Friday January 21, 2022 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated January 23, 2022]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Langford-based Pacific FC pro soccer team has moved up former assistant head coach James Merriman to the top job as head coach for the western-most team in the Canadian Premier League (CPL).
Merriman, 36, has been part of the Pacific FC journey since the planning year in 2018 and was Assistant Head Coach in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons.
“James has been with this organization since day one and has been instrumental in building the core that brought us a Championship,” PFC CEO Rob Friend in a news release today.
“It means everything to me,” says Merriman now as head coach. “This is Vancouver Island, this is where I’m from. This club is in my heart. My goal for the club is the same as it’s always been, to be a group of young dynamic players.”
Kah moves to US-based team:
Pa-Modou Kah who has been head coach for Pacific FC in the last two seasons (both during the pandemic) is now moving on to be head coach for North Texas SC within the professional MLS.
Kah, 41, served two seasons with Pacific FC and led the team to win the Canadian Premier League Final in December 2021. He had last worked as the assistant coach at MLS side FC Cincinnati and earlier for Whitecaps FC 2.
His playing career included representing Norway as a national team member and more than 400 professional appearances playing throughout the top leagues of Norway, Sweden, Holland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA and Canada.
“I’m very proud of what we accomplished this season with the championship,” said Kah.
“We went through a lot as a team so I want to thank the players, the staff and the ownership. In my two years here we accomplished a lot so I will always remember my time here well,” said Kah in today’s news release.
Merriman as technical director:
In addition to his duties as associate head coach, Merriman, 36, also served as the technical director for the Trident Development Program and Vancouver Island Wave. His past coaching experience includes an assistant coach role for SFU men’s soccer NCAA Division II program and at Vancouver Island University.
His playing days included stints with the Colorado Rapids Reserves, Victoria Highlander FC as well as Colorado Lightning.
Into the next season:
“I’m excited to build off what we did last year and what we built over the last three years and take it into the next season,” said Merriman.
“I definitely didn’t think I’d ever have the chance to coach a professional team on Vancouver Island but that’s what the Canadian Premier League is doing, creating opportunities like this,” says Merriman.
“It’s obviously very special to be able to live my dream of being a head coach for a professional team, especially on Vancouver Island. I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” says Merriman.
Starlight Stadium:
Pacific FC plays out of the Starlight Stadium (formerly Westhills Stadium) in Langford.
Seating accommodates about 6,000 people in the stands. Current the public health orders (in place to February 16) require 50 percent attendance levels, to help prevent spread of the predominant Omicron variant during the ongoing COVID pandemic.
2022 Season and beyond:
There have been eight teams in the Canada-wide CPL. More teams are being added for 2023, including in Vancouver (owned by the same group that owns PFC) and Saskatoon. Both of those ventures are dependent upon launching or procuring a home-base stadium.
As announced a few weeks ago, inaugural Commissioner David Clanachan has moved on to owning and running his own team in his home area in Ontario. Clanachan has been awarded the exclusive rights for a CPL expansion club in Windsor/Essex County.
CPL has it’s eye on moving its players into competition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
===== RELATED:
CPL Commissioner Clanachan chooses home town (January 10, 2022)
Season 3 fallout: Pacific FC loses two top players to Forge FC (January 9, 2022)
Pacific FC captures Season 3 North Star (December 5, 2021)
CPL Commissioner Clanachan weighs in ahead of 3rd-season final (December 4, 2021)
Soccer celebration: CPL awards coming after final game & on awards night (December 4, 2021)
Pacific FC in final CPL match Dec 5 (December 2, 2021)
Starlight Stadium naming now ceremoniously official (September 19, 2021)
COVID economics: Langford woos Starlight for recovery of stadium & team sport (January 19, 2021)