Marco Bustos was the clear leader for the Canadian Premier League MVP award when he went down with injury midway through 2021 season. So the five-foot-six attacking midfielder, who at times seems to snatch magic out of thin air, feels he has something left to prove in re-signing for his third season with Island-based Pacific FC.
“I have unfinished business here,” said Bustos.
“I was not healthy enough to play in the CPL final but am proud that I helped get the team there. Injuries are part of being an athlete. But I feel I’m back better than ever.”
The MCL tear limited the 25-year-old Manitoba native to 17 games last season, in which he had seven goals and six assists.
“I’m really excited about being back and being an example to the rest of the players,” said Bustos, who has six caps for sa国际传媒.
“I want to win another championship and be MVP of the CPL.”
This is the biggest re-signing of the off-season for Pacific FC.
“Bustos is a top player in this league and incredibly motivated for the season ahead,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“He is determined, driven and ambitious coming into the new year and leads by example with his daily approach to the game.”
Game density will increase this year for Bustos and his PFC mates in the CONCACAF League, a perk of winning the 2021 CPL championship. Bustos played in the CONCACAF Champions League with the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer and that experience will hold PFC in good stead when it ventures into what, for Canadian players, can be surreal soccer territory in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
“It’s not easy to play down there but it’s a great experience to be exposed to different cultures and different styles of football as I was in CONCACAF Champions League with the Whitecaps,” said Bustos.
“Our aim to do well enough in CONCACAF League this year to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League the following season.”
Meanwhile, PFC also announced the signing of defender Abdou Samake, who came into his own last season as a reliable player on the back end with 28 appearances and 2,410 minutes played.
The six-foot-two Montreal-raised defender was born in Mali and came from the MLS CF Montreal Academy system and was named to the NCAA All-Big Ten Tournament team in his senior season with the University of Michigan Wolverines. The 25-year-old will be entering his third season with PFC.
Now under contract with PFC for the 2022 season are Bustos, Samake, Manny Aparicio, Amer Didic, Kunle Dada-Luke, Matthew Baldisimo, Josh Heard, Sean Young, Emil Gazdov, Jamar Dixon, Alejandro Diaz, Callum Irving and Thomas Meilleur-Giguère.
Defending-champion PFC begins play April 10 at Starlight Stadium in the marquee matchup of the opening weekend of the 2022 CPL season against 2019 and 2020 league champion and 2021 finalist Forge FC of Hamilton, Ont. It will be a rematch of the 2021 CPL final, won 1-0 by PFC, at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.
