With the inaugural Canadian Premier League season only months away, Winnipeg’s Valour FC has added a pair of experienced soccer pros to its coaching staff.
The team announced the addition of assistant coach/assistant general manager Damian Rocke and goaltending coach Patrick Di Stefani on Friday.
“I am delighted to have Damian and Patrick on board, I know their work well and they bring a lot to the table to help make us a competitive and winning football club,” said Valour FC head coach and general manager Rob Gale.
“They fit right in line with our club’s philosophy to win with Winnipeggers, and I am excited to get out onto the pitch with them.”
Rocke is well known in the local soccer community, both as a coach at various levels and for his past work with the Manitoba Soccer Association’s technical committee.
Prior to coaching, he played for the Cornell University squad and later joined Lucania Football Club in Winnipeg, winning a national championship in 2000.
Di Stefani’s almost three decades of coaching began in Belgium in 1998 as a conditioning and goalie coach.
Locally, he was a head coach for Lucania, as well as Hellas SC, who he coached to two provincial championships.
Among other positions, he’s also coached provincial men’s and women’s teams at various levels, including at the Canada Games.
Valour FC’s debut is scheduled for May 1 in Langford, B.C., (near Victoria) with the home opener at Investors Group Field May 4.
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