RACE TO BE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
TFC’s Sebastian Giovinco is the favourite, but don’t count out Kansas City’s Feilhaber or Columbus’s Kamara
Major League Soccer will have a new most valuable player Wednesday.
Three candidates are in the running for the league’s most coveted individual award.
While Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco is widely considered to be the favourite for the Landon Donovan MVP Award, there are reasons why Benny Feilhaber and Kei Kamara were shortlisted too.
BENNY FEILHABER
Team: Sporting Kansas City
Why he was nominated: The 30-year-old midfielder started pulling the strings in Kansas City’s midfield three seasons ago, but hit his stride in the most recent campaign. Feilhaber was lauded as an MVP candidate from early on this year; by midseason many were already predicting the race for the award would come down to him and Giovinco. The American national’s year will be characterized by his assists and his knack for making the right play at the right time. But it is Feilhaber’s lesser talked about defensive displays that had his team raving ahead of Kansas City’s 3-1 win at BMO Field.
Chances at MVP: Slim. Feilhaber’s productivity slowed down by the end of the season, with the midfielder posting only two assists in his last 10 games. Without a potency in front of the net similar to Giovinco or Kamara, Feilhaber’s shift this season likely won’t be flashy enough to compete.
By the numbers Minutes played: 2,731 Goals: 10 Assists: 15 Game-winning assists: 5 Game-winning goals: 3
SEBASTIAN GIOVINCO
Team: Toronto FC
Why he was nominated: Giovinco’s recordbreaking first season with the Reds speaks for itself. He had 22 goals and 16 assists, setting a league record for most goals and assists combined in a single season. He is the first player in MLS history to record at least 20 goals and 10 assists in one year. He won back-to-back player of the month awards in July and August, was named player of the week three times and was included on the MLS team of the week on 10 occasions. His only goal of the week win came against the Chicago Fire in late September, and he’s now a finalist for goal of the year. Giovinco already has two post-season awards to his name, winning the Golden Boot for top goal scorer and newcomer of the year. Winning MVP would simply be the icing on the cake for what many are calling the best individual season in MLS history.
Chances at MVP: Strong. Giovinco has long been the favourite for this award. It would be one of the upsets of the season if he didn’t win.
By the numbers Minutes played: 2,775 Goals: 22 Assists: 16 Shots: 181 Hat tricks: 2
KEI KAMARA
Team: Columbus Crew
Why he was nominated: The striker was a linchpin in Columbus’s starting 11 during the regular season and upheld that position in playoffs, helping the Crew to this Saturday’s MLS Cup versus the Portland Timbers. It’s unfortunate for Kamara that votes for the MLS awards are counted prior to the post-season, because the 31-year-old from Sierra Leone’s three goals in four playoff games proves he comes up big in pressure situations like any MVP should. If there’s one criticism against Giovinco, it’s that the Italian was flat in both Toronto’s last regular-season game and the knockout-round playoff match. But while Kamara’s post-season performance might have the league rethinking its practices, thoughts are all it will amount to this year. Kamara lost the Golden Boot to Giovinco on assists.
Chances at MVP: Mediocre. Expect Kamara to take some votes off Giovinco, as he was the one to challenge the Italian at the top of the leading scorer’s list. The quality of Kamara’s goals overall doesn’t compare to what Giovinco produced week in, week out and his tally didn’t lead to a historic first playoff berth like the Atomic Ant’s did.
By the numbers Minutes played: 2,761 Goals: 22 Assists: 8 Shots: 135 Aerial duals: 127