Kerith Gabriel: Mwanga, Pajoy battle language barrier

DANNY MWANGA is trying his utmost to become a chameleon.

Adapt, adapt . . . adapt.

He conveyed this while speaking with me on Wednesday.

He also said - in confidence - he knows his play is not up to the level fans expect. But he's healthy, showing no ill effects from last season's debilitating shoulder and hip injuries. He's happy too, entrusted with being the team's top striker alongside newcomer Lionard Pajoy.

But here's the issue.

Mwanga, with Pajoy as his third strike partner in as many seasons, has remained the only constant. But this season's implant provides a bit more of a challenge.

"We have a little bit of a barrier between us, a language barrier - well, basically we don't speak the same language," Mwanga said of Pajoy, whose native tongue is Spanish. "He's learning [English] and I'm actually learning to speak Spanish, as well, but, like I said, it's going to take a little time. It's not something that when you wake up in the morning it's there. We just have to find another way to communicate."

Not speaking the same language certainly isn't an end-all, be-all. Soccer, by nature, is a universal sport that through its design transcends language. Even the most basic player has played in pickup matches in which everyone speaks different languages and the game has flowed just fine. But by the same token, communication on a soccer pitch is key, and right now the Union's dual threat up top is having technical difficulties in that department.

"We have to work together and we are doing our best in practice," Mwanga said. "Lionard is a great guy and I have learned a great deal from watching him play. With the way things are going in practice I do see that we are moving in the right direction, but as I said it's going to take some time."

And in game situations?

"In game situations, pressuring and defending, we have to communicate and sometimes you need that player to step in behind you or tell you where to go so we aren't crowding the same space," Mwanga continued. "Plus, we haven't really played much together. If you are in a situation where you have played with someone for a long time, you know the way they like to move, even with a language barrier. These things will naturally come, I believe, after a few games. I am confident of that."

Pajoy, in his element, has showed he can be the top-class striker, scoring 10 goals in 18 matches for his former club and notching a goal in only three matches for the Union. Alongside Mwanga, manager Peter Nowak firmly believes that the duo will provide the "team concept" to putting balls in the back of the net. And so does Pajoy.

"As a forward, one's principal job is to always score," Pajoy said via translator. "I believe this is why one works. This is why I came to this team, to help them scoring, because that is my job, and I know how to do it."

But for now, we've seen that it's still a work in progress and a major reason swimming in the undercurrent was that the two can't always understand each other. Off the field, Mwanga noted that he does try to hang with Pajoy post-practice and that midfielder Roger Torres has acted as a translator for the pair. Mwanga is eager for the connection to click ASAP and is willing to try just about anything.

"He is trying to still figure out his living situation, so I know he has a lot going on," Mwanga said. "We talked a little bit with Roger helping about how to approach the game and it's a big help."

So would Mwanga let Pajoy be a roommate in his Old City flat if it would help with camaraderie?

"I wouldn't mind that at all," Mwanga said, laughing. "We play together up top and it's a process of getting to know each other, so that might actually be a good solution, I'll talk to him about that. Look, it's a process, and I am just looking to adapt. I know I am one of the guys the team is relying on to help them offensively so, I am putting the team first and trying to do the best that I can."

Sebastien Le Toux can't seem to escape drama. His return with Vancouver on Saturday has been the topic of conversation all week, one that hit a boiling point with coach Peter Nowak on Wednesday. But Le Toux is coming in with a club that, despite holding down the top spot in the West, heads East still searching for its collective confidence, the sentiment many players conveyed after Saturday's scoreless draw with DC United at BC Place. Le Toux was not exempt.

"We have a new coaching staff [led by first-year coach Martin Rennie], and everybody is trying to get better together," said Le Toux. "I am happy to see us getting better everyday. We didn't win against DC, which was tough, but we have to continue and progress."

Sounds very similar to the Union's current woes - the only difference is Vancouver's learning curve is coinciding with points.

Union rookie Krystian Witkowski suffered a concussion in practice that will sideline him indefinitely. Peter Nowak couldn't provide a specific timetable since he is "not a doctor," but did say the staff is taking the 21-year-old's injury very seriously . . . Jordan Harvey, the former Union defender slated to start Saturday for Vancouver, will be heavily relied on instantly, according to Le Toux. Harvey is the replacement for Alain Rochat, out due to a knee sprain. "Especially being on the bench for three games, [Harvey] is a very confident player who has helped us win and the coaching staff is counting on him," said Le Toux . . . Episode 2 of State of the Union airs Friday on the Comcast Network (7 p.m.) and encores on Comcast SportsNet (11:30 p.m.).