Photo: Bob Frid / Vancouver Whitecaps
Camilo Sanvezzo of Vancouver Whitecaps has been voted the Major League Soccer (MLS) Player of the Week for Round 3 of the 2011 season.
The 22-year-old Brazilian produced two fine saves from Sporting Kansas City keeper Jimmy Nielsen in the 28th and 36th minutes.
Despite his first half performance, Kansas City raced into a three goal lead but Sanvezzo produced the pass to find Nizar Khalfan, who in turn supplied the chance for Atiba Harris to launch the fight back.
Sanvezzo, a native of Presidente Prudente, Brazil, himself added the two stoppage time goals which saved a point for Vancouver, scoring twice within two minutes to spark celebrations among the 20, 518 crowd.
Journalists voting cited the factors beyond his goals that secured their vote.
Steven Sandor of the Toronto Sun said:
“Camilo not only scored the two cardiac-kid goals, but set up the other. That gives him the edge over [Teal] Bunbury. Camilo did more the entire game and, if not for [Jimmy] Nielsen, would have had more. Bunbury did show some major [guts], being the most-hated MLS player in Canada, and then cross the border and score twice despite having boos rained down on him every time he touched the ball. Both outweigh [Caleb] Folan’s double in my books.”
Shaun Schafer of Colorado Soccer Now wrote:
“Camilo would have had four goals instead of two if not for Jimmy Nielsen in the first half. A great game for the Brazilian that finally ended with what he earned. Folan was sensational in scoring two pretty goals on an icy field on Sunday night.”
Sanvezzo played for Oeste Paulista Esporte Club and Sport Club Corinthians Alagoano in his home country before moving to Malta, where he had a very successful spell with Qormi FC. During the 2009-10 season, Camilo was the top scorer in both the Maltese Premier League (24 goals) and Maltese FA Trophy (six goals).
Last July, Camilo made the switch to the Far East when he joined Gyeongnam FC in South Korea’s Professional Football League (K-League). The striker made seven appearances for the Gyeongnam FC first team and had six goals in seven appearances for the club’s ‘B’ team.
Other players who received votes were Caleb Folan (Colorado Rapids), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), and two goalkeepers Jimmy Nielsen (SKC) and Stefan Frei (Toronto).
Simon Dawkins (SJ), Tally Hall (HOU) and Wiliam Hesmer (Columbus) all received second preference votes.
How they voted:
| Voter | POTW Choice | Second Choice |
| Steven Sandor | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Teal Bunbury (KC) |
| Orrin Schwartz | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Tally Hall (HOU) |
| Steve Clare | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Simon Dawkins (SJ) |
| Michael C. Lewis | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Teal Bunbury (KC) |
| Jonah Freedman | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Teal Bunbury (KC) |
| Kyle McCarthy | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Sean Donahue | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Jonathan Tannenwald | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Scott French | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Shaun Schafer | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Marc Connolly | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Frank Giase | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | William Hesmer (CLB) |
| JP Dellacamera | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Nick Thomas | Caleb Folan (COL) | Camilo Sanvezzo (VAN) |
| Elliott Almond | Caleb Folan (COL) | |
| Bobby McMahon | Jimmy Nielsen (KC) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Phil Schoen | Stefan Frei (TOR) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
| Don Ruiz | Teal Bunbury (KC) | Caleb Folan (COL) |
Previous Winners:
Week 2 Winner: Javier Morales (RSL)
Week 1 Winner: Omar Bravo (SKC)
