Episode 147 - The AFTN Podcast (Big Break with guests Sam Adekugbe, Tim Parker and Callum Irving)

Can you believe it? The 2016 MLS season is just over a week away! And it's exciting times with Vancouver Whitecaps as the new season draws close.

Confidence and expectation remains high and we're down with the 'Caps in Portland as they start to wrap up their preseason camp, but there's a lot of questions still to be answered.

We're joined by new AFTN columnist Zachary Meisenheimer as co-host this week to look at some of those questions and the latest news surround the 'Caps camp. Who will win a starters spot? What's been up with Masato Kudo? Where in the world is Darren Mattocks? And will there be some more new additions in the immediate future? We chat about all of these things and get some thoughts from 'Caps coach Carl Robinson.

One of the biggest battles appears to be in the full back positions and our main guest this week is Canadian international Sam Adekugbe, who's looking to beat out Jordan Harvey for the left back role. We chat with Sam about the battle, his own preseason, the competitiveness and depth of the Whitecaps this season and his offseason training stint at Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Championship.

There's also a lot of competition in the center back department as well, and we speak to the player who got his big break last year and grabbed it with both hands, Tim Parker. Is he feeling the pressure in his second season? And will he be heading to the Olympics in Brazil with the US?

One former Whitecap who is looking to get his big break this year is Residency alumni Callum Irving. The former University of Kentucky keeper was passed by in the MLS SuperDraft but is getting his chance at Chicago Fire. We catch up Callum to find out how it's going, that whole draft experience, being a Canadian in MLS and his first senior camp with the Canadian national team.

Line up the balls, pot a maximum and have a listen!