“We made history,” said Pa-Modou Kah, proudly.
But it’s not enough just to make the playoffs for the first time in the two-year chronicle of the Pacific FC soccer franchise.
“We’re not satisfied with just that,” added PFC head coach Kah.
“We want to continue making history, not only for ourselves, but for the whole Island football community.”
Kah guided PFC to a 3-2-2 opening-round record and the fourth and final berth in the Canadian Premier League playoff group stage, which begins tonight with PFC meeting Cavalry FC of Calgary (5 p.m. PDT online at OneSoccer).
Defending champion Forge FC of Hamilton and HFX Wanderers of Halifax (both 3-1-3) open the playoff round this morning at 10 a.m. in the CPL tournament being played within a bubble in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
The 2019 CPL-finalist Cavalry topped the table at 4-2-1, but one of its two losses was a 2-1 decision taken by PFC.
“Calgary will be looking for revenge,” said Kah.
“We have to play our game and stay focused on our game plan.”
That worked once before against favoured Cavalry.
With so many games packed into a short period of time in the pandemic-abbreviated season, fitness and staying power are becoming the keys. Kah pointed to the work of Chris Hinton. The average fan may never have heard of the PFC head strength and conditioning coach, but Hinton may turn out to be the hero of the piece if PFC survive to reach the championship game Sept. 19.
“Chris and his staff have done fantastic with the fitness work,” said Kah.
Canada-capped Marco Bustos, who has three goals for PFC, noted: “Our longest break was four days and we have had to regroup after every game. But everyone is in the same boat. You have to take lots of water and eat healthy.”
This, however, is a game of both body and head.
“The playoffs are as much about the mind, as well,” noted Kah, a former pro player and Norwegian international.
“We have to learn how to stay in the game for the distance mentally.”
Of concern were late losses at full or extra time to Atletico Ottawa and Forge FC. There was also a near header at the death by FC Edmonton on Sunday. If it had connected, it would have denied PFC a spot in the playoffs, and they would be back home on this Island. Instead, the ball eluded the head of the charging Eddies player by a hairs-breadth and fell into the welcoming arms of PFC goalkeeper Callum Irving. The television cameras showed Kah on the sidelines reaching for the front of his shirt and pulling it to his head. Such is the journey with the youngest team in the league.
Part of the PFC roster includes a trio of Island players who have all contributed in the tournament– Josh Heard, Sean Young and goalkeeper Nolan Wirth.
“The Island has a great footballing tradition, when you look back to its contribution to the 1986 Canadian World Cup team, and we want that tradition to continue. These three Island players have really stepped forward,” said Kah.
The playoff group stage is a round-robin. After tonight’s opening game against Cavalry FC, the Tridents meet Forge FC at 9 a.m. Saturday in a nationally-televised game on CBC before closing against HFX on Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. The top-two teams in the playoff round-robin advance to the one-game league final Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. on CBC. All times are PDT.
The CPL champion will advance to meet the top Canadian team from Major League Soccer for the Canadian Championship, this nation’s FA Cup-type title. The Vancouver Whitecaps, Montreal Impact and Toronto FC are playing in a Canada-only MLS tournament to decide who will advance against the CPL champion. The Canadian champion will represent the nation in the CONCACAF Champions tournament against the club champions from the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Caribbean.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com