Head coach Afshin Ghotbi and his new Vancouver FC pro soceer team are hype knowing they鈥檒l be playing their home opener in 91原创 next weekend.

But for now, their focus has had to be on preparing mentally and physically for today鈥檚 game against the Halifax Wanderers FC.

鈥淔or us as a young team, also as an expansion team, to have all these matches away 鈥� this is our fourth match away 鈥� it鈥檚 actually been a great opportunity for us to spend a lot of time together as a team and players have gotten to really like each other and be together and grow as a family. And, I believe that鈥檚 one of the advantages of playing all these away games,鈥� Ghotbi shared Friday.

鈥淥n the other hand, we really can鈥檛 wait to play at home for the first time with our fans, which have shown 鈥� even on away games 鈥� their support for us.鈥�

Halifax, which has yet to win a game this season, is what Ghotbi describes as an organized team 鈥� much like the VFC. He compared Saturday鈥檚 game to a chess match, saying VFC will be demonstrating its talent and strategic strengths.

鈥淚 hope fans tune in,鈥� said the coach. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be a beautiful game, especially the forecast for the weather, it鈥檚 going to be sunny and on a grass pitch with a sold out stadium. It鈥檚 going to be dandy.鈥�

Vancouver FC is coming off a busy first week of competitive matches, with the club playing twice in the league and once in the Canadian Championship over seven days.

RECENT WITH VIDEO: A history-making victory for Vancouver FC

Despite the hectic starting schedule, where VFC most recently earned its first win after last Saturday鈥檚 victory against York United FC, 2-1 (the first win in franchise history), Ghotbi noted there were 鈥渢hankfully鈥� no injuries and his players were progressing and improving game over game.

To hopefully ensure that continues, he explained that part of VFC鈥檚 preparation time was not so much focused on training this week as much as simply relaxing and recovering 鈥� to making sure the team is well rested for play at Wanderers Ground in Halifax, N.S. at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET.

Among the players excited to be suiting up for play against the Wanderers today is defensive midfielder Elliot Simmons, a 25-year-old hailing from England, but he鈥檚 seems more charged about next weekend鈥檚 game at home in 91原创 鈥� against his former teammates from Calgary.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been great training in 91原创, and it鈥檚 really cool to see the stadium being built day by day,鈥� Simmons shared.

RELATED WITH VIDEO: New soccer stadium takes shape in 91原创

鈥淚 think we went away for five or six days and we came back and there was a brand new side to the stadium. Yeah, it鈥檚 changing so quickly and I think it goes by the motto of brick by brick, as it鈥檚 literally getting built. Everyday there鈥檚 something new that鈥檚 changing 鈥� same with the team,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be really exciting to finish here [Halifax] this weekend then come back for the home opener and hopefully some good momentum behind us and full of confidence,鈥� Simmons concluded in a pre-match press conference Friday.

West Coast-based fans can catch the Halifax match on dedicated soccer channel OneSoccer, available to all Canadian households through OneSoccer.ca, via Roku, Chromecast and Apple TV devices and with the OneSoccer app for iOS and Android devices.

OneSoccer is also available as a linear channel on Optik TV (Ch.980), the pay-TV service operated by TELUS, one of Canada鈥檚 鈥榖ig three鈥� telecoms companies, as well as on streaming service fuboTV Canada.

Vancouver returns to the West Coast next weekend to host the club鈥檚 inaugural home opener at Willoughby Park (next to 91原创 Events Centre) on Sunday, May 7 at 4 p.m., facing off against Cavalry FC.

Vancouver FC was founded last year as a member of Canadian Premier League (CPL), Canada鈥檚 Tier 1 domestic men鈥檚 soccer league. It鈥檚 kicked off its first season earlier this month.

It might be a fledgling team, but Ghotbi is impressed so far.

鈥淲e have a team that鈥檚 really bubbling with hope and enthusiasm, ambition and lots of potential,鈥� said the coach.

For more, people can stay tuned to and follow the club on , and for the latest news and updates.

.