A pair of sly and slicing attacking players, a veteran and a newcomer gave a tantalizing glimpse of what Pacific FC’s offence could look like this soccer season in the Canadian Premier League.
Marco Bustos, an annual CPL MVP candidate, and prize Vancouver Whitecaps loan player Kamron Habibullah scored to give PFC a 2-1 victory over York United in a CPL pre-season game Friday afternoon at Starlight Stadium.
Bustos said veterans such as himself have to relieve the pressure of expectation on the touted teenager Habibullah, who made his MLS debut last season at age 17 with the Whitecaps, and who starred for sa国际传媒 in the 2019 U-17 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“I used to be him, and know what it’s like, and we have to be careful not to put too much pressure on his shoulders,” said Bustos, 25, who has six caps for sa国际传媒, after accumulating eight appearances with the national U-17 side and six in U-20.
Habibullah also scored the lone goal in PFC’s 1-0 friendly win over the University of Victoria Vikes last week at Centennial Stadium and is part of a potentially impressive incoming 2022 class for the Tridents. The defending CPL champions needed some astute recruiting to make up for the loss of two players who moved up to Toronto FC of MLS and two who moved laterally to the CPL’s Forge FC of Hamilton, Ont.
“It’s a bit of new look, but the same team principles,” said Bustos.
“Management has done a great job of recruiting and these guys will step right in and do just as good a job on the pitch. It’s not easy coming to a championship club. But the new players are adapting well.”
There are 14 returnees and seven newcomers on the PFC roster.
The two latest additions were announced this week and are now in camp. Former Whitecaps defender Georges Mukumbilwa is a 22-year-old born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but raised in a refugee camp in Rwanda, before coming to Manitoba at age 13. He has played for sa国际传媒 at the U-18 level. Midfielder Umaro Baldé, 18, was born in Guinea-Bissau and is a Portuguese citizen who played internationally for Portugal in U-15, and who also developed in Scotland with the Rangers’ U-18 and reserve teams.
A new PFC assistant coach, with a sharp pedigree, was also announced. Joining head coach James Merriman on the bench this season will be Armando Sá, who as a player had six caps for Mozambique, and a pro career with big-name clubs Rio Ave, Braga and Benfica in Portugal, Villareal and Espanyol in Spain as well as a stint with Leeds United in England. Sá, 46, was part of the Villareal side that placed third in La Liga in 2004-05 behind the mighty pair of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Sá is also a Copa Del Rey champion with Espanyol.
Mark Village, meanwhile, will return as PFC goalkeepers coach.
PFC will host CPL club Valour FC of Winnipeg in another friendly on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Starlight Stadium.
Holders Pacific FC will open the CPL regular season April 10 at Starlight Stadium against 2019-and 2020-champion Forge FC of Hamilton.
