Perhaps only Iceland, with a population less than Greater Victoria and memorable recent World Cup and Euro appearances, punches more above its weight in soccer than Northern Ireland, which made the Sweet Sixteen in the 2016 Euros.
Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League will get in on a bit of that green action with the signing Thursday of midfielder Ollie Bassett, who made an appearance with Northern 颅Ireland at the U-19 level.
鈥淸Northern Irish players] work extremely hard and stick together,鈥� said Bassett, about the surprising pitch success of the Commonwealth country of less than two million people.
That attitude suits PFC head coach Pa-Modou Kah, himself a 10-time capped Norwegian international, just fine.
鈥淥llie is a technical player who will fit in well,鈥� said Kah. 鈥淗e can play multiple positions.鈥�
Bassett, 23, has completed his quarantine and is training with PFC in Langford.
鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to playing in the CPL,鈥� said 颅Bassett.
鈥淓ver since the league was formed [in 2019], I鈥檝e had my eye on coming here.鈥�
It is the latest stop in an adventuresome career that has taken Bassett to England through Aston Villa Academy, Yeovil Town as the youngest player on the team, then Dorchester Town, Coalville Town and Gresley. Moving Down Under, the five-foot-eight 颅attacking-midfielder had four goals in 18 games for Waitakere United in 2018 and six goals in 10 games in 2019 for Team Wellington, both in the New Zealand top-tier Handa Premiership. Bassett played in Australia鈥檚 pro second-tier NPL in 2020 for St Albans Saints, with two goals in five games, and Nuneaton 颅Borough, with a goal in four games.
An announcement regarding the start date and format of the 2021 CPL season is expected May 15.
