Pacific FC made it official Friday they will add to the roster one of the most touted players in club history. Confirming the swirling speculation, the Canadian Premier League club announced the signing for 2022 of teen prospect Kamron Habibullah.
Projected to have a big future in Major League Soccer, Habibullah made his MLS debut last season at age 17, with three appearances for the Vancouver Whitecaps, to become the third youngest to play for the Whitecaps after Alphonso Davies and Simon Colyn.
Habibullah, a forward, will play for PFC this season on loan from the Whitecaps. He is undersized at five-foot-eight but flash-quick, clever on the ball and an artful dribbler. Habibullah had three goals for sa国际传媒 in U-17 CONCACAF qualifying and started twice for sa国际传媒 in three appearances in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil in 2019.
The 18-year-old is careful not to let the weight of expectations crush him.
“People are always saying things. But I put the pressure out of my mind and focus on the field,” said Habibullah.
“I am hungry and motivated. I just want to work hard and help Pacific win. The CPL is a good league for young players.”
He knows this is a stepping stone to get where he wants to be.
“We’re excited to get a player of this calibre. This is a talent that everybody has heard about in sa国际传媒 for a few years now,” said Pacific FC CEO, co-owner and general manager Rob Friend.
“His talent speaks for itself. Now it’s time to take that talent and take that next step, which is to see what he can do on a day-to-day basis at the pro level. The Whitecaps have seen our environment and what we have done and chose us as the club that can build Kamron into an even better player.”
PFC head coach James Merriman is familiar with Habibullah from their time together in the Whitecaps Academy system, which Habibullah joined at age 12.
“He’s hungry to play matches and continue his development,” said Merriman.
“He’s joined our group with high motivation.”
Habibullah was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, after his dad, Muhibullah, emigrated there from Afghanistan and met Habibullah’s mother Gavkhar. The family emigrated to Burnaby in 2005 when Habibullah as two-years-old.
Meanwhile, PFC also announced the re-signing of Dutch-import Gianni Dos Santos, who displayed some enticing flashes last season.
A new PFC assistant coach, with an impressive pedigree, was also announced. Joining head coach 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.
Defending-champion PFC continued its preparations for its CPL opener, April 10 at Starlight Stadium against 2019- and 2020-champion Forge FC of Hamilton, by taking on the University of Victoria Vikes in a friendly Friday night at Centennial Stadium.
