Valour FC’s revamped group of forwards appears to have all the key attributes every manager covets, including speed, size, and the ability to threaten opposition back lines.

And before long the hope is this crew will become household names among Valour fans.

“Versatility,” said Valour GM and head coach Phillip Dos Santos of his forward group at the club’s training this week. “We have different players with different characteristics. They play well in the pocket and in front of the opposition while they also like to attack spaces in behind.”

The attackers include Shaan Hundal, Joe Hanson, Jordan Swibel, and Abdul Binate, while the lone returnee is Kian Williams. The five combine for an average age of 22.4 years old, the youngest of any other positional group on the club.

Dos Santos isn’t concerned in the slightest about their age. In fact, he believes one of their greatest assets is their combined experience. That is especially true of Hundal, who began his pro career in 2016 with Toronto FC II and, after a short stint with Valour during the 2020 Island Games, signed with Fort Lauderdale CF in USL League One in 2021, which became Inter Miami II with their move to MLS Next Pro a year later.

He returns to Valour as proven goal scorer after racking up six goals and one assist for Vancouver FC last season. Over his eight years as a pro, he’s scored 46 times.

Hundal was one of Dos Santos’ key targets in this year’s free agency. Through talks in the offseason, it became apparent to him that returning to Valour was the right choice.

“They told me what they had planned for the team, how they want to rebuild it, and the ambitions they have, so that’s what drew me in,” said Hundal.

Dos Santos feels Hundal will be pivotal to the team’s scoring, as that’s one of the areas they wanted to address this offseason. And as a potential game breaking player, Dos Santos plans to lean heavily on Hundal especially in close games.

“He’s one of those forwards that has a knack for goals,” said Dos Santos. “He could be invisible for a good period of the game then suddenly get into the right space at the right time. Then his ability to stay calm and finish situations is the main characteristic of a good forward. A guy who has ability to finish the action.”

Hundal will enter Sunday’s match against Vancouver with a bit of a chip on his shoulder as he matches up against his former squad for the first time. Hundal’s return to Valour has been a smooth transition as he’s been re-united with Raphael Ohin and Dante Campbell who he played with back in 2020.

“It’s exciting to play with them again, hopefully we get to create something special,” said Hundal.

Valour’s other three newbies at forward are no strangers to scoring either.

Swibel enters Valour hot off a massive season in his home country of Australia. Playing for the Marconi Stallion of the National Premier League NSW, he found the net 15 times in 28 appearances.

Valour fans are perhaps more familiar with the additions of Binate and Hanson as both 2003-born talents spent last season in Canada.

Binate, who hails from Cote d’Ivoire, suited up in only three games for Pacific FC last season but was in their system for a year prior learning how to play in the CPL.

Hanson, who hit Valour’s headlines this week for signing with the club, comes from the Vancouver Whitecaps system where he spent the past two seasons with their MLS Next Pro club.

A native of Whitehorse, Hanson will have an entire territory cheering him on as he is known there for being the first ever Yukon-born footballer to sign and play professionally.

Williams, of course, is a familiar face on the front end from last season as the Englishman tied for the team lead with four goals while adding five assists in his 23 appearances.

Valour heads out Saturday on their season opening road trip which will feature seven contests before the home opener in Winnipeg. The debut one kicks off at 6 p.m. CDT this Sunday from Willoughby Community Park in Vancouver.

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THE FORWARDS

Shaan Hundal, Kian Williams, Joe Hanson, Jordan Swibel, and Abdul Binate.

Returnees: Kian Williams

Key stat: Shaan Hundal’s six goals from last season are the most among the team’s players who played in the CPL last year.

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Kieran Reimer is graduating journalism student at Red River Polytech.

Kieranreimer@gmail.com