CALVARY CONTINUES CPL PREP WITH MEXICO TOUR
Ten-day sojourn includes three-game series of exhibition matches against local clubs
Better late than never.
This trip to Mexico for Cavalry FC would have better served the club before its CONCACAF adventure, one would think.
But any training against strong competition is most welcome for Calgary's professional soccer troops, which is why they're in the sunny climes getting prepared for the bulk of their 2024 Canadian Premier League campaign.
“This is Part 2 of training camp. Part 1 was CONCACAF prep,” said Cavalry general manager/ head coach Tommy Wheeldon
Jr., recalling the two-game series loss to Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC in their February debut of the continental event for league and tournament champions.
“We gave the boys a week off after our CONCACAF exit, so that they were able to refresh and refocus on the next challenges ahead. Now we focus on the CPL season coming up.”
That begins anew in Hamilton in a rematch of last fall's league championship final, with Cavalry up against nemesis Forge FC on April 13 (2 p.m.).
Of course, Wheeldon and the Cavs are out to defend their regular-season crown won with a dominant 16W-7D-5L record last season.
That title take also ticketed them for the coveted CONCACAF appearance, as they joined Forge as the only other CPL side in the 27-team competition.
But with that participation in the rear-view mirror — 3-0 and 3-1 drops to Orlando City — it's time now to focus on the upcoming sixth season of the CPL.
“The mood has been good,” said Wheeldon. “Mexico gives us a different environment to train in and very good competition to play against. It's a trip that helps us sharpen our axe. We have three games against D1, D2 and D3 Mexican teams.”
In particular, the 10-day training trip — presented by Westjet — began Monday after seven previous days of camp in Calgary.
On Tuesday, the Cavs played against third-tier Mexican side Inter de Querétaro FC — a Liga Premier de México team playing out of Estadio Olimpico de Quarétaro in Querétaro City.
The three-match friendly trek then continues Friday against Querétaro FC — a.k.a. Gallos Blancos — a club in Mexico's top-tier Liga MX also playing in Querétaro City out of Estadio Corregidora. And finally, it's a contest next Wednesday with Celaya FC, a tier-two squad playing in Mexico's Liga de Expansión MX at Estadio Miguel Alemán Valdés in Celaya.
“Any time we go away, we have the chance to build chemistry on and off the pitch,” Wheeldon said. “As we've witnessed in the past, our successes have come from when we have a team that understands their role, plays for each other and enjoys shared successes. We anticipate that Mexico will bring challenges that will help us get closer to these ideals.”
Then they can take what they've learned into April and the regular season, which also includes a couple more important dates following the season opener at Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field.
On April 23, the Cavs host their first game of 2024 at Spruce Meadows' ATCO Field, with the first leg of the first round of the Telus Canadian Championship against visiting Vancouver FC.
And on April 28, it's the Cavs' CPL home opener against rival Pacific FC at ATCO Field.
“We have a couple of bumps and bruises after the Orlando games but nothing serious at this point,” said Wheeldon of his roster. “The new additions give us an added edge and makes our depth stronger so that we can change and adapt our tactics in games. The returnees come back with continuity and quality from last year with an opportunity to chase more successes.”
FREE KICKS
The CPL is removing any age requirements as it relates to the maximum of seven international players each club is allowed to include on its primary roster. A club is no longer required to ensure at least 50 per cent of its international players meet the under-23 age requirement ...
Also beginning in 2024, players signed to CPL-U Sports contracts will no longer count toward a club's 23-man primary roster. Instead, a club may add up to three players on CPL-U Sports contracts to its developmental roster. In signing a CPL-U Sports contract, university-level players can maintain their U Sports eligibility while earning professional experience in the CPL
... The CPL will increase each club's player total compensation budget by about eight per cent to a maximum spend of $1,212,500 in 2024, while maintaining the requirement for each club to spend a minimum of $750,000 on its player compensation budget. The maximum spend of $1,212,500 can be achieved if clubs implement the league's under-21 players incentive, which was designed to encourage CPL clubs to sign promising young talent.