Pinnacles hoping to win at home
While the development of young, local players is a big part of the focus this season, make no mistake about one thing.
The Penticton Tim Hortons Pinnacles want to win games.
After scrapping hard in a 2-1 season-opening loss to Kamloops May 12, the Pinnacles will look to get in the win column as they welcome Mid-Isle Mariners to King’s Park Saturday in an 8 p.m. kick-off in Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Men’s Division play.
“Our attitude is to go out there and win the game,” said Pinnacles interim head coach Manuel Borba. “It’s important for our mentality and confidence. We played very well against a real good Kamloops team. We’re at home and we want to get a win for our fans and ourselves.”
Borba said he isn’t sure what to expect from Mid-Isle, who are playing their first league game.
“They were a solid team when they finished in the middle of the pack last year,” said Borba. “There aren’t any easy games in this league.”
The Pinnacles will get a boost with the addition of 24-year-old midfielder Andre Perez. The Nelson resident signed with the Pinnacles this week and Borba is hopeful of having him for the remainder of the season.
“He’s a very good midfielder and should fit in real well with our leaders (James) Fraser and (Bjorn) Borren,” said Borba. “He was in Europe trying out for a professional team. He’s got experience, he’s extremely fit and he’s really excited about joining our club.”
Otherwise, the Pinnacles will be going with a similar mix of university players such as Fraser, Borren, Brady Vanryswyk, Jordell Afonso, Kyle Martins and David and Michael Bohmer, with youngsters ranging in age from 15 to 17 from the Pinnacles FC under-18 team that Borba also coaches.
Veteran Wyatt Seddon-Johnstone could soon join the team once he gets up to full fitness, Borba said.
There will once again be a beverage garden available at Saturday’s game.
Head coach Marinus Barendregt returned to Holland to finish coaching his Dutch team until the end of the season and is still on course to return to coach the Pinnacles on June 25.
“He’s also going to be doing some training with our youth players while he’s here,” said Borba.
The Pinnacles, meanwhile, won two games and lost to eventual-champions Delta in the semifinal of Penticton’s annual May Classic tournament on the long weekend.
Penticton beat Kootenay 3-1 and North Vancouver 2-1 before falling 2-1 to Delta. The Pinnacles led 1-0 before Delta rallied in the second half.
“Our young guys got a ton of playing time and I was very proud of the way they played going up against men’s teams,” said Borba. “We had three 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old on defence. You see these kids growing in leaps and bounds going up against quality competition.”
Pinnacles FC youth graduates Dion Gouldsborough and Connor Hawley joined the team for the weekend and provided a strong veteran presence, Borba said, adding neither currently reside in the Penticton area now and will not be available to play for the Pinnacles in the PCSL this season.