2023 Valour FC season

Last updated
Valour FC
2023 season
President Wade Miller
Head coach Phillip Dos Santos
Stadium IG Field
Canadian Premier League 8th
Canadian Championship Preliminary round
Highest home attendance4,036
Lowest home attendance2,665
Average home league attendance3,220
←  2022
2024  →

The 2023 Valour FC season was the fifth season in the history of Valour FC. They played in the Canadian Premier League, which it co-founded and played in since the inception of both the club and the league. The club entered the Canadian Championship in the preliminary round.

Contents

Background

In Valour's preceding four seasons, it never reached the play-offs, for which the top-four qualified in those seasons. The club ended in sixth place in the first two seasons and fifth place in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, missing the play-offs by one and nine points, respectively. The club's entry in the domestic cup competition, led to a single win over its previous four seasons. It was the club's second full season with Phillip Dos Santos as head coach, since he took over midway through the 2021 campaign.

Current squad

As of August 17, 2023.

No.NameNationalityPosition(s)Date of birth (age)Previous club
Goalkeepers
1 Darlington Murasiranwa Flag of Zimbabwe.svg GK February 7, 2001 (aged 22) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg FC London
99 Rayane Yesli Flag of Algeria.svg GK October 12, 1999 (aged 24) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Blainville
Defenders
2 Andy Baquero Flag of Cuba.svg RB / RW August 17, 1994 (aged 29) Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Delfines del Este
3 Jordan Haynes Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg LB / LW January 17, 1996 (aged 27) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Pacific FC
4 Guillaume Pianelli Flag of France.svg CB May 1, 1998 (aged 25) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg UQTR Patriotes
5 Abdou Samake Flag of Mali.svg CB October 7, 1996 (aged 27) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Pacific FC
18 Klaidi Cela Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CB July 16, 1999 (aged 24) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vaughan Azzurri
19 Eskander Mzoughi Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg RB February 6, 2003 (aged 20) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Oud-Heverlee Leuven U23
22 Matteo de Brienne Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg LB May 22, 2002 (aged 21) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carleton University
35 Andrew Jean-Baptiste Flag of Haiti.svg CB June 16, 1992 (aged 31) Flag of Sweden.svg Umeå FC
Matthew Chandler Injury icon 2.svg Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CB February 7, 2000 (aged 23) Flag of the United States.svg Wisconsin Badgers
Midfielders
6 Dante Campbell Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg DM / CB May 22, 1999 (aged 24) Flag of the United States.svg LA Galaxy II
7 Kian Williams Flag of England.svg AM / CF January 7, 2000 (aged 23) Flag of Iceland.svg Keflavík
8 Diego Gutiérrez Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg RM / RB February 18, 1997 (aged 26) Flag of Chile.svg Barnechea
10 Kevin Rendón Flag of Colombia.svg AM January 8, 1993 (aged 30) Flag of Colombia.svg Deportivo Pasto
20 Juan Pablo Sanchez Flag of the United States.svg / Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg MF April 18, 2003 (aged 20) Flag of Portugal.svg Salgueiros
21 Marcello Polisi Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CM / DM January 24, 1997 (aged 26) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg HFX Wanderers
27 Raphael Ohin Flag of Ghana.svg CM May 25, 1995 (aged 28) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg WSA Winnipeg
Forwards
9 Walter Ponce Flag of Chile.svg CF March 4, 1998 (aged 25) Flag of Chile.svg Barnechea
11 Jared Ulloa Flag of Peru (state).svg RW / LW June 8, 2002 (aged 21) Flag of Peru (state).svg Sporting Cristal
12 Ahinga Selemani Flag of the United States.svg FW March 15, 1996 (aged 27) Flag of the United States.svg One Knoxville SC
23 Anthony Novak Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg ST March 27, 1994 (aged 29) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cavalry FC
24 Pacifique Niyongabire Flag of Burundi.svg LW / RW March 15, 2000 (aged 23) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth Glory
32 Jaime Siaj Flag of Jordan.svg ST December 16, 1995 (aged 28) Flag of Ireland.svg Finn Harps

