The script didn’t unfold how Dante Campbell had hoped at all for Valour FC in 2023. A season without a playoff appearance, after all, tends to leave everyone with a bitter aftertaste.
There was a silver lining, however, and it’s a big reason why the versatile 24-year-old midfielder/defender has put his name on a new contract with a club option for 2025.
“I came to Valour this year with a goal, which was to play consecutive minutes and I did that,” began Campbell in a chat with valourfootball.club from his offseason base in Toronto after his deal became official. “Now I’ve been given some other challenges going forward and I’m more than happy to take on because I know it will help me and, more importantly, help the team to accomplish our goals.
“I just felt like I’m coming into my new responsibilities as a player and with a coach like Phil (Dos Santos) he’s really helping me reach my potential. I have a lot of unfinished stuff to do, and this is the right thing for me to do in this moment.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Phil. He put a certain amount of trust in me that some players might have then taken on as added pressure. For me, I saw it as an opportunity and without him giving me that trust there wouldn’t have been opportunity for me to grow as a player and help the team.”
Campbell made 25 appearances totalling 2,165 minutes for Valour in ’23, scoring once and adding one assist. His ability to play in the heart of the park is vital and he showed his value to the club by also dropping back to occasionally play in the back line.
Two other things were shown in his game in 2023: his bite as a player – something Dos Santos covets – and his growing leadership skills. The latter took some time to find as returned to a club stacked with veterans. But as the season progressed, he felt more comfortable in stepping forward to speak out.
“My role is to continue to build as a player, first,” he explained. “But also, it’s to be a leader and try to help keep everyone on track with the goal that we have, which is making the playoffs and then what comes after that. We’re making some moves now as a team and I trust Phil with what he’s told me and what we’re going to do.”
Born in Etobicoke, Campbell is a product of the Toronto FC system, beginning with TFC III in the USL in 2016, and then TCC II through 2021. He was loaned to Valour in 2020 and made five appearances during the Island Games season. He spent the 2022 campaign with LA Galaxy II in the USL before rejoining Valour this past season.
Campbell said he has been diligently training since the ’23 season ended on October 6th, adding “I needed a couple of days and I think by October 10th I was ready to get back at it. I can’t wait.”
Valour is already undergoing a makeover to its roster heading into next season. Campbell, as one of the returning players, hopes to put what unfolded in the rear-view mirror. Still, it can also serve as fuel, too.
“I know there’s a lot of negativity out there right now,” he said. “It just motivates me and the people who are sticking with the club to push through times like this.
“You can’t blame people for their point of view, but it does give us something to prove to ourselves and to the league as well. That said, we’re not really worried about what’s going on or being said on the outside. As Phil would always say, we can only concern ourselves with what we do internally.
“It will be nice to be one of the guys that helps turn around this club. Right now, it’s like a breath of fresh air.”