HFX Wanderers FC delivered a few powerful performances in the past couple of days.
On Wednesday night, the Canadian Premier League team turned in one its most dominating offensive efforts with a 3-1 win over FC Edmonton. Thursday afternoon, Wanderers players joined the other seven clubs to send a powerful message during in a show of solidarity against racism.
Professional leagues across North American have hit the pause button on their games to shine the spotlight on the impact of racism. On Thursday afternoon, all eight CPL teams made their statement during a break on the field at the 8:46 mark of Thursday’s game between Cavalry FC and Atletico Ottawa . The play was stopped and the players took a knee.
“It was a powerful moment,” said Wanderers coach Stephen Hart. “At some point, things are more important than sport even though we make a living from it. But really and truly it was a very powerful moment and it wasn’t, in my estimation, a copy-cat moment. It was one of those moments when you read the players' address, it’s about a lot of the social issues around racism and it was very nice to see. It was well presented and supported.”
This statement was release by the league on Thursday:
“As players we acknowledge the issues that are going on around the world, social injustice takes on many forms from police brutality, violence against the LGBT community, sexism, islamophobia and missing indigenous women in Canada. We stand as one to combat those who seek to undermine our communities, going forward we commit to using our platform and experiences to educate and learn from those around us. Our condolences go out to the families affected.”
Hart said many important conversations were held among coaches and players on how the league would be present its message.
“It was very intense, the coaches had very strong feelings about the entire situation,” said Hart. “We all felt we had to have a discussion with the players and let the players bring it to the forefront. The players are the product, they are everything in this. We fully supported whatever they wanted to do as coaches.”
Wanderers’ Jems Geffrard said the players felt it was their duty to find an avenue to show their support for the battle against racism.
“It was a powerful message and you could feel it," said Geffrard. "Everyone was together holding each other and the message was powerful and that together we can do it.”
Geffrard, a 26-year-old from Montreal, said people need to be better educated about racism.
“It’s a matter of education. If people don’t educate themselves about it , it’s going to continue to be the same in 10 years. Educate yourself, get to know why we are doing this. People are suffering and we need to know how and why and when. Then you can go forward.”
But the players know the games must go on and the Wanderers will return to action on Saturday in a marquee matchup against York 9 in their Charlottetown bubble.
After four matches in the Island Games, HFX is one point behind York 9 in a three-way tie for fourth place with Pacific FC and Atletico.
Hart said there isn’t any added pressure on the players for the match Saturday at 4 p.m.
“They know the situation as well as anybody. Nobody has to tell us we need points. We know the situation, but our focus is more on the quality of the performances. This is a tournament format, it’s not simply where you stand on the table. There’s a lot of complications, goal differential and all of that. We’re focusing on performance.
“My emphasis has from the beginning been on performances. How we perform individually, collectively as a team, the lines etc. Of course, everything is based on trying to get the right result and scoring goals and preventing goals.”
Offensive breakout
The three-goal breakout on Wednesday night against Edmonton was a welcome sign for Hart.
“If you look at the opening part of the game, we created two opportunities right from the beginning and once you get into that sort of rhythm you and you’re willing to push the game forward.
“We got the lines right and started to get our distances right and movement in around the penalty area more effective. Once that started to happen you kind of got the feeling that you would get more chances. I wasn’t pleased with the first two, but Akeem (Garcia) did a great job on scoring and then Joao (Morelli) scored. We managed the game quite well and got a third goal out of it. We sort of stuck with that rhythm and that formula and hopefully, we can build on that have an even better performance in the next few games.”
Hart said the players are prepared for the challenges offered by a strong York 9 opponent.
“They are very organized on set plays, a big team that is good in the air and that will present us with a challenge,” said Hart. “They’re a team that plays off the counter-attack well and would also be something we would have to take into account.”
Team coming together
As the Wanderers grow as a unit, Hart has been impressed by the team’s improved ability to press the opposition’s attack.
“The ability to press is a team thing. When you have certain players on the field the press is a little more effective and right now we seem to have that balance where players understand how the press actually works and how we can do it. We did it last year in a number of games but this year there is a better understanding of the timing of the press and the triggers that allow you to press.”
Saturday’s match will be third in a busy week for the Wanderers and Hart said the coaching staff has been watching the players closely.
“We look at the numbers in terms of the GPS and try to see how they recover and make decisions on how should we start them or bringing them on,” said Hart. “All of these things come into account because the player's health is extremely important and you want them at their best when they play the game.”
