2021 at a glance

Pacific FC enters its second season under Pa-Modou Kah looking to take another step forward after making tremendous progress at the Island Games last year. With most of their core returning, including stars like Marco Bustos and Kadin Chung, reinforced by some key additions, the Van Isle-based club looks set to make waves in 2021.

After scoring some phenomenal goals in 2020, Pacific could well be one of the most entertaining attacking teams in the CPL. They’ve added significant depth in most positions, including the attack, but they’re likely to be led by their returning cast, including 2020 Player of the Year finalist Bustos and his fellow dynamic forwards like Victor Blasco, Alejandro Díaz, and Terran Campbell.

Is this the year the Tridents break out as a true force to be reckoned with in the CPL?

• 2020 CPL record (W-D-L): 4-2-4 (4th overall); 1-0-2 in group stage (4th)
• Goals scored: 16
• Goals against: 13
• Goal difference: +3
• Top scorer: Marco Bustos (5)

What happened in 2020?

Pacific went into the Island Games in a fascinating place, having hired Pa-Modou Kah as coach to replace Michael Silberbauer after their inaugural year. They’d also landed Marco Bustos as the CPL’s big free agent splash signing, and they looked set to make an impact in their second year as a squad with a new, exciting look.

The 2020 season started slow for Pacific, with two straight draws against HFX Wanderers and York9 FC, followed by a dramatic 2-1 loss to Forge FC (thanks to a 97th-minute winner by Kyle Bekker). Back-to-back wins over Valour and Cavalry brought them back into the top-four race, though, while a late loss to Atlético Ottawa put them in a must-win final match against FC Edmonton on the last day of the first round.

Despite struggling in the first half, and going down 1-0 at around the hour mark against Edmonton, Pacific refused to go home early. Josh Heard equalized just five minutes after Edmonton’s goal, and in the 85th minute Bustos scored a tremendous winner, cementing his place as a clutch star in the league.

That would be the height of Pacific’s success in 2020, though; consecutive defeats to Cavalry and Forge eliminated them from contention for the Final, but they left on a high note with a 5-0 drubbing of eventual runners-up HFX Wanderers.

How have they changed?

PLAYERS IN: Christopher Lee, Duran Lee (out for season), Kunle Dada-Luke, Manuel Aparicio, Matteo Polisi, Ollie Bassett, Gianni dos Santos

PLAYERS OUT: Marcel de Jong, Zachary Verhoven, Noah Verhoeven

Pacific rolls into 2021 as one of the least-changed sides in the CPL this year, with just a handful of players departing. Of course, former captain Marcel de Jong will be a loss at left-back, though he never ultimately played all that much for the club due to injuries. Both Zach Verhoven and Noah Verhoeven have moved to other CPL sides in search of more playing time after two decent years on Van Isle.

The marquee newcomer to this side is Manny Aparicio, having spent the past two seasons as York’s creative maestro and captain. Aparicio, a feisty attacking midfielder, is one of the best set-piece threats in the league (he scored tremendous free kicks in back-to-back matches at the Island Games), and he may be the central playmaking force Pacific have needed.

Internationals Ollie Basset and Gianni dos Santos have excellent pedigree and should bolster the attack, and Matteo Polisi has impressed previously at the NCAA level as a midfielder who can contribute offensively. Meanwhile, CPL-U SPORTS Draft pick Chris Lee and former Atlético Ottawa man Kunle Dada-Luke will provide depth at fullback, in the wake of Duran Lee’s unfortunate season-ending injury.

Projected Starting XI

Callum Irving; Jordan Haynes, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, Lukas MacNaughton, Kadin Chung; Jamar Dixon, Matthew Baldisimo, Manuel Aparicio; Victor Blasco, Alejandro Díaz, Marco Bustos

Callum Irving will have to compete with Van Isle native Nolan Wirth for minutes in goal, but he seemed to win the starting job in 2020 and it’s likely his to lose. The backline is mostly unchanged; Meilleur-Giguère played every minute for Pacific at the Island Games, and his partnership with Lukas MacNaughton is unlikely to change. Kadin Chung has a strong case for the title of best right fullback in the CPL, so expect him to have that spot nailed down due to his excellent two-way abilities and partnership with Bustos along the flank. Meanwhile, Jordan Haynes feels like a good candidate for the left-back spot, although Chris Lee could push him for minutes. Abdou Samake offers strong depth to this defence as well.

The midfield trio seems quite set in stone as well, with a fairly traditional 6-8-10 setup. Captain Jamar Dixon is the relentless ball-winner, Baldisimo the distributor and box-to-box field general, and Aparicio the dynamic playmaker. Alessandro Hojabrpour, Sean Young, and Matteo Polisi will all certainly see time in here as well, and Welsh-Canadian Josh Heard could be the understudy to Aparicio or an extra creative presence off the bench.

Up front, we’ll play it safe and project a similar front three to what Pacific leaned toward in 2020. Bustos thrived in that right-wing spot last year, and Victor Blasco was similarly dynamic and strong on the dribble out on the left. In the middle, Mexican striker Alejandro Díaz might be the more technical option, and he scored three times for the Tridents in PEI. That said, Terran Campbell had an excellent 2019 season, proving to be one of the most lethal finishers in front of goal with his 11 markers in the inaugural campaign. He’s very much in contention to start as well.

The new international forwards — Bassett and dos Santos — are true wild cards; nobody’s quite sure how they might factor into the plans, but with their strong European experience they’re sure to contribute to this attack as well.

Coach’s profile: Pa-Modou Kah

The 40-year-old Pa-Modou Kah took over Pacific FC after the 2019 season, and he made an immediate impact. Although this is Kah’s first time as a first-team head coach, he’s established an incredibly strong competitive culture in this squad. Kah has been working with a number of these players for years, having coached them (or, in some cases, played with them) for the Vancouver Whitecaps reserve squad.

Kah, who was born in the Gambia but played internationally for Norway after moving there as a child and spending much of his playing career in the country, was a formidable defender in his playing days at some very high levels, and he’s brought that experience to the CPL with Pacific. His players have spoken glowingly of the family environment within the club, and it’s translated to their play on the pitch.

Of course, Kah has also been one of the CPL’s most outspoken coaches, putting his platform to good use by advocating for societal change and speaking out against racial discrimination.

What they’re saying

“This is the first team I’ve been in where everyone is really together. We don’t have that two, three guys where if they don’t play they ruin it for the rest of the group, we feel like we’re very much together. That’s gonna be important, especially in the bubble. Eight games in four weeks, it’s tough. But hopefully we come out with good results and everyone’s looking forward to it for sure.” — Marco Bustos, Pacific FC forward