Noah Verhoeven stepped confidently into the international game last year as sa国际传媒 U-20 captain and gave every indication there is more to come. The Surrey native will try to advance the club portion of his game with Victoria-based Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League, which commences its inaugural season in late April as the long-awaited Canadian domestic pro soccer league.
Pacific FC CEO Rob Friend labelled Verhoeven as 鈥渙ne of sa国际传媒鈥檚 top young talents.鈥�
Verhoeven, who has been called up to the sa国际传媒 U-23 team, made seven starts last season for Fresno FC of the pro United Soccer League, which was the main farm team of the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League soccer.
鈥淗e not only brings professional experience, but as the captain of our youth national team, he鈥檚 bringing tremendous leadership qualities,鈥� said Friend, himself capped 32 times for sa国际传媒, and who played pro in the Bundesliga.
Scouting indicates the 20-year-old Verhoeven has the kind of potential that later might have him looking for bigger things in the MLS or Europe, which is what the new CPL states is one of its aims in elevating Canadian talent.
鈥淲e are very fortunate to have secured [Verhoeven鈥檚] services,鈥� said Friend.
Pacific FC also signed its first goalkeeper Monday with Mark Village agreeing to terms. The 27-year-old played pro last season in the USL with FC Cincinnati and is a U Sports graduate out of the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.
鈥淭his is an opportunity to be part of the beginning of something brand new for the country,鈥� said Village, in a statement.
The signings bring to seven players Pacific FC has under contract, including 27-time sa国际传媒 capped former Scottish Premiership pro Marcus Haber.
Pacific FC will begin play this spring, at a revamped 6,500-seat Westhills Stadium under construction in Langford, as one of seven charter franchises in the CPL.
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