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The Canadian Premier League’s newest expansion team will take the pitch for the first time in 2023, as Vancouver FC bring CPL action to the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Led by Afshin Ghotbi, the club has built a squad and a stadium from scratch, and is in the early stages of building a club culture that the ambitious side hopes will result in success both on and off the pitch. Looking to bring the North Star Shield back to the province, as Pacific FC did for the first time in 2021, Vancouver FC has the goal of “putting more back into its community than it takes out,” an idea that if done properly could have long-lasting effects on a region of the country that has produced countless elite footballers.
A roster made up of young and hungry players, mixed together with some more experienced stars, will be something of an unknown until they get a few competitive matches under their belt, but if they can go on a good run VFC could challenge for a playoff spot in a competitive league this season.
CPL5 x 5: Key stats, storylines & quotes for Vancouver FC’s 2023 season
STORY OF 2022
Vancouver FC obviously didn’t play any matches in 2022, but did reach several milestones as a club. In April the club announced that they’d be based in Langley, B.C., and in November revealed their name and branding at an event in the city.
Afshin Ghotbi was revealed as the club’s inaugural head coach on the day of the branding launch, and Vancouver native Callum Irving, who won the 2021 CPL title with Pacific FC, was revealed as their first player signing a few weeks later.
At the end of December, Elliot Simmons and Mamadou Kane were revealed as the club’s second and third signings, and the ball was officially rolling toward their inaugural 2023 campaign.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
Players in: |
Players out: |
| GK – Callum Irving | None |
| GK – Jeremy Zielinski | |
| DF – Ibrahim Bakare | |
| DF – Kadin Chung | |
| DF – Tyler Crawford | |
| DF – Kahlil John-Wentworth | |
| DF – Eugene Martínez | |
| DF – Rocco Romeo | |
| DF – Anthony White | |
| MF – Gabriel Bitar | |
| MF – Nicky Gyimah | |
| MF – Maël Henry | |
| MF – Min-jae Kwak | |
| MF – Cristian Mares (on loan from Club Puebla) | |
| MF – Gael Sandoval | |
| MF – Elliot Simmons | |
| MF – Marcus Simmons | |
| MF – Nima Moazeni Zadeh | |
| FW – Shaan Hundal | |
| FW – Mamadou Kane | |
| FW – Ameer Kinani | |
| FW – Nathaniel St. Louis |
As the CPL’s newest expansion team, every single player is new to the team for the 2023 season.
There are several players with CPL experience in the team, with 2021 champions Callum Irving and Kadin Chung, and former Halifax Wanderers and Cavalry FC midfielder Elliot Simmons among the new additions. Also signing for the club are former Valour FC duo Rocco Romeo and Shaan Hundal, and a trio of 2022 FC Edmonton players – Gabriel Bitar, Marcus Simmons and Mamadou Kane, who also spent time last year with York United.
Vancouver FC’s two CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks – defender Anthony White and forward Ameer Kinani – have both signed on for the 2023 season, with White signing a multi-year standard player contract and Kinani signing a U SPORTS deal, which allows him to go back to school in September.
The NCAA has also provided several players for this inaugural VFC roster, with goalkeeper Jeremy Zielinski, defenders Tyler Crawford and Eugene Martinez, and forward Nathaniel St. Louis all signing north of the border after stints in the American university system.
COACH’S PROFILE
Afshin Ghotbi was named the first head coach in Vancouver FC history in November, coming to Canada with an impressive resume that spans across several countries.
The 59-year-old Iranian-American gaffer has coached in seven countries, with VFC his first stop in Canada after previously coaching in Iran, China, Thailand, Japan, the United States, and South Korea. That includes stints with the United States and Iran national teams, and two trips to the World Cup as an assistant with South Korea, in 2002 when they reached the World Cup semifinals, and 2006.
He comes in with high expectations for his players, and a commitment to making the most out of what is a unique situation of building the club from the ground up, telling CanPL.ca in November that he “can make lemonade out of a lemon” and will “try to create an atmosphere that brings the best out of the group.”
PROJECTED STARTING XI
(4-3-3): Callum Irving; Kadin Chung, Ibrahim Bakare, Rocco Romeo, Tyler Crawford; Nathaniel St. Louis, Elliot Simmons, Gabriel Bitar; Gael Sandoval, Nicky Gyimah, Shaan Hundal
How Vancouver will play remains to be seen, as they are yet to play a competitive game and really establish their tactical identity. We can point out some players who will likely be first-choice starters, however.
In goal, the experienced Callum Irving is one of the league’s best netminders. He was the club’s first signing and is expected to be a leader for the team both on and off the pitch. He will play behind a backline that will include fellow 2021 CPL champion Kadin Chung at right-back, and likely include Canadian centre-back Rocco Romeo, who has joined the club from Valour FC. If Vancouver play in a back four it will likely be international signings Ibrahim Bakare and Eugene Martinez also pushing for minutes, with Tyler Crawford and Minjae Kwak expected to see a lot of minutes on the left.
In midfield, established CPLers Elliot Simmons and Gaby Bitar will see a lot of action after joining from Albertan rivals Cavalry FC and FC Edmonton, respectively, with Nathaniel St. Louis also expected to see the pitch quite a bit after a solid university career in the NCAA.
Up top, it looks like Shaan Hundal will split time with Ameer Kinani, with Gael Sandoval a locked-in starter on one wing, and Nicky Gyimah expected to get a lot of reps on the other side.
ROSTER NOTES
Domestic U-21s |
Internationals |
Loaned In |
| Mamadou Kane | Cristian Mares | Cristian Mares (from Club Puebla) |
| Tyler Crawford | Gael Sandoval | |
| Maël Henry | Ibrahim Bakare | |
| Anthony White | Eugene Martinez | |
| Min-jae Kwak | ||
| Nicky Gyimah |
MORE READING
- ‘Something I don’t take for granted’: Inaugural signing Callum Irving thrilled for Vancouver FC homecoming
- ‘There was no doubt’: Vancouver FC sign CPL-U SPORTS Draft first overall pick Anthony White
- ‘Once you get a taste of winning, that’s all that consumes you’: Kadin Chung ready to bring CPL success to Vancouver FC
- ‘A huge statement’: Vancouver FC’s ‘game-changer’ Sandoval poised to be club’s first international star
- ‘This was always my dream’: Ameer Kinani’s incredible journey to being drafted by Vancouver FC
- ‘It’s a way of life’: Vancouver FC coach Afshin Ghotbi reflects on passion, unifying power of soccer
- ‘This market is ready for something different’: Vancouver FC owner Rob Friend on the vision behind the CPL’s newest club
- Women of the CPL: The woman behind Vancouver FC
- Vancouver FC unveils crest, colours; Afshin Ghotbi named first head coach
- Vancouver FC shares new stadium renderings for Langley Events Centre