Valour FC’s opening day of 2023 training camp featured a collection of familiar faces and the constant tone of GM and head coach Phillip Dos Santos’ voice serving as the first session’s soundtrack.
Yet, those familiar sights and sounds aside, the theme to the fifth camp in the Canadian Premier League team’s history was all about change — and there is a ton of that as the club began counting down the days to the season opener in Toronto against York United FC on April 16th.
“It was very different out there today,” said veteran centre back Andrew Jean-Baptiste, one of the returning faces,” after Tuesday morning’s workout at the Winnipeg Soccer Federation South complex. “We had a lot of pieces who left after last year; guys who had been here for several years and opted to pursue new adventures. And Coach brought in a lot of new guys and from what I’ve seen so far, they look like exciting players. That’s one thing you’ve seen throughout the years: this team has never been short on pulling in quality guys. All the days I’ve been here there’s always been quality.
“It comes down to team chemistry and how quickly we bond. But first impressions, everyone looks sharp and the guys that are back from last year have a real good idea of what coach wants and he’ll need to implement that with the new guys, so they know what is expected from us.”
Jean-Baptiste was joined by other returnees, including goalkeeper Rayane Yesli, defenders Andy Baquero, midfielders Diego Gutiérrez Raphael Ohin, Kevin Rendon and forwards Walter Poncé and Matteo de Brienne. Also back are midfielder/defender Dante Campbell and forward Jared Ulloa, both of whom return after not playing with the club in 2022.
That makes for a good nucleus, but when the departures include all-time leading scorer Moses Dyer, dominant left back Brett Levis, CF Montreal loanees Jonathan Sirois and Sean Rea, veterans Stefan Cebara and Daryl Fordyce – the latter now part of the coaching staff – well, that’s a whole lot of experience having exited.
Here’s the thing about Valour’s makeover – among the many new faces are CPL vets like Jordan Haynes and Abdou Samake, both from Pacific FC, and Marcello Polisi of HFX Wanderers. Other new faces, like Kian Williams, Jaimie Siaj and Pacifique Niyongabire, all come with considerable pro experience.
“Everything’s new and there’s a ton of new guys,” said Haynes, who set up shop in Winnipeg late last November after joining the club. “So, even for the guys that we’re here last year, this is new for them as well because there are so many new faces. It’s good that everyone is here from the start. Everyone is here ready to go.
“Today’s session went better than I thought. Usually there’s a lot of rust or when you meet somebody, you’re trying to learn tendencies and what guys around me want to do. This first session was to get know each other on and off the field.
“But it’s not like there are just two or three new guys coming into a well-oiled machine and it’s sink or swim. We’re all in the same situation and it’s easier to get that ship to sail.”
Jean-Baptiste said the team gathered for dinner Monday night and he could see a camaraderie already building. Critical now is to have that build into something by mid-April as Valour chases what would be the first playoff berth in club history.
“We don’t want to be too comfortable thinking that there’s time,” said Dos Santos. “There’s work to be done. There are other teams that are preparing out there. Yes, we want to see progression. This is a set-up week for them – not only for their bodies to adapt, but also for them to get to know each other and understand themselves as players.
“We’re pleased at how fit they were when they arrived – their conditioning is very good already. It was good to see them flying today. We almost had to hold them back and we expect that because everyone was so eager to start. It’s about managing the way they use their energy and make sure they’re playing with clarity. This early in the season you want to get the load in and get the fitness levels up to where they need to be when it comes to football, but it was good to see their energy.”
Dos Santos used the term ‘mature’ and ‘maturity’ on a couple of occasions to describe his first impressions of the squad. Again, much of that is by design. But he also tipped his hat to the younger players in camp who will be asked to help Valour meet the U-21 minutes this season.
“Look, we spent so much time making sure the players we brought in were thoroughly assessed – their qualities, their strengths, their weaknesses and so, overall, we didn’t really have any surprises,” he said. “It was reinforcement of what we saw and what made us sign the player.
“What has surprised me a bit is the maturity of our young players and when I talk about maturity, I’m talking about football maturity – their understanding of the game, their execution and that’s something I’m really excited about because I think our U-21 minutes need to be organic from players we can put out there and trust it won’t drop the level of performance. For me that’s a pleasant surprise.”
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‘V’ NOTES:
-Valour added to its goalkeeping stable with the signing on Monday of Jordan Tisseur https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/hes-a-guy-that-is-going-to-come-here-hungry-and-wants-to-prove-himself. He joins Yesli and Winkler product Alvin Rode, who was spotted at the club’s recent tryouts in Valour camp.
-ICYMI, our training camp preview from last weekend:https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/this-is-where-everything-starts-coming-to-life-this-is-where-we-start-gluing-the-pieces-and-putting-the-puzzle-together-training-camp-preview
-Wednesday’s practice times: 10-11:30 a.m., WSF South, 211 Chancellor Matheson Road.