Episode 636 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Looking For Some Action with Kei Kamara and Thomas Hasal)

AFTN Soccer Show

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS, CPL, and women's soccer chat and interviews, and this episode we're joined by Harjeet Johal.
The Whitecaps' playoff path looks grim, with a first round match-up against one of the strong LA teams looming, and even then, possibly only if they get through a play-in game. A loss to LAFC on Sunday saw them winless in six MLS matches. We pick over the bones of that one, the emotional comments of Vanni after the game, and what it all means to the team as they head into Decision Day.
We've two interviews in this episode, both with former Whitecaps players who now ply their trade with LAFC. First up is the man who sits second in the all-time scoring list for MLS, Kei Kamara. Kei chats about his return to Los Angeles where his journey to the pros really all started for him, the win over the 'Caps, and how the way he left Vancouver still doesn't sit comfortably with him. We also chat with goalkeeper Thomas Hasal about his move to LA after injury, learning under a legend like Hugo Lloris, and hopes for the future.
Turning our attention to the CPL, it's going down to the wire for Vancouver, Pacific, and Valour. We look at the weekend's action, the last games coming up next Saturday, and chat with the three head coaches about it all - Afshin Ghotbi, James Merriman, and Phillip Dos Santos.
All of this, plus there's a look ahead to the Whitecaps Girls Elite's Champions Cup match-up with Christine Sinclair's Portland Thorns, we chat about the women's game in Canada at domestic and international level, there's more Britpop chat and music, Kinky Machine continue their stint as our Album of the Month, and NEESKENS return in Wavelength.
Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.30: Intro - giving thanks
09.28: Whitecaps lose it late to LA
40.37: Whitecaps playoff path looks grim
56.20: Kei Kamara interview and discussion
68.48: Thomas Hasal interview and discussion
80.30: Canadian women's soccer discussion as Sinc and the Thorns come to town
101.10: CPL round-up and coaches audio
157.45: Wavelength - NEESKENS - The Architects of Football