The Canadian Premier League was established to give young Canadian soccer players a home domestic pro league that Issey Nakajima-Farran never had.
Calgary-born Nakajima-Farran signed with Pacific FC on Tuesday.
“My dad had to make a big move, to England, so that I could play football,” said Nakajima-Farran, noting his soccer career was the sole reason for the family move.
“We did a lot for football like that because we didn’t have certain things in Canada. So, the CPL is good for future Canadian kids coming up. It’s why this is such a big thing for Canada.”
Nakajima-Farran left an impression on Josh Simpson of Victoria and Rob Friend of Kelowna when the former MLS player for Toronto FC and Montreal Impact suited up beside them for Canada on pitches around the world.
When Simpson and Friend retired from the game and became co-owners of Pacific FC of the new CPL, they knew they wanted to target Nakajima-Farran.
And now they have landed him.
“These two have pulled it off and become team owners,” Nakajima-Farran said with a mix of astonishment and pride.
Born in Alberta, the 34-year-old Nakajima-Farran was raised in Japan and England. He has played pro in the MLS, Japan, Singapore, Denmark, Cyprus, Australia, Spain and Malaysia while earning 39 caps for Canada.
“Issey has been around the world and brings loads of experience to our young squad,” said Friend, a former Bundesliga pro and 32-time capped Canadian international.
“This is a player who has played in the MLS, has had many first-team minutes on the national team and was a superstar in Asia. He is a nice addition to our team. He is 34 but has three or four good years left in him.”
Friend likened the addition of Nakajima-Farran to the earlier Pacific FC signings of 27-time Canada-capped former Scottish Premiership player Marcus Haber and 56-time Canada capped former MLS and Bundesliga pro Marcel de Jong.
“These three bring balance to our locker room and will be mentoring our young players,” Friend said.
It’s a league also for the other end of the age scale, and the veteran pro Nakajima-Farran said he plans to do as much scoring as he does mentoring.
“Although I’ve been fortunate to play all over the world, the most at home I’ve ever felt was playing for Canada,” Nakajima-Farran said.
“Now I have a chance to play in Canada in front of my friends and family, doing what I consider to be the best job in the world.”
Pacific FC now has 13 players under contract.
Training camp opens Thursday in Tofino. Players on hand will be the 13 signees, along with Pacific FC’s three U Sports draftees Nick Fussell, Thomas Gardiner and Zach Verhoven, who were all selected from the UBC Thunderbirds.
Friend also said up to four more signees could be announced this week. There will also be trialists invited to try out out for the club.
Pacific FC is among seven founding franchises in the CPL, the realization of the long-held Canadian soccer dream of a domestic pro league.
Pacific FC’s first game, April 28 against the HFX Wanderers of Halifax at Westhills Stadium in Langford, will constitute the third-longest trip in the world between domestic pro league Premiership soccer clubs.
