Defender Marcel de Jong reconnected with Canada to boost his soccer career
VANCOUVER — While Marcel de Jong has Canadian roots, his experience with hockey involved grass and a ball.
The Vancouver Whitecaps’ left back was born in Newmarket, Ont., but at the age of four his family returned to their native Netherlands.
“In Holland we grew up with soccer and field hockey,” de Jong said after a Whitecaps’ practice this week. “That (field hockey) is a big sport in Holland.”
De Jong’s focus will be on soccer this weekend when the Whitecaps (4-5-4) look to end a four-game winless stretch as they host the New England Revolution (5-4-2) Saturday in a Major League Soccer match at BC Place Stadium.