TUCSON, Ariz. – Who was going to wear the captain’s armband?
It was my first question when I saw the first-half lineup ahead of Wednesday’s 3-0 win against Phoenix Rising FC.
None of the four players who wore the armband last year – Kendall Waston, Nick Hagglund, Greg Garza and Justin Hoyte – were in starting XI, so this would be the first time for someone else.
Preseason friendly or not, it was a chance to see an early sign of leadership – and head coach Ron Jans was curious, too.
While the team was in the locker room, Jans set the armband down for the players to decide.
“I’m curious to see who the captain in the first half is, and then Maikel van der Werff grabbed it and I think everybody accepted it,” the coach said. “It was a very quick decision.”
Van der Werff recalled the moment slightly differently.
“Everyone was like, ‘Maik, take it,’” he said as he laughed upon hearing Jans’ account. “It’s an honor to be the captain of the team. I can be proud of it. It’s always good to be captain and I take the responsibility. Why not?”
Perhaps it wasn’t a surprise.
The center back was the captain at Vitesse, the club he left for FC Cincinnati last July. When he signed, van der Werff said he wanted to be a leader for his new club, too. Wednesday was an example of that.
“Maikel was very eager to get it as quick as possible,” Jans said with a laugh. “That’s good to see.”
At the half when the lineup was reset, Waston, who was the team’s first captain in MLS, wore the armband. Jans said that was “very natural.”
