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They have arrived from near and far as Victoria Highlanders FC open training sessions Monday night in preparation of the team鈥檚 return to the United Soccer League鈥檚 Premier Development League for the 2016 season.
Among those in attendance 鈥� as the Highlanders lace up their boots at their new home at the University of Victoria鈥檚 Centennial Stadium 鈥� will be newcomers Nolan Wirth of Comox and Sean Prizeman of Dublin, Ireland, who arrived this week.
Wirth is a goalkeeper who played in the Vancouver Whitecaps residency program. He also played at Oregon State University and was a member of sa国际传媒鈥檚 national under-20 team.
Prizeman is a midfielder/forward who played at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington, in 2011. He grew up playing youth soccer for Belvedere FC and also suited up at Killester United in north Dublin.
Both came to the Highlanders via word of mouth, head coach Dave Dew said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting because I had not seen either of them play, but I took them on recommendations of coaches that I鈥檝e networked with over the years 鈥� coaches who I respect. That鈥檚 how I got the heads-up on them,鈥� Dew said.
Oregon State coach Steve Simmons gave the reference on Wirth and Dew also cross-referenced with local goalkeeping coach Bob Stankov. They also checked with Raegyn Hall, of the Whitecaps residency and youth programs, and he confirmed Wirth was a high-end player. 鈥淲ith him being with the national under-20 program, we knew he was good and it went from there,鈥� Dew said of Wirth.
As for Prizeman, Dew has a strong rapport with Kanyon Anderson, who coaches with the women鈥檚 program at Peninsula College, but was previously with the men.
鈥淪ean can play up front or in the hole behind the attacker, but he鈥檚 one of those guys who, if I needed him to play right fullback, he would do it. He鈥檚 that versatile, according to Kanyon,鈥� Dew said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 also going to be getting into some coaching here. That鈥檚 one of the reasons Sean came. He finished his UEFA B licence and he wants to get involved in coaching. He鈥檚 on a two-year work visa here so he can do that and help the game along here in Victoria.鈥�
The Highlanders will open their season in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the PDL on May 7 at Gordon Field against the host Kitsap Pumas before returning home to play Calgary Foothills FC on May 15 at Centennial.
Training this week will continue Wednesday and Thursday.
The core of the Highlanders will be returning from last season鈥檚 Pacific Coast League team, but it would not be a surprise if the likes of a Blair Sturrock should surface again.
FREE KICKS: Two of Sheffield Wednesday鈥檚 youth program coaches are expected to be in the city this week with news of their availability to be announced. Wednesday, one of the world鈥檚 oldest professional clubs, is this season challenging for promotion to the English Premier League from the Championship.
