Two players down, at least 20 to go.
Pacific FCB次元官网网址檚 roster got one step closer to completion with the signing of Marcus Haber on Jan. 9. With the clubB次元官网网址檚 first season commencing in April, fans can expect to see an entire team created from scratch over the next few months.
B次元官网网址淭his a unique opportunity,B次元官网网址� said head coach Michael Silberbauer.
How the team will look remains to be seen. Pacific FCB次元官网网址檚 media relations person Trisha Lees confirmed that as of now rosters will consist of 23 to 25 players that will be at least half Canadian. There has also been talk of a salary cap, though no number has been publicly confirmed by the league.
READ MORE:
B次元官网网址淪alary caps is something that isnB次元官网网址檛 really discussed publicly,B次元官网网址� said Rob Friend, Pacific FC chief executive officer. B次元官网网址淎s youB次元官网网址檙e going to see, the players weB次元官网网址檙e signing are top quality players.B次元官网网址�
Fans may be foggy on the finite details until the season is underway in April, but Silberbauer has a vision for the roster.
B次元官网网址淚 have an idea on how we want to play, IB次元官网网址檓 trying to find players that fit that. But in the end, weB次元官网网址檒l see how the full roster comes,B次元官网网址� said Silberbauer. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l never ask the players to do something that theyB次元官网网址檙e not comfortable with. In the end, weB次元官网网址檒l probably adjust it around the players so it fits.B次元官网网址�
Both Silberbauer and Friend are openly adamant that Pacific FC will have a local identity.
B次元官网网址淭hey way weB次元官网网址檙e building the squad is wanting a foundation of young, talented, west coast players,B次元官网网址� said Friend. B次元官网网址淏.C.B次元官网网址檚 always been a place where weB次元官网网址檝e produced top players, and so weB次元官网网址檙e building a team thatB次元官网网址檚 an exciting young squad. We want to move these kids on to Europe.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Premier League (CPL) bills itself as both CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top domestic league, and as a means for young talent to advance through the game in ways that previously might not have been possible. How that dynamic will play out alongside CanadaB次元官网网址檚 three Major League Soccer (MLS) teams remains to be seen. The Montreal Impact have managed to pack enough fans to fill Parc Olympique, and despite an injury-plagued 2018 season, Toronto FC remains one of the top squads in North America.
Then thereB次元官网网址檚 Alphonso Davies, the Ghanaian-born Canadian wonder kid. Across the Straight, the Vancouver Whitecaps developed him, watched him tear up the MLS, and sold him to play for one of EuropeB次元官网网址檚 top clubs in a deal that could be worth more than $20 million dollars B次元官网网址� all before he was old enough to legally play overseas.
READ MORE:
Still, there will be an opportunity for clubs from both leagues to compete for dominance in the Voyageurs Cup.
Similar to the FA Cup in England, the Voyageurs Cup B次元官网网址� also known as the Canadian championship B次元官网网址� puts club teams from across Canada in competition for the right to represent Canada at the CONCACAF level. No matter how good the MLS teams do in that league, they need to win this cup to advance to the next level. Pacific FC might be underdogs if paired against Toronto FC, but Friend is excited to see the competition get underway.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e played in the German Bundesliga, and as a Bundesliga club IB次元官网网址檝e lost to fourth division clubs,B次元官网网址� Friend said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the Cup.B次元官网网址�
On Jan. 9 the schedule and format for the expanded Canadian domestic cup were revealed. By virtue of entering into Canada Soccer membership in 2018 B次元官网网址� later than most other participants B次元官网网址� Pacific FC enters the tournament in the first round. The competition has five rounds and 13 teams total. Each round will have two teams play a home and away two-legged matchup. The team with the most total goals after both games advances.
The Voyageurs Cup kicks off May 15. Pacific FCB次元官网网址檚 opponent has yet to be revealed, but they will need to advance to the third round in July before an MLS team might come to Westhills Stadium in Langford.
jesse.laufer@oakbaynews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
