Valour look to take game to HFX

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This article was published 23/07/2021 (1762 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Valour FC are looking to leave the Winnipeg Canadian Premier League bubble with their seventh victory of the season as they gear up for a rematch with the HFX Wanderers FC Saturday afternoon.

“We want to be able to get out on the front foot and build our game,” said Valour head coach Robert Gale.

“I’m hoping it’s not too hot out tomorrow and we can finish as strongly as possible. Keep the tempo of the game as high as we can and make life difficult for Halifax.”

The Winnipeg football club has maintained a strong disciplined game from the start of the bubble, sitting atop of the CPL standings with six wins and one loss. Gale says he has learned a lot about the character of his club through the bubble format and applauded the resiliency of his group.

“I’ve got to say that the camaraderie and the behaviour in the group is better than it was last year,” said Gale.

“The personalities in the group, the way they gel, they are fighting for something bigger than themselves. It’s a we and a brotherhood attitude, not a me attitude. They’ve impressed me so much on a daily basis both on and off the field.”

Valour has netted 12 goals through its first seven games and only surrendered a league best two. Austin Ricci, a key piece of Valour’s offense continues to lead the league in goals scored and says he is very comfortable driving the team forward.

“It’s always good as a striker to get goals under your belt early,” said Ricci. “It puts me in a good mood, I have the confidence and I feel like I’m playing well.”

The Valour striker echoed Gale’s message in leadership and is enjoying the mental toughness the team presents each match.

“I think we’re a resilient group, we stick to our tasks, game plans and execute when needed,” said Ricci.

“We’ve been a very hard group to break down and you can see that based on our statistics, our goals against and we punish teams. Being on the field is what makes us all happiest.”

Alongside Ricci at the front end of the pitch for Valour is fellow striker William Akio. The 23-year-old Canadian who celebrated his birthday Friday, has dazzled Winnipeg fans with his speed and agility thus far and says his teammates are feeding off of each other’s energy.

“The biggest thing for us as a team has been our togetherness, just the willingness to fight for each other and stay positive all the time,” said Akio.

“I feel like we have been executing that perfectly with the boys, everyone is very nice and gelling well, that’s helping us win games.”

The two forwards had a chance to share how they complement each other’s game, which is in turn helping Valour generate quality scoring chances every match.

“Honestly Austin is a great forward to play alongside with, because not only is he really fast and he can run the channels, same as I can, he can hold the ball up and he’s very strong,” said Akio. “It gives me time to make runs off his movement and when he’s shooting the ball I show for him and he shows for me and it’s a perfect combination.”

“I think we benefit each other well, he’s more of a runner I would say,” said Ricci. “It allows defenders to have to make a decision when we’re both up there, you can’t stick with both, so if he follows him then it creates space for me that works well for me to create opportunities. I definitely think there is a good partnership growing.”

Despite losing a key defender in Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Gale says the additions of Jose Galan, Mastanabal Kacher, Brett Levis and Arnold Bouka Moutou are going to bolster the team at the defensive end, giving them depth which is something the head coach missed from last season.

“We’re going to be in the strongest position we have been come the road trip and that’s what gets me excited, we’ve yet to reveal a full hand here,” said Gale.

On the other side of the pitch, Mesut Mert, assistant coach of Wanderers FC says his club has studied the tapes of its June 30th loss to Valour. Mert liked his team’s shot totals and ability to create turnovers despite the loss. The Wanderers have been struggling to find their game this season as they are currently at the bottom of the standings with one win, two draws and four losses. The coach says this game holds significant value ahead of their return home next week.

“It’s a must win for us, it just happens to be that this one is against the team at the top of the table,” said Mert.

“We’ll go out there and give it our best shot especially before we get to our home crowd. We have to manage the emotion before we get back home.”

It’s an attitude that is shared by Valour as both Gale and his players are eager to get out of isolation.

“We’re 24 hours from being bubble wrapped,” said Gale.

“We’ve been at home for five weeks now and getting to travel with the team and experiencing that is going to be amazing,” said Akio.

“I feel like we’ll have some time to go to a patio, enjoy some lunch and explore the city a little bit more too.”

Saturday’s kickoff is 1 p.m.

jbernacki@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @JosephBernacki