Transfers

In

Transferred in

No.Pos.PlayerFrom clubFee/notesDateSource
3DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jordan Haynes Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Pacific FC FreeDecember 5, 2022 [1]
5DF Flag of Mali.svg Abdou Samake Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Pacific FC FreeDecember 12, 2022 [2]
24FW Flag of Burundi.svg Pacifique Niyongabire Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth Glory FreeDecember 19, 2022 [3]
7MF Flag of England.svg Kian Williams Flag of Iceland.svg Keflavík FreeDecember 21, 2022 [4]
21MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marcello Polisi Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg HFX Wanderers FreeJanuary 4, 2023 [5]
DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Eskander Mzoughi Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Oud-Heverlee Leuven FreeJanuary 18, 2023 [6]
MF Flag of the United States.svg Juan Pablo Sanchez Flag of Portugal.svg Salgueiros FreeJanuary 18, 2023 [6]
32FW Flag of Jordan.svg Jaime Siaj Flag of Ireland.svg Finn Harps FreeJanuary 25, 2023 [7]
11MF Flag of Peru (state).svg Jared Ulloa Flag of Peru (state).svg Sporting Cristal FreeFebruary 2, 2023 [8]
6MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dante Campbell Flag of the United States.svg LA Galaxy II FreeFebruary 10, 2023 [9]
1GK Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jordan Tisseur Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg FC Laval Signed to a development contractFebruary 20, 2023 [10]
4DF Flag of France.svg Guillaume Pianelli Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg UQTR Patriotes Selected 5th overall in the 2023 CPL–U Sports Draft March 6, 2023 [11]
23FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Anthony Novak Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cavalry FC FreeMarch 9, 2023 [12]
DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matthew Chandler Flag of the United States.svg Wisconsin Badgers FreeApril 6, 2023 [13]
DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Klaidi Cela Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vaughan Azzurri FreeApril 27, 2023 [14]
12FW Flag of the United States.svg Ahinga Selemani Flag of the United States.svg One Knoxville SC FreeJuly 22, 2023 [15]
GK Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Darlington Murasiranwa Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg FC London FreeAugust 17, 2023 [16]

Draft picks

Valour FC selected the following players in the 2023 CPL–U Sports Draft. Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in.

RoundSelectionPos.PlayerNationalityUniversity
15DF Guillaume Pianelli Flag of France.svg France UQTR
212DFSamuel LaPlanteFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada UQTR

Out

Transferred out

No.Pos.PlayerTo clubFee/notesDateSource
17MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brett Levis Flag of the United States.svg FC Tulsa Contract expiredNovember 15, 2022 [17]
4DF Flag of Lebanon.svg Tony Mikhael Contract expiredNovember 15, 2022
12DF Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan Esparza Contract expiredNovember 15, 2022
1GK Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jonathan Sirois Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CF Montréal End of loanNovember 30, 2022
24FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sean Rea Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CF Montréal End of loanNovember 30, 2022
13FW Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg Billy Forbes Flag of the United States.svg Detroit City End of loanNovember 30, 2022
14DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Stefan Cebara Contract expiredDecember 13, 2022 [18]
11MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alessandro Riggi Contract expiredDecember 13, 2022 [18]
77MF Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Federico Peña Flag of Sweden.svg Umeå FC Contract expiredDecember 13, 2022 [18]
7FW Flag of New Zealand.svg Moses Dyer Flag of the United States.svg FC Tulsa Contract expiredDecember 22, 2022 [19]
3DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rocco Romeo Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vancouver FC Contract expiredJanuary 16, 2023 [20]
16FW Ulster Banner.svg Daryl Fordyce RetiredJanuary 20, 2023 [21]
5DF Flag of Algeria.svg Nassim Mekideche Flag of the United States.svg Sporting Kansas City II Contract expiredJanuary 23, 2023 [22]
70MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matthew Catavolo Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Toronto FC II Undisclosed feeMarch 21, 2023 [23]

Pre-season and friendlies

Friendlies

Valour played three friendlies in as part of their preseason preparations.

