Episode 143 - The AFTN Podcast (Konnichiwa with guests Masato Kudo, Dan Orlowitz and Gershon Koffie)

The boys are back in town! Well for some of them it was for the first time, as was the case with Vancouver Whitecaps new Japanese striker Masato Kudo. Friday was Media Day in Whitecapsland as the team headed back for day one of their 2016 preseason camp. We hear from Kudo as he meets the Whitecaps media for the first time and we chat to him about making the move to MLS from the J League, the challenges ahead, what kind of player the 'Caps fans can expect to see and a lot more. Keeping the Kudo and Japanese flavour, we speak to journalist Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo on Twitter). Dan is an American based in Tokyo and he covers the J League, the Japanese national team and international soccer for Football Channel. Dan tells us the impact he expects Kudo to make in Vancouver, what kind of player we'll see, how the two leagues compare, the interest his move will create amongst fellow players and what it might mean for the future of the J League. From a player who is coming to a player that was rumoured to be going - Gershon Koffie. We ask Gersh about the rumours of a move to Belgium or elsewhere in Europe, whether he's looking for a new challenge, how he spent his offseason and the fast tracking of his Canadian citizenship application. And there's still time to hear from 'Caps coach Carl Robinons about future roster moves and the camp invitees he's having a look at, while Russell Teibert tells us about what making an impact at the stacked DM position and Jordan Harvey talks about the battle he faces once again from Sam Adekugbe for the left back role. Have a listen!