Valour FC’s clubhouse is stuffed with enough veteran coaches and players to understand this basic tenet: a good week of training does not a season make.

Still, there’s also this: the benefits of said good week — as was the case with the club’s recent jaunt to the west coast that featured three preseason matches — can be part of something; a foundation if you will.

And as this club chases a playoff berth in the 2025 Canadian Premier League season, cementing a few foundational cornerstones could be massive.

“We’re where we need to be,” said Valour goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi as the club returned to training at the WSF South after spending six days in Vancouver. “I’m not going to say I wish the season were starting next week because there’s still a lot of work to do. We need more challenges. We’re pushing each other in training and trying to make the most of each day that we have to get better because there’s not much time to waste.

“We need to maximize our time, as well, because we learned last year what going into a season without ultimate preparation looks like. That makes us a little bit sharper and alert knowing that it’s a different speed, a different intensity, when the season starts, and we need to hit that stride before the season starts and not find out as we’re going through it.”

after a week of work on the coast, the boys return back to Winnipeg with two wins & a tie under their belt heading into the rest of preseason.

thank you to @wfc2, @vanfootballclub & @AltitudeFC_ca for hosting us.

next up, Toronto. #ForValour | @WestJet pic.twitter.com/nK4Uk3qLnG

— Valour FC (@ValourFootball) March 11, 2025

Indeed, a year ago the team returned from a stretch in Portugal to then open with seven straight matches on the road as new turf was installed at Princess Auto Stadium. The hole the club then fell into with a poor start — just one win and one draw against five draws before they had even played a match at home — proved to be too much to overcome.

Valour opted to stay in Canada for training this winter with last week’s trip to Vancouver followed by a week here at home and then another stretch in southern Ontario beginning next week.

The club will then open the 2025 CPL season on the road on April 5th against Pacific FC.

The trip west saw Valour knock off Whitecaps2 and Altitude FC of League1 B.C. while playing to a nil-nil draw with CPL rival Vancouver FC. Over the course of the three matches the club did not concede a goal.

“What I take out of it is we played three games and so much of what we do is about setting the structural foundation for what’s going to come ahead,” said Valour GM and head coach Phillip Dos Santos. “So, not conceding goals was important as it was to have the guys learn how to play together and have that mentality that every match counts. In that respect, it was all good.

“The six days away were perfect. When you get out of your environment you have less control on what you’re going to encounter there so, for us, it was just perfect to get the three games in — all under different circumstances in the wet, cold, dry. Being able to go through that, getting the minutes in and giving us important minutes to evaluate where the team is in their understanding of the different elements of the game was important.

“We’ve come back healthy and are ready now to progress in the next stage of our preparation.”

That’s critical now — the next stage. At this point of offseason training most teams can’t wait to fast-forward to the start of the regular season. Not so much for Valour, as it looks to integrate new faces like CPL vets Kris Twardek, Rocco Romeo (back from Vancouver FC) Zach Fernandez, Kelsey Egwu and Eleias Himaras, Portuguese pros Bruno Figueiredo and Xavier Venancio, youngsters Myles Morgan, Erik Pop, CPL U-Sports Draft picks Jevontae Layne and Ibrahim Chami with returnees like Viscosi, Frankie Facchineri, Roberto Alarcon, Shaan Hundal, Dante Campbell, Themi Antonoglou, Jordan Faria, Raphael Ohin, Kian Williams, Safwane Mlah and Diogo Ressurreicao.

“The chemistry, that’s coming pretty quickly,” Viscosi said. “Good relationships have already been formed and that’s because of the structure and principles that have been continuously reinforced. People are able to step into their position and they know the requirements of each position.

“Big picture we’ve got a really strong squad. The continuity from last season is pivotal. We’ve got a good process going and we’re building on that. The new guys, they’ve been pulled in with us and they’ve come in super-motivated. Everyone knows our objectives and what we’re trying to do.”

“You’re started to see a chemistry that is built not only in on-field connection but also off the field in making sure guys feel welcome and part of this family,” added Dos Santos.

“In all of that we’re in a good place.”

Once again, though, good training in March doesn’t always translate to wins in April. But it’s something and at this stage every squad wants to find those positive vibes as the regular season approaches.

“The real deal is once everything starts,” said Dos Santos. “We can be here and be encouraged, but there’s nothing like seeing the response when it matters and there’s three points on the line and you have to pick a squad.

“The signs — from where we’re at right now — are encouraging. We have enough experience to see the trends and understand we’re headed in the right direction right now. We just want to keep it like that.”