Pacific FC has officially announced today that they have appointed former Norweigan international Pa-Modou Kah as their new head coach.
Kah is joining the club in his first role as a head coach, after previously working as an Assistant Coach with Whitecaps FC 2. He also last worked as the Assistant Coach at MLS side FC Cincinnati and also played alongside Pacific FC player Marcel de Jong at Dutch club Roda JC.
The international player has clocked 400 professional appearances playing throughout the top leagues in the world, including Norway, Sweden, Holland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA and Canada, most recently with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC – making him a first-choice candidate for Pacific FC.
“This Island has a proud soccer history, a place where you can create a great environment, and play a part in developing soccer in Canada,” said Kah. “It’s exciting to be part of a league that is giving kids a chance to play in their homeland and build toward the World Cup.”
“Pa is a leader with an impressive background on and off the field,” said Rob Friend, CEO, Pacific FC. “We are extremely fortunate to have secured someone of this profile, who understands the North American market, has international connections, and ultimately is very familiar with a majority of our players.”
Pacific FC’s technical staff will also be getting a facelift, adding James Merriman as Associate Head Coach and Technical Director for the Trident Development Program. Alongside them will be Riley O’Neill as an Assistant Coach and Youth Staff Coach, while Neil Sedgwick will take the role as Manager of Youth Development.
Campbell River product O’Neil represented Canada in the 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA, German sides SV Wilhelmshaven and Eintracht Braunschweig before joining Finish outfit Myllykosken Pallo -47 – he has also been coaching locally in the VISL for Vic West FC.
“With the new coaching roster we have put together, we have some of the best player development coaches in the province, if not the country,” said Josh Simpson, President, Pacific FC. “We are investing heavily in youth and we’re proud to be able to provide this level of professional coaching to aspiring players on the island.”
These moves have happened prior to the kick-off of Pacific FC’s 2020 season, which will be happening in April.
The team’s former head coach, Michael Silberbauer, was let go one day before the final game of their inaugural season after the owners of the club and Silberbauer mutually agreed to part ways.
