Sounding Off: Players, Staff React To Club Folding

Canadian Premier League side Valour FC has suspended operations, closing the doors on seven years of professional football in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

While there is plenty contention about what could or should have been, the reality is that the door to professional soccer within the province is presently closed. Valour played in Canada’s top flight for seven seasons and provided a platform for many staff members and players, and with its closure a deep void in Canadian football – and with that, players and staff both past and present have offered their thoughts on the club’s closure.

This compilation of quotes below is obtained both from the players’ own posts and from reaching out to them directly. In both instances, these words come solely from the heart:

Raphael Ohin

“Every dream has a beginning…and this one started in Winnipeg.

A country called Canada, and a beautiful, friendly city called Winnipeg gave me the opportunity to dream again.

This is where it all started. The place that believed in me when I was chasing something bigger than myself. The club that gave me my first professional contract, my first home in Canada, and eventually, the honour to wear the captain’s armband.

For the past seven years, this city, this team, and these people have been my family. Through the highs and the lows, the wins and the lessons, I’ve grown not only as a player but as a a man.

To my teammates who became brothers, the coaches, and the staff who guided and believed in me, and everyone behind the scenes who gave their all – thank you.

To the fans and the entire soccer community here in Winnipeg, your love, your passion, and your constant support have meant more than I can ever express. You made every game feel special, every moment unforgettable.

I’ll forever be grateful for every person who’s been part of this journey You’ve all played a role in shaping who I am today. This chapter will always hold a special place in my heart. The city will always be home.

Some places change you. Winnipeg changed me.”

Rocco Romeo

“It’s difficult to accept the news about the future of this club…nonetheless, thank you for giving me an opportunity to wear your crest and represent the city of Winnipeg.”

Dylan Carreiro

“As someone born and raised in this city, and proud to have worn and captain Valour FC’s colours, this news hits hard.

This club wasn’t just where I played – it was a piece of home. To see it fold is heartbreaking, not just for me as a player, but for every kid in Winnipeg who dreamed of stepping onto that pitch one day. Valour FC meant something real to this community, and it hurts to see it go.”

Roberto Alarcon

“Thank you for being part of my story and for all the lessons, always with pride, always with courage!”

Marco Bustos

“It’s a sad day for the soccer community. I grew up playing in Winnipeg and never had a professional team at home to look up to, so I had to leave the city to chase my dreams. We finally had something special in our hands, and seeing it slip away is tough. I know this decision will crush a lot of young dreams, and that’s the hardest part.

But in true Manitoba fashion, work hard, stay passionate, never quit, we keep moving forward. Looks like it’s back to chasing the dream outside the city again… but that’s nothing new, and it’s never stopped us before.”

Bruno Figueiredo

“Sad to hear the news. Forever grateful for the opportunity to play for Valour and represent the city.”

Juan Pablo Sanchez

“My time at Valour was really special. It’s a team and a city that gave me my first chance and truly believed in me. On and off the pitch, everything felt right – the coaching staff, the players, and the fans all made it an amazing experience. I’m sad about the news, but extremely grateful for the opportunity to have played there.”

Phillip Dos Santos

“To everyone who fought by my side and helped me during this crazy journey, thank you. To the city, to the fans, and the unbelievable people of Winnipeg, I love you always. Hold on to the memories but keep pushing forward. The storm doesn’t last forever.”

Tass Mourdoukoutas

“Just want to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved at the football club. The amazing fans, former teammates, and the incredible staff, for your support and efforts week-in and week-out, making my experience in Winnipeg something I’ll never forget.”

Jordi Swibel

“Sad news for everyone involved. I sympathize especially with the fans, they were wonderful to me in my time at the club. Some of my favourite footballing memories came while representing Valour.

The implications on the wider footballing community will be felt for time to come I fear. Winnipeg is a fantastic city with passionate people and it deserves a successful team that the supports and aspiring young footballers can get behind and feel connecting to. Hopefully, with the right people leading the way and a ‘football first’ vision, they can have that in the near future.”

Diogo Ressurreicao

“Speechless.”

Abdul Binate

“Truly gutted to see Valour folding, my time there was great and I made a lot of memories I cherish. To the fans, my teammates, and the people that worked behind the scenes to make everything work: thank you!”

Sean Rea

“Valour was an important part of my journey, and it played a big role in my development. It was the first time I left home, and that experience helped shape me both as a player and as a person. It’s sad to see things end this way, but I want to wish all the fans and everyone who supported the club nothing but the best.”

Matteo de Brienne

“Thank you to Valour FC and the city of Winnipeg for giving me my first opportunity as a professional footballer. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone at the club – teammates, staff, coaches, and supporters – who played a part in my development on and off the pitch.

It’s heartbreaking to see the club fold, especially given what it has meant to so many of us. Valour gave me my start, shaped me, and believed in me, and for that it will always hold a special place in my career.

No matter what the future holds, I’ll be there to support the club when it returns.”

Matt Silva

“Valour and the city of Winnipeg will always hold a special place in my heart. It was my second chance in Canadian football – an opportunity to play in front of family and friends whenever we travelled to York and Forge, and a chapter that shaped me in ways I’ll never forget. It’s the city where I proposed to my now-wife, and the place I crossed the country for, back and forth with our dog in the back seat without hesitation. That season in the COVID bubble created a bond like no other. We became brothers through endless games of Uno and cornhole, through the pizza nights after big wins, the inside jokes on long bus rides, and the late nights spent together in hotel rooms. Those memories are ones I’ll carry forever.

