Another season comes to a close for Valour FC Saturday in Victoria short of the playoff goal and with a ton of questions going forward.
That's essentially been the story of Winnipeg's Canadian Premier League franchise since its inception in 2019 as it ends another campaign without a playoff spot and with a ton of uncertainty heading into the winter. And so, the team that takes to the pitch Saturday against Pacific FC for its 2025 finale will attempt to control what it can control and finish strong for pride, for the men they've trained and battled with for months and for its loyal fan base.
"When you come to the end of the season there's always a little bit of nostalgia that kicks in at training today and knowing it's the last training session," said Valour GM and head coach Phillip Dos Santos. "People feel things differently. For some there’s frustration of a season that they had high expectations for and, on a personal standpoint, weren’t able to deliver. For others it’s going to be the realization that it’s one more year of their professional careers and it goes by very fast. We all know that. It just makes me realize I need to enjoy every day and when I don’t enjoy it anymore then there’s questions to be asked.
“… There’s a circle that’s going to be closed. Life is made of cycles, and this was one. I told the guys at the last game that for some this would be their last home match. For others this will be their last match with a Valour logo on and playing with those guys that, regardless of results and not meeting objectives, you still create ties and friendships with a lot of these people.
“It’s no different for me,” he added. “I try to keep a team picture and a jersey from every team that I’ve coached because every group has been special in its own way.”
Valour and Pacific are tied for sixth place in the CPL standings with 23 points – Valour on a 6-16-5 record; Pacific at 5-14-8. York United is locked into the fifth and final playoff spot with 38 points on a 10-9-8 mark.
"We're trying to secure the highest possible position in the standings. That's what we want to do for ourselves. We're prideful people,” said Dos Santos. "The motivation is we're pros. We have a job to do. It's part of what we signed up for. We didn't sign up only for the winning moments and the moments that are special. It comes with the roller-coaster. So for me the motivation is waking up every day and knowing that we're blessed to do what we do and embrace it in the best possible way.
"That's what we need to do. There's no other way. Ask the guy that has to go work in the factory what his motivation is. It's his living, it's his family and that's what it is for us. It's no different for an athlete and for us we have to give our best every day. That's what we're called to do.”