Valour FC still alive and kicking, but barely

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This article was published 02/11/2021 (1749 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VALOUR FC isn’t going down easy.

They had two matches last week — Tuesday at home against HFX Wanderers FC and Saturday on the road against Cavalry FC — and needed to win both to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

They did just that, beating Halifax 3-0 before handing the Calgary side a 4-2 defeat.

The impressive play led to five of their players being named to the Canadian Premier League’s Team of the Week on Monday. Forward Rafael Galhardo, midfielder/forward William Akio, midfielder Jose Galan, defender Andy Baquero, and goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois were all recognized.

“This is the time of year where you get a lot of answers when it comes to character … It’s easy to say we want this, we want the playoffs and we want to get above the line, but you have to match that on the field with your performance …and the guys just did that,” Valour head coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos told the Free Press on Monday.

Valour’s 10-4-13 record gives them 34 points on the year, two back of fourth-place York United FC (8-12-6) for the league’s final playoff position. Valour closes out their regular season on the road on Saturday against last place FC Edmonton (5-9-12) and needs to win to have any chance at making it. They also need their fair share of help as York must lose their final two matches, both of which come at home against Forge FC (14-2-8). The Ontario clubs meet Saturday and again next Tuesday.

The Wanderers are also in contention as they have 34 points (8-10-9) with one match left. Halifax plays Atlético Ottawa (6-7-14) on Sunday. If Halifax and Valour end up in a tie for fourth, the Winnipeggers will advance as they have more wins.

But Dos Santos said his club isn’t focused on what they need to happen, it’s all about what they can control.

“We can’t think about that because none of those results matter if we don’t win our game in Edmonton. We have to focus on the process. We have to play with the urgency and understanding that Saturday is a final for us,” Dos Santos said.

Dos Santos replaced Rob Gale as the team’s head coach and general manager on Sept. 23. Valour is 3-2-2 since turning the keys over to Dos Santos, a former assistant with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Regardless if Valour sneaks in or not, don’t expect the new boss to tear everything down and start from scratch in 2022.

“I think it’s a club that needs stability and continuity, a club that has a very good foundation to be successful,” Dos Santos said.

“I’ve also learned through my career that for you to succeed, you need everyone to push in the same direction and you can’t do that with too much turnaround.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

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