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

March 18, 2023 (2023-03-18) Vancouver FC 2–2 Valour FC Langley, British Columbia
Hundal Soccerball shade.svg
Romeo Soccerball shade.svg		 Siaj Soccerball shade.svg
Mat.Polisi Soccerball shade.svg		Stadium: Willoughby Community Park Stadium
Referee: Carly Shaw-MacLaren
March 22, 2023 (2023-03-22) Pacific FC 2–0 Valour FC Langford, British Columbia
Stadium: Starlight Stadium
Referee: Alain Ruch
April 3, 2023 (2023-04-03) Cavalry FC 0–2 Valour FC Calgary, Alberta
Report Niyongabire Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svgStadium: Macron Performance Centre
Referee: Yusri Rudolf

Competitions

CompetitionFirst matchLast matchStarting roundFinal positionRecord
PldWDLGFGAGDWin %
Canadian Premier League regular season April 16, 2023October 6, 2023—8th2868142538−13021.43
Canadian Championship April 19, 2023April 19, 2023Preliminary roundPreliminary round100113−2000.00
Total2968152641−15020.69

Last updated: December 29, 2023
Source: Competitions

Canadian Premier League regular season

League table

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsPlayoff qualification
1 Cavalry (S)2816754627+1955 First semifinal
2 Forge (C)2811983932+742 [a]
3 HFX Wanderers 2811983932+742 [a] Quarterfinal
4 Pacific 28117104235+740 Play-in round
5 York United 28115123544−938
6 Atlético Ottawa 28106123834+436
7 Vancouver 2885152850−2229
8 Valour 2868142538−1326
Source: CanPL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Total wins; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goal differential; 6) Away goals scored; 7) Home goal differential; 8) Home goals scored; 9) Total minutes played by U-21 players; 10) Coin toss (2 teams tied) or drawing of lots (3+ teams tied). [24]
(C) Champion (qualified to Champions Cup); (S) CPL Shield winner (qualified to Champions Cup)
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Tie resolved by away goal differential; Forge: +4, Wanderers: −2

Matches

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

April 16, 2023 (2023-04-16)1 York United 0–2 Valour FC Toronto
Report
Stadium: York Lions Stadium
Attendance: 1,607
April 22, 2023 (2023-04-22)2 Valour FC 1-1 Atlético Ottawa Winnipeg
Report
Stadium: IG Field
Attendance: 3374
April 30, 2023 (2023-04-30)3 Cavalry FC 1-1 Valour FC Foothills County
Stadium: ATCO Field
May 6, 2023 (2023-05-06)4 Valour FC 0-0 HFX Wanderers Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
May 13, 2023 (2023-05-13)5 Forge FC 3-2 Valour FC Hamilton
Stadium: Tim Hortons Field
May 20, 2023 (2023-05-20)6 Valour FC 1-1 Pacific FC Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
June 4, 2023 (2023-06-04)8 Valour FC 1-1 York United Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
June 10, 2023 (2023-06-10)9 HFX Wanderers 2-0 Valour FC Halifax
Stadium: Wanderers Grounds
June 16, 2023 (2023-06-16)10 Valour FC 2-0 Forge FC Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
June 21, 2023 (2023-06-21)11 Pacific FC 1-0 Valour FC Langford
Stadium: Starlight Stadium
June 25, 2023 (2023-06-25)12 Valour FC 1-0 Vancouver FC Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01)13 Valour FC 0-2 Cavalry FC Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
July 9, 2023 (2023-07-09)14 Atlético Ottawa 2-0 Valour FC Ottawa
Stadium: TD Place Stadium
July 15, 2023 (2023-07-15)15 Forge FC 1-1 Valour FC Hamilton
Stadium: Tim Hortons Field
July 23, 2023 (2023-07-23)16 Valour FC 1-2 York United Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
July 29, 2023 (2023-07-29)17 Valour FC 0-3 Pacific FC Winnipeg
Report
Stadium: IG Field
Attendance: 2,977
August 6, 2023 (2023-08-06)18 Vancouver FC 0-0 Valour FC Langley
Stadium: Willoughby Community Park Stadium
August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11)19 Valour FC 3-2 Cavalry FC Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)20 Valour FC 1–3 Atlético Ottawa Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
August 26, 2023 (2023-08-26)21 HFX Wanderers 3–0 Valour FC Halifax
Stadium: Wanderers Grounds
September 2, 2023 (2023-09-02)22 Pacific FC 2–1 Valour FC Langford
Stadium: Starlight Stadium
September 8, 2023 (2023-09-08)23 York United 1–3 Valour FC Toronto
Stadium: York Lions Stadium
September 17, 2023 (2023-09-17)24 Valour FC 2–3 Forge FC Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
September 20, 2023 (2023-09-20)25 Valour FC 0–1 Vancouver FC Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field
September 24, 2023 (2023-09-24)26 Atlético Ottawa 0–1 Valour FC Ottawa
Stadium: TD Place Stadium
September 29, 2023 (2023-09-29)27 Cavalry FC 2–1 Valour FC Foothills County
Stadium: ATCO Field
October 6, 2023 (2023-10-06)28 Valour FC v HFX Wanderers Winnipeg
Stadium: IG Field

