DAVIES MOVE IS ‘FANTASTIC’ FOR CANADIAN GAME: POPOVIC

With Edmonton teenage sensation Alphonso Davies about to make Canadian soccer history, Ottawa Fury FC head coach Nikola Popovic could easily be sitting back and saying I told you so or something to that effect.

Popovic saw first-hand the talents of the soon-tobe-member of the German Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich two years ago when the kid suited up for the Vancouver Whitecaps 2 in the United Soccer League’s Western Conference final against Popovic’s Swope Park Rangers.

Davies, a product of the FC Edmonton Academy and now starring with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS, was all of 15 at the time.

“He was very young ... but he was very good,” said Popovic as Davies waited for his transfer to be negotiated.

When it does get done — the deal was believed to be close to completion Tuesday night — it will be the largest single transfer fee in MLS history.

“It is absolutely fantastic for Canadian soccer,” said Popovic. “Alphonso used the USL as almost a trampoline to vault to the highest level of pro soccer.

“It’s even better for our league to see that players can go to even higher leagues.

“It’s also a huge move to create a strong Canadian national team. The more players we can have playing at the highest levels, the better.

“It is also a big deal for the new generation of Canadian footballers.”