Pacific FC assistant coach Armando Sá has seen a lot of soccer after being capped six times for Mozambique and playing pro for 16 seasons all over Europe with Benfica, Villareal, Espanyol, Rio Ave, Braga and Leeds United.
But even he finds the swings in the Canadian Premier League to be unpredictable.
“The CPL is sometimes very crazy,” said Sá, who will guide the PFC bench today, with head coach James Merriman suspended for one game due to card accumulation.
The Tridents were once riding high atop the table but are now fighting in the playoff mix after three consecutive losses heading into today’s game at 1 p.m. at Starlight Stadium against Valour FC of Winnipeg.
“We are not in a good moment. We understand the moment and that we need to change the page,” said Sá.
“We need to win. We know how important this game is. We have to show a big mentality and change the page. We are not in the best moment but we believe in our players and the process.”
Pacific FC is in a four-team tie for second place with Atlético Ottawa, HFX Wanderers of Halifax and Forge FC of Hamilton, Ont., four points behind leading Cavalry FC of Calgary. Sixth-place York United is three points behind and lurking.
Five of the eight teams will make the post-season in the Page playoff system. Seventh-place Valour FC is 12 points adrift of a playoff position and will be desperate today at Starlight.
The last time PFC played a team likely to miss the playoffs, the Tridents were upset 3-2 two weeks ago by last-place Vancouver FC.
PFC will be missing more than just Merriman today from its bench. Also on one-game suspensions are top-flight defenders Amer Didic and Georges Mukumbilwa and striker Djenairo Daniels. Sitting out due to card accumulation are Didic and Daniels. CPL players are suspended for one game following their fourth yellow card. Mukumbilwa is sitting out because of a red card incurred during injury time in the last game, a 1-0 loss to Cavalry in Calgary.
“This week has been fantastic. The [other] players are ready to play,” said Sá.
PFC leads the all-time series against Valour FC 13-2-3.
The Tridents made a move Friday to try to re-ignite their season by announcing the signing of midfielder Zakaria Bahous through the rest of the season with a club option for 2024.
The 22-year-old from Longueuil, Que., played 38 games for Atlético Ottawa in 2022 and 2023 with three goals and was an integral part of Ottawa’s run to the 2022 CPL championship game. Bahous was named to the 2022 CPL Next Gen Team.
“He has proven in this league that he is a good player,” Sá said.
Head coach Merriman added in a statement: “[Bahous] is a consistent and versatile young player who has developed in this league, and we believe he has the potential for more.”
In another move, PFC announced the departure of midfielder Pierre Lamothe on loan to Club Ho Chi Minh City FC of the Vietnamese top-tier V.League 1, effective immediately. Lamothe, a Canadian of Vietnamese descent, made four appearances this season for PFC.
Meanwhile, rising 21-year-old forward Goteh Ntignee of Cavalry FC has transferred this week to French Ligue 2 club FC Annecy. Details were not disclosed but it is expected to be for a CPL-record transfer fee.