Valour gave me the chance to revive my career, a chance that set me on the journey abroad that I’m still on today. For that, I’m endlessly grateful. To the teammates who became family, and the coaches who became mentors – thank you. It’s a sad day to see the club in this position, but I’m wishing the very best for everyone involved as they move forward.”

Jose Galan

“I’m honestly in shock. It feels like losing a part of yourself. The news immediately brought back my three years in Winnipeg, where I was truly happy. The fans created a real sense of identity and belonging, one that I shared deeply with them. I’ve spent the whole day thinking about it, because without any doubt it was one of the happiest places of my entire career. It’s where my two daughters were born, and where I built a special connection with the fans, the club, and the stadium. Every time I stepped onto that pitch, I felt a unique energy… something I haven’t experienced in many places around the world, and I’ve played in a lot of them.

I’m extremely sad. I always dreamed of returning one day, whether as a player again or in the future as a coach. The news hasn’t left my mind since the moment I heard it. It’s a huge loss for the community, for Manitoba, for Canadian football, and for everyone who lived the feeling that Valour FC gave us.

I felt so proud every time I had to defend that badge. It truly feels as if a part of me is leaving today as well.”

Raphael Garcia

“Sad day for football in Canada. I spent the inaugural season and the following year in Winnipeg – fell in love with the people there, and it’s also where I met my fiancee. Winnipeg will always have a special place in my heart.

That said, even though the World Cup coming here is incredible, it’s smaller clubs and the young players still trying to make a name for themselves who need real protection if we want to be a serious football nation. The World Cup will come and go like a storm, and if a Canadian soccer team can’t even be sustained, that’s deeply concerning.

Sending all my love and support to the staff and players who were put in a difficult situation, finding out through a Zoom call – and to all the fans in Winnipeg.”

Daryl Fordyce

“I’m very grateful and honoured to be a part of Valour FC and the city of Winnipeg for the past six years. I’ve played with and worked with so many incredible people. Myself and my family will forever be thankful.”

Adam Mitter

“As a member of the first-ever Valour FC squad, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you. You made every game day unforgettable. I’ve played in front of massive crowds across Asia, and I can genuinely say that you were right up there with the very best. Your passion, energy, and unwavering support meant everything to us. We felt it every single week.

You deserves so much better from the people above you at the club. None of this is on you.

But from the bottom of my heart – thank you. Thank you for the pride you gave us every time we pulled on that Valour shirt. Thank you for making us feel valued, supported, and part of something special. You’ll always have my respect and gratitude.”

Rob Gale

See Also: Gale Says Valour Became ‘Inconvenience’ To Owners’

“It is with a very heavy heart I write this. I poured four years of my life into Valour Football Club, helped create the name, the brand, the values, and worked tirelessly to build community connections to try and create something that would stand the test of time for Winnipeg – my home town, that had given me so much as a TD and National Team coach.

In that first year we gave eight Manitobans the chance to play in front of family and friends with the smallest staff, but all Manitobans. We lost to York competing for third spot with two games to go with a budget below the leagues salary floor. In that first year we had a couple games over 10,000 fans and the leagues highest paid attendance across the season and remarkably for a start up only lost $100,00 [sic]. Even selling a homegrown talent overseas.

I did over 150 community events that year and never once missed the supporters events. We, together, built something between team, staff, and fans that year and I always said, ’til this Day, Red River Rising were and are the best fan group In the country . Heck, I even penned the Valour Road song that you embraced and sang at the start of each game that filled me with joy and it became the players and staff karaoke anthem.

We were never backed properly by our President and CEO and there was zero accountability from a community board above him to want to make it work. We had zero support staff other than some bomber people occasionally coming out who knew nothing of our sport, no performance staff, no analysts, nothing but Damian, myself, and Paddy (on minimum salary) plus the legend that is Tony Mazza cared deeply for soccer in Winnipeg and Manitoba and home games were a family reunion.

I take great pride that Bustos, Musse, Carreiro Sacramento, Farago, etc got to play at home – that we developed the Rhino and helped him become a Canadian. That players like Sirois, Pantemis, Rea, Dunn, Akio we gave professional starts to their careers and paved the way for Froese, De Brienne, and Twardek to come to the club in later years by trying to bring them in the first three years. Aird, Petrasso, AJB, Mitter, Galan, Gallardo all top level players we brought to this club selling them a vision of what it could be and they loved you the Red River Rising Winnipeg fans.

Two Covid seasons were a challenge with no help from management or investment in staff players or infrastructure, but I left with the club in fourth place . Still think we’d have won the league had AJB not got injured in our magical bubble run in Winnipeg (seven wins in eight) and still we had no support from above and no desire to pay the going rate for staff or players or invest in the city and the community.

The record since I left and the crowds and the community, fans and relationships have pained me greatly.

Personally, it was great for me to be let go as I went onto the City Group and had an undefeated MLS Next season, then to Portland where I am embedded in the academy, the community, and playing in front of 20,000 fans every week and making playoffs and top league finishes with the youngest squad in the league. That’s right, we weren’t the problem and over-achieved with what resources we had, but my heart aches for my home town and all the soccer community today

What could have been a lasting legacy has been ran into the ground and to all the wonderful fans and RRR you deserved better. I hold you in my heart always – I’ll be home for Christmas to see Damo and others and we’ll toast you all then.”

---

This post will be updated as more sentiment from players are submitted.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques, Canadian Premier League