Camilo named the Whitecap of the Week, er, MLS Player of the Week

Camilo PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/CANADA SOCCER

The rumours aren’t true. The MLS Player of the Week award has not been changed to “Whitecap of the Week.”

But it’s a testament to just how hot the team is right now that, on Monday, Camilo, was named the Player of the Week by the membership of the North American Soccer Reporters. Oh, and he was added to the roster of the MLS All-Star Team.

Camilo is now the fourth Whitecap to win the award in the last five weeks, as the team has moved from outside of the playoff bracket to third in the West, just four points behind Real Salt Lake for the conference lead. With 32 goals in 19 games, the Whitecaps lead MLS in scoring. Camilo, who scored twice in the Whitecaps 3-1 win Sunday over the Chicago Fire, now leads the MLS with 12 tallies this season. And his first goal transformed what was a drab 0-0 affair into a second-half goalfest.

His moments of brilliance that led to the first goal opened up the game.

After taking a long punt up the field from keeper Brad Knighton, then danced past a couple of Fire defender before converting the chance.

His second goal was more about perseverance. After his first attempt was stopped, he gathered the rebound, waited for another opening, then slotted the ball home.

Camilo wasn’t the only addition made to the All-Star team that was of note to Canadian soccer supporters. Montreal Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier was added to the squad that will face AS Roma July 31 in Kansas City. Canadian midfielder Will Johnson (Portland) was named to the First XI, and Montreal Impact striker Marco Di Vaio was named to the team through a video-game promotion.

How The 11 voted: Camilo. You have to wonder what would have happened if the Nutrilite Canadian Championship would be held now, rather than wrapping up in June. Montreal’s form has dipped, while the Whitecaps have taken over the mantle as the best team in Canada. To think, a month ago, after the NCC final loss to the Impact, that there were questions about Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie, that there was questions about the nucleus of this team. The Whitecaps have answered the critics; not only are they winning, they are playing some of the most entertaining soccer of any team in MLS.