Touted teen prospect Kamron Habibullah, who made his Major League Soccer debut last season at age 17 with three appearances for the Vancouver Whitecaps, is in training camp in Langford with Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League.
A team source confirmed to the sa国际传媒 that a loan agreement for the 2022 season is being formalized between the Whitecaps and Island-based PFC for the player who is the third youngest to play for the Whitecaps in the MLS after Alphonso Davies and Simon Colyn.
Manuel Veth, writer for Tranfermarkt also citing sources, was the first to report Habibullah will be assigned to PFC: “Deal was agreed this week. The 18-year-old is considered one of the biggest talents in the Whitecaps set-up,” tweeted Veth.
Habibullah is undersized at five-foot-eight but very quick and an artful dribbler. He 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.
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 was two-years-old.
Meanwhile, Pacific FC on Monday announced the signing of former West Ham Academy player Nathan Mavila. The 26-year-old displayed steady feet on the back line during two seasons in the CPL with Cavalry FC in 2019 and 2020. Rival Pacific FC remembered that, from head-to-head meetings, and so went out and signed the five-foot-six English import for the 2022 CPL season.
“Mavila is experience in the league and overseas and is a great addition,” said Pacific FC general manager, CEO and co-owner Rob Friend.
“He brings a nice dynamic to our backfield.”
Mavila played last season for IK Brage in Sweden and Wingate & Finchley of the Isthmian League Premier Division in England.
PFC head coach James Merriman pointed to Mavila’s “experience, character and confidence.”
Defending CPL-champion Pacific FC will open the season April 10 at Starlight Stadium against 2019- and 2020-champion Forge FC of Hamilton.
