The captain is returning but the maestro of the midfield is departing as Pacific FC made a couple of dramatic roster announcements Tuesday. Forward Josh Heard will be returning to captain the Tridents’ ship but Manny Aparacio will be leaving the Canadian Premier League club.
The offensive flow went through Aparicio the last three seasons as he recorded 10 goals and 11 assists in 78 games across all competitions for the Tridents. He scored a memorable goal in PFC’s upset over the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS in the 2021 Canadian Championship quarter-finals en route to winning the CPL championship that year and playing Waterhouse FC of Jamaica and C.S. Herediano of Costa Rica in the resultant CONCACAF League campaign the following season.
“To my PFC family: It’s always hard to part ways and it’s even harder to find the right words to describe these feelings,” Aparicio said on social media.
“I want to thank you all for three wonderful years together, where the Island and this club has felt like home since day one.”
The 28-year-old from Toronto was a CPL player of the year nominee last season for his slashing attacks that accounted for four goals and five assists and was named to the 2023 CPL Best-11 all-star team.
Aparicio became a free agent following the 2023 season. There has been no indication of where he will be heading this season. It’s business, said Pacific FC.
“There was a scenario in which we [tried to have Aparicio return] but life and the business of football moves on and Manny left on the best of terms,” said PFC managing-director Paul Beirne.
As for the plans in 2024 to replace the midfield engine, Beirne said: “We have it mapped out and will have more roster announcements in short order.”
Heard, meanwhile, will be entering his fifth season with the club and second as captain and has 19 goals in his four CPL seasons. A native of Victoria out of the Lakehill Soccer Association, he played for the University of Washington Huskies in the NCAA Pac-12 and was selected by the Whitecaps 71st overall in the 2016 MLS draft.
“Josh is from the Island and is a pillar of our community and represents stability and what we strive to be as a club,” said Beirne.
“He is our captain and a special character.”
And in a special situation: Heard described it as an “extreme honour to be playing for my hometown professionally in front of my friends, family and old coaches.”
Meanwhile, former PFC midfielder and CPL veteran Ben Fisk signed Tuesday with Vancouver FC. Fisk suited up for Cavalry FC last season.
The 2024 CPL season, the sixth in league history, will begin in the spring and run through the fall.
