Friday, March 8, 2019 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND.
~ West Shore Voice News
In the last few days, Pacific FC has added three more players, geared up for training camp, announced the league’s official footwear supplier, announced their 2019 game schedule, and brought on their director of communications.
On March 5 the island-based team within the Canadian Premier League (CPL) announced Calgary-born Issey Nakajima-Farran as their 13th player, on attack.
And yesterday March 7 added defenders Hendrik Starostzik and Lukas MacNaughton to their roster today pending International Transfer Certificate (ITC) approval. That will bring the team count to 15. German-born Starostzik and Belgium-raised MacNaughton will provide stability and size to the team’s back line.
The full roster is in Tofino this weekend for a pre-season training camp. The roster before this week (in order of being signed) includes Issey Nakajima-Farran, Marcel de Jong, Marcus Haber, Kadin Chung, Mark Village, Nolan Wirth, Ben Fisk, Victor Blasco, José Hernandez, Matthew Baldisimo, Terran Campbell, Noah Verhoeven and Alessandro Hojabrpour.
The CPL announced on March 4 that Nike will be the official footwear and equipment supplier for the league.
Pacific Football Club has released their 2019 Canadian Premier League regular season schedule. Matches begin with the inaugural home opener on April 28 versus HFX Wanderers FC through to the end of the Fall season on October 19. The season will consist of 28 regular season games; 14 home, 14 away, and will be separated into two distinct halves; Spring season and Fall season.
Pacific FC has recently added Mira Laurence, long-time BC sportscaster, to their management team. Laurence takes on the position of Director of Communications and Community Partnerships with the club for the inaugural 2019 season.
Issey Nakajima-Farran: Attacker Issey Nakajima-Farran, 34, joined Pacific FC following a multi-continent professional career and being capped 38 times with the Canadian Senior National Team. Canadian-born, but raised in Japan and England, Nakajima-Farran made a name for himself playing in Japan, Singapore, Denmark, Cyprus, Australia, Spain, Malaysia before returning to Canada to play in the Canadian Premier League.
With his family at age 10 he moved to England to play for Crystal Palace’s youth team. He returned to Japan at 16 and started his professional career J2 League’s Albirex Niigata and was later transferred to Albirex Niigata Singapore FC where he scored 26 goals in 45 appearances. He was awarded the Singapore Young Player of the Year in 2005.
For five years, Nakajima-Farran played in Denmark for clubs including Vejle Boldklub, Superliga, FC Nordsjaelland and AC Horsens. He went on to sign a one-year contract with Australian A-League team Brisbane Roar FC followed by a stint in Cyprus. He played in the MLS for Toronto FC and Montreal Impact and most recently played in Spain and Malaysia before returning to Canada.
This goal scorer made his debut for the Canadian National Team in 2006 and has represented the country in 38 appearances and played alongside Pacific FC owners Josh Simpson and Rob Friend.
“Issey brings a lot of experience to our team from his time abroad. He fits perfectly into our group of both young and more experienced players,” said Michael Silberbauer, Head Coach, Pacific FC.
Hendrik Starostzik and Lukas MacNaughton: “With Hendrik we have added a player that has already been in an extremely competitive environment in Germany and we expect a lot from him. Lukas has been one of the best defenders in League1 Ontario and we feel he is a perfect match for our group,” said Michael Silberbauer, Head Coach, Pacific FC. “I couldn’t be happier that they both have decided to join Pacific FC.“
Starostzik, 27, has played professionally in Germany since 2010, including a stint with Dynamo Dresden (2016-17) of 2. Bundesliga, Germany’s second division. The 6’2″ centre back played on province team Hessen as a youth, and attended SC Paderborn 07. The well-traveled defender arrives from Hallescher FC of 3. Liga, where he made 15 appearances.
“This is a big adventure for me, my goal was to play in another country and Canada is a great place to play—particularly Vancouver Island,” said Starostzik. “I’m excited to play in the Canadian Premier League.”
MacNaughton, 23, and born in New York, but raised and played youth football in Brussels, Belgium. He stands 6’1″ at centre back and carries Canadian citizenship from his father. He came to play for the University of Toronto Blues from 2013 – 2017 and was the team’s top scorer in 2016. MacNaughton represented Canada at the 2015 FISU Games in South Korea and the 2017 FISU Games in Taipei. Most recently, he was named a League1 Ontario All-Star as a member of Alliance United in 2018, where he registered 579 minutes through 10 appearances.
“Everyone has been talking about the Canadian Premier League, so when it became a reality it is where I wanted to be,” said MacNaughton. “This is a great opportunity for Canadians to play at home.”
Season ticket info
BACKGROUND:
Over the coming weeks, the team will continue to build its roster preparing for spring training in March.
ABOUT PACIFIC FOOTBALL CLUB: Founded in 2018, Pacific Football Club brings professional football to Vancouver Island. Playing out of a renovated, 6000-seat Westhills Stadium in Langford, the club will provide an outlet for young Canadian soccer players to realize their dreams of playing at the professional level. Fans will be able to enjoy the thrilling, fast-paced sporting atmosphere associated with the sport when the Canadian Premier League season kicks off in April 2019. For season ticket information: https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/pacific-football-club-ticketing
ABOUT THE CPL: Canadian Premier League (CPL) is Canada’s professional men’s soccer league set to debut in April 2019. Playing in world-class and unique venues, and partnering with strong community-led ownership groups, CPL is a league for Canadians by Canadians that will bring professional soccer to communities coast-to-coast.
For updates and more information, please go to CanPL.ca . On Twitter: @CPLsoccer and #CanPL
LINKS:
Marcel de Jong joins Pacific FC (February 19, 2019)
Three more players: Ben Fisk, Victor Blasco, José Hernandez (February 10)
Trio signed: Alessandro Hojabrpour, Matthew Baldisimo, and Terran Campbell (January 19, 2019)
Pacific FC signs Marcus Haber for inaugural season (January 9, 2019)
Pacific FC opens downtown Victoria storefront & signs Kadin Chung (November 30, 2018)
For season ticket information: https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/pacific-football-club-ticketing