Ghana, and Ontario, the Davies family settled in Edmonton, Alberta. Davies was invited to a 'Showcase' with Whitecaps FC in an attendance. He quickly wowed those that came to see him, and the rest is all a recent history. "Coach (Nick Huoseh) told me, 'they wanted to bring me out for a trial.' I played, and they were really impressed, and then they brought me in." Davies accelerated through the Whitecaps residency program, and made his USL debut on April 2, 2016, and his MLS debut on July, 16, 2016 vs Orlando City SC. He didn't look a shade out-of-place playing against opponents twice his age. 44' @AlphonsoDavies with a little shake-n-bake!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/5D4DMXO02e — Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) April 15, 2017

His size, pace, and tenacity, make him a unique athlete at such a young age. He's showing skills that some football players are never able to put together. Imagine when his body fully develops and he adds muscle to his 5-foot, and 11-inch frame. Davies isn't afraid to take on players 1v1, and most of the time he bursts past them leaving them in the dust. "You have nothing to fear on the field," admitted Davies. "You just go out there and play a game. Going at a defender, beating him, that's what I'm good at, that's what I'm going to keep doing." Whitecaps teammate, Russell Teibert hasn't seen anyone with the attitude, skills, and confidence that Davies has at his age. "He's fearless," said Teibert. "That's something you can't teach. He has no fear when he steps on the field. No matter who's in front of him, he's not afraid." Davies has already found the net with a pair of CONCACAF Champions League goals. While the Whitecaps monitor his minutes he has proven he is more than capable of contributing. The likes of Seattle's Oniel Fisher, and LA Galaxy left-back, Ashley Cole have been schooled by the quickness, and fancy footwork of Davies. In Cole's case, he took to social media to shoot down any notion that Davies had him in his pocket. Please don't embarrass yourself with statements like that🤙🏾 https://t.co/IcbDzqYfTF — Ashley Cole (@TheRealAC3) April 3, 2017

Davies is living in the moment. He doesn't dwell, read press clippings, or get bogged down by what may or might not happen with his future. Davies looks at everything as a new experience. He talked to Cole following the match on April 1 in Vancouver. "He was respectful, he wasn't chirping," revealed Davies. "He wasn't really talking to me. We just play our game, and solve our differences after the game. We said good game to each other, and left." If you look at some footballers who have come into Major League Soccer as teenagers, they are given too much, far too fast. They're given all this praise, accolades, and told they're going to be the next this, or that. Carl Robinson and the Whitecaps have done their best to keep Davies in a cocoon away from scouts, media, and outside influences so he doesn't end up bidding his career 'Adieu' like players before him. It's one thing when your teammates, fans, family, and friends know you are bossing it on the pitch, but when Tigres striker, André-Pierre Gignac a World Cup veteran, and a Euro 2016 finalist acknowledges you and gives you props. You cherish that for life. "Yeah, probably against Tigres, Gignac," said Davies. "At the end of the game, when I split those two defenders He came up to me and was like, 'Wow you're a pretty good player, keep going. Don't let anybody stop you, and thank you.' " How exactly does a 16 year-old footballer stay focused and on top of all his priorities? It can't be easy juggling training sessions, matches, family, friends, homework, a social life, and keeping your Instagram and Snapchat stories updated. Davies has a strong work ethic and a supportive family behind him all the way keeping him on track. "Yeah, it's hard," said Davies when asked how he's balancing everything. "The Caps are doing their very best to keep me in line with that, and also my Mom's behind me spanking me every time I don't do it." Teibert notices Davies for more than just what he's been able to do on the pitch. He's always cracking jokes in the locker room, working on the latest dance craze move, and enjoying life as teenagers do. He's a fun charismatic guy, who his teammates adore. "He's super talented," said Teibert. "The thing that is the most impressive, at least from my perspective, is how modest he is. He has the world at his feet right now, and he's so modest. The thing that I probably like most about him, he does everything with a smile on his face. It goes beyond being a soccer player, that's just being good person." Being a humble, caring, and generous person is a top character quality top teams from around the world look for when scouting talent. Davies has been scouted by in person by Manchester United scout, Jorge Alvial and former Whitecaps centre-back, Andy O'Brien who works for Liverpool. Having a scout in attendance might rattle some players, but not Alphonso Davies. "They're really top teams, but I don't really pay attention to that," said Davies. "I just try to do what's in front of me and try to focus on what's in front of me at this point." When the time comes, Vancouver could be looking for a massive transfer fee if the likes of England's top club are knocking on the Davies door in a few years. Davies, like every other footballer would love to play in England, or Europe one day, who wouldn't. "Definitely," said Davies when asked about playing in England or Europe. "Every young professional player has dreams of playing in the top teams in the biggest stage in the world. I hope one day that's going to be me." Closer to home, Canada Soccer Coach, Octavio Zambrano watched Vancouver Whitecaps practice from the sidelines on Tuesday, April 18. Davies has international playing options with Liberia, Ghana, and Canada. "Canada is thee country I would want to represent," said a patriotic Davies. "It's a great country to live in, be in. I'm glad that we came over here." As much as the Whitecaps want to keep him hidden and away from the spotlight, that's not happening with a 16 year-old holding his own in MLS against grown men. He's good, He's good, He's great, and Alphonso Davies is only going to get better as he develops and decides what path he wants to take with football and his life.



