It was workmanlike, it was impressive and it was an eye-opener for everyone outside of the Valour FC locker room.
And now Winnipeg’s Canadian Premier League side will attempt to follow up Sunday’s 2-nil victory over Forge FC – the two-time defending North Star Shield winners – with another Wednesday against HFX Wanderers FC and in the process make some franchise history.
And, yes, that’s something Valour FC would like to change ASAP: in its short history covering 35 games over 2019-20 and heading into this season the team has yet to earn victories back-to-back games.
It’s paramount, then, to soon turn a win into a win streak.
“It’s tough in these circumstances,” said Valour FC GM and head coach Rob Gale in a media Zoom call Tuesday afternoon. “If I had seven days between games I might have a chance. But we don’t and that’s the reality for everyone.
“You’ve got to try and get the energy levels up, the consistency in performance up and take your chances like we did on Sunday in key moments. The mentality has to be the same work rate, the same effort, the same solidarity, the same organization, the commitment to your role and responsibility.
“That’s just professional sports,” he added. “That’s why people stay in the room – the ones who are more consistent and do their job day in and day out are the ones who get longer contracts and last longer and have better careers.”
Valour will be meeting a Wanderers side that fell 2-nil to Pacific FC in their opener last Saturday. But it is also a side that advanced to the finals of last year’s Island Games, meaning Valour will be meeting the league’s top two clubs in the first two matches of 2021.
“There’s a reason they were the No. 2 team in the country last year,” said Gale of the Wanderers. “It doesn’t get any easier for us – that final could have gone either way. They’re so dangerous on the counter-attack, their resolute, the keeper (Christian Oxner) has been a standout for them, Peter Schaale at the back, (Mateo) Restrepo who I used to have with the national team… you can see they’ve got all the building blocks. (Andre) Rampersand has been one of the most consistent players in the league, Akeem Garcia, top goalscorer and Golden Boot winner and MVP contender.
“It doesn’t get any easier, right? It’s not easier than Forge for sure. We have to face the top two teams off the bat and we’re going to be on very short rest going into this game and it’s going to present a tough challenge, no doubt about it. But it’s one we’ve got to be ready for and one we’ve got to embrace.”
It won’t happen quite yet, but Valour FC will be able to welcome fans back to IG Field for its July 7th match against York United FC. Gale spoke on the significance of that – not just as the home side, but for what it represents as Manitoba works through the pandemic.
“It’s reward for all the public servants, the front-line workers, the doctors, the nurses, the people who have self-isolated for as long as we ca remember and done the right things,” said Gale. “It’s so nice to have fans. The team, sports in general, look at what it’s like with fans in the stands. It makes the sport what it is, right? That’s why we love it.
“I’m really excited, most of all for the people that get to come in. Hopefully it’s something to look forward to on the calendar because we haven’t had it for such a long time.”
Valour FC fans were in attendance – sort of – for the season-opening win over Forge FC. Several diehards gathered at the south-end gates for the warm-up and stayed, chanting and singing for the entire 90 minutes while watching the game on the far north-end jumbotron.
“There’s so many emotions,” added Gale on the importance of having fans back. “There’s so many people that have lost loved ones, suffered losses that are unimaginable, really – people, livelihoods, jobs… it’s been terrible to see and we’ve all gone through it together. But we all stick together. That’s what I love about Manitoba: we support each other, we rally each other when we’re down. Look, if our team can provide some relief, something to look forward to, some joy, 90 minutes where you can scream at the top of your lungs with like-minded people, sports fans… you know what it’s like. It’s camaraderie, it’s fellowship, it’s friendship. We’ve missed that.
“I don’t think they can hug yet, but hopefully there will be some virtual fist bumps. We’ve just seen the England game (at Euro 2020, a 2-nil win over Germany) and the fans fell over each other and went bananas when Sterling scored.
“Hopefully, we can provide entertainment, enjoyment and some relief from the hard times we’ve all gone through. I hope there’s room for the front-line workers and the people who have got us to this stage – the doctors, the nurses, the social workers, the teachers, the shop workers, because they deserve it more than anybody.”
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‘V’ NOTES
Gale had no update on defender Brett Levis, who left Sunday’s game in the first half with an injury and was replaced by Andy Baquero… Please note: the kickoff time for Saturday’s game against Atlético Ottawa has been moved to 9 p.m. because of the heat wave… Gale took time to salute Wanderers head coach Stephen Hart during his press conference. Hart was taken to hospital during Saturday’s match for precautionary reasons but is said to be now doing well.
“I just want to give a shout-out to him because he was unwell on the Saturday,” said Gale. “I hope Harty is there and getting in the referee’s ear because it will be reassuring to see him on the bench alongside me. First and foremost, his health is most important and we look forward to the battle he is going to put up against us.”