VICTORIA — Momentum for soccer in Canada has received a positive surge in recent months, driven in part by the combination of success at the national level and the prospect of further development on the horizon with the fast-approaching arrival of the Canadian Premier League (CPL).
For Pacific FC’s (PFC) incoming head coach Michael Silberbauer, it’s a positive start to a new era of the men’s program. A program that his Van Isle team and the rest of the CPL will contribute to in a significant way in the years ahead.
Much of the Canadian men’s national team’s recent success can be attributed to a refresh of the program and the performances of current young Canadians such as Bayern-bound Alphonso Davies, Liam Fraser and Jonathan David, who—along with a number of others—have shown well when called upon.
“What I can see happening right now is something important for Canadian soccer,” said Silberbauer. “National team head coach John Herdman has successfully launched his start for the men’s national team. This gives a massive boost to soccer in Canada. Seeing the starting lineup with, I believe five players aged 20 or younger, who also happen to play for big clubs around Europe, makes you believe that Canadian soccer is ready for the next step and that it is certainly moving in the right direction.”
The former Danish international, alongside PFC assistant coach James Merriman, will find themselves leading the next generation of Canadian talent forward when Pacific FC’s inaugural season gets underway in April, 2019.
“At PFC there is going to be an unique opportunity for young Canadians to develop and receive first team soccer experience,” Silberbauer added. “James and I are looking to create a functional team. We want the footballer, but we also want the person behind the footballer, we believe in developing full human beings. That means that we want to help them become better footballers both individually and as a team.”
A number of factors will come into play when the selection process for PFC’s roster truly gets underway, but there is one key component that will fuel the identity of Vancouver Island’s professional soccer club.
“At the end of the day we want hardworking players that are hungry to become better,” explained Silberbauer. “At PFC, we believe in mentality. Mentality is what keeps you going when everybody else has gone home. Mentality is what will get you up when you are down. Mentality is what will get you that big move to Europe, because everybody will have their own challenges to struggle with in football.”
The arrival of the CPL will allow Silberbauer, Merriman and coaching staff across the league to facilitate stages of development for Canadian players that were previously non-existent, as the country looks ahead to producing a steady stream of talent that can compete at the highest levels of the sport.
“This is why the CPL is the perfect platform [for developing Canadian talent],” concluded Silberbauer. “It is an opportunity to play first team football in a country that is developing fast. It is that step between youth football and the international stage that has never really been there. I believe that players that have played in the CPL will be more ready to go abroad than before. Making it is never going to be easy, but hopefully by playing for Pacific FC or any CPL team, it will get help make that goal a little more attainable.”
ABOUT PACIFIC FOOTBALL CLUB
Founded in 2018, Pacific Football Club is bringing professional football to Vancouver Island. Playing out of a renovated, 6000-seat Westhills Stadium in Langford, the club will provide an outlet for Canadian youth to realize their dreams of playing at the professional level. Fans will be able to enjoy the thrilling, fast-paced sporting atmosphere associated with the sport when the Canadian Premier League season kicks off in April, 2019.
Pacific FC is accepting membership deposits ahead of the CPL’s inaugural season. Visit PacificFootball.Club for more information and CanPL.ca for the latest CPL news.