Canadian Championship

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

April 19, 2023 (2023-04-19)First round TSS FC Rovers 3–1 Valour FC Burnaby, British Columbia
Report
Stadium: Swangard Stadium

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Valour FC signs Canadian defender Jordan Haynes". Valour FC. December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
    2. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian defender Abdou Samake". Valour FC. December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
    3. ↑ "Valour FC sign Burundian forward Pacifique Niyongabire". Valour FC. December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
    4. ↑ "Valour FC sign English forward Kian Williams". Canadian Premier League. December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
    5. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian midfielder Marcello Polisi". Valour FC. January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
    6. 1 2 "Valour FC sign midfielder Juan Pablo Sanchez and defender Eskander Mzoughi". Valour FC. January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
    7. ↑ "Valour Adds Jordanian Striker Jaime Siaj". Canadian Premier League. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
    8. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian-Peruvian forward Jared Ulloa". valourfc.canpl.ca. Valour FC. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
    9. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian midfielder Dante Campbell". Valour FC. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
    10. ↑ "Valour FC sign goalkeeper Jordan Tisseur to a USPORTS contract". Canadian Premier League. February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
    11. ↑ "Valour FC sign defender Guillaume Pianelli to U SPORTS contract". Canadian Premier League. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
    12. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian forward Anthony Novak to a contract". Valour FC. March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
    13. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian defender Matthew Chandler". Canadian Premier League. April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
    14. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian defender Klaidi Cela". Valour FC. April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
    15. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian forward Ahinga Selemani". Canadian Premier League. July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
    16. ↑ "Valour FC sign Canadian goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa". Valour FC. August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
    17. ↑ "FC Tulsa Inks 2022 Canadian Premier League Team of the Year Defender Brett Levis to Multi-Year Deal". FC Tulsa. November 15, 2022.
    18. 1 2 3 Valour FC [@ValourFootball] (December 13, 2022). "Thank you for your commitment to the crest. We're wishing Federico Peña, Stefan Cebara and Alessandro Riggi the best of luck in their future endeavours" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    19. ↑ "FC Tulsa Inks Coveted Canadian Premier League Striker Moses Dyer to Multi-Year Deal". FC Tulsa. December 22, 2022.
    20. ↑ "Vancouver FC signs Canadian defender Rocco Romeo". Canadian Premier League. January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
    21. ↑ ""It was 20 years of emotions from all the mental and physical work I've put in and realizing, 'That's it.'"". Valour FC. January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
    22. ↑ "Sporting KC II signs Algerian Canadian defender Nassim Mekideche". Sporting KC. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
    23. ↑ "Toronto FC II sign Matthew Catavolo and Jesus Batiz". Sporting KC. March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
    24. ↑ "2023 CPL Competition Guidelines". Canadian Premier League. March 17, 2023. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
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