Versatile Ponce finally joins Valour FC

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/05/2022 (1218 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If there’s a bright spot for Valour FC during a gloomy week in Winnipeg, it’s that reinforcements are starting to arrive.

Chilean forward Walter Ponce made his first appearance with the pro soccer team during training earlier this week. He’s among a trio of international players expected to suit up this season but is the first to arrive after manoeuvring through Canada’s lengthy immigration process.

“He’s versatile, he plays wide and he could also play as that second underlying forward,” head coach Phillip Dos Santos said Wednesday. “He’s someone that on any given day, depending on the characteristic of the game, could play in a different role.”

Ponce signed with the club in January. While Dos Santos didn’t see the deal between the two sides falling through, he admitted it’s been difficult to manage a smaller roster.

Dos Santos said with injuries to key personnel, he hasn’t had full bench since the start of the Canadian Premier League season.

“I thought it could have come to a point where you start saying ‘you know what, we might need to look at another option,’ because we couldn’t go two or three more months without three players on our roster,” said Dos Santos.

“We were getting to that line where we were about to start making decisions in regards to that,” he continued. “So, we’re happy that everything is coming to where it needs to be right now.”

It was all smiles at IG Field on Wednesday, as Ponce and teammates Jonathan Esparza and Diego Guiterrez were seated at a table after a thunderstorm washed away an outdoor training session. Esparza, a defender for the squad, played the role of Spanish translator.

“It’s been a long process to get here and I’ve been excited since the day I signed,” Ponce said, through Esparza. “I’m finally here and I’m ready to get to work.”

Professional soccer is prevalent all over the planet but it’s a small world after all for Ponce, who has been reunited with Gutierrez in Winnipeg. The two were teammates on a Chilean club, A.C. Barnechea, and have reconnected nearly 10,000 km away from Lo Barnechea.

“It feels good having an old teammate here with me,” said Ponce.

The trust between Dos Santos and Gutierrez played an important role in Ponce’s recruitment.

“When he told me, ‘Coach, Walter is going to help you and he’s a phenomenal character,’ for me that’s all I needed,” said Dos Santos. “It’s important to get that green light from a guy that has played with him.”

Valour heads west Friday and meets Cavalry FC (Calgary) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Winnipeg squad has a pair of victories, two draws and a defeat in five league outings. Valour and Cavalry (2-2-2) are second and third, respectively, in the standings.

Valour hasn’t collided with Cavalry this season but went 1-2-2 against them in 2021.

Dos Santos said that without 18 healthy players available, it would be beneficial if Ponce can play even 10 minutes in the match. The Valour bench boss added getting the travel experience and an additional week of training under his belt could help Ponce see limited action in the club’s rematch with Pacific on May 28.

“These internationals are in for a reason and it’s because they add value, but they also add options and they add different characteristics,” said Dos Santos. “We’re looking forward to having everyone here.”

gavin.axelrod@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: Gavin77axe