And then there were three.

Three new players have been added to the Vancouver Football Club (VFC) during the last two weeks, each of them seasoned players expected to bring significant experience and mentorship to the young 91原创-based pro soccer extension team, said head coach Afshin Ghotbi.

The newest member of the team was signed on Thursday. It鈥檚 Brazil native Renan Garcia, who joins as a midfielder half way through the VFC season.

According to Ghotbi, Garcia, 37, spent much of his professional career playing for various European clubs, including in Italy, Romania, and Portugal. Garcia also spent two years in the United Arab Emirates Pro League.

鈥淩enan Garcia is a seasoned professional who can help to shape our culture at Vancouver FC,鈥� Ghotbi said. 鈥淗is experience and leadership in the midfield will help to direct our systems and manage our attacking strategies, and he will join our other new additions, Alejandro Diaz and Miki Cantave in setting the right professional examples for our young players on and off the field.鈥�

VFC has signed him through to the end of the 2023 Canadian Premier League (CPL) season, with a club option for 2024.

He joins the existing team and the two other experienced players signed in recent days, forward Alejandro Diaz and Mika毛l 鈥淢iki鈥� Cantave from Cavalry FC, who has already scored his first goal for the BC-side in just his second match with the team.

鈥淥bviously, we lacked the experience and lacked the quality, I felt, to compete and challenge the playoff spot. And that鈥檚 why these additions have been made,鈥� said Ghotbi. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to bring players who, I believe, could influence the team, could influence the results.鈥�

Watching them for just a few days already, the coach said he鈥檚 impressed with their ability as players, but also their character. He describing them each as leaders on and off the field.

鈥淭hey already fit like a glove on the team and I鈥檝e been very impressed.鈥�

They can definitely help the team put points on the scoreboard, but he鈥檚 confident they鈥檒l aid in the development of the younger players, too, which is more important for Ghotbi, long term.

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Vancouver FC hits the road for a one-match trip to the nation鈥檚 capital to take on Atl茅tico Ottawa Sunday.

VFC is coming off its third win of the season and will be looking to continue the momentum this weekend against ATO, Ghotbi said.

Vancouver will be looking for its first point against ATO and is hopeful the latest signings will help to do just that, Ghotbi said ahead of the trip, noting the team鈥檚 never competed against Ottawa at full strength before.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a completely different team. We saw that in training earlier this week, so the second half of the season, you鈥檒l see a completely different Vancouver FC team,鈥� he added.

The match between Vancouver and Ottawa will kick off at TD Place Stadium in Ontario on Sunday, at 2 p.m. (PT), and West Coast fans can catch the match on a dedicated soccer channel called .

Ahead of this weekend鈥檚 game, local player Anthony White of Port Moody spoke of the rematch against Ottawa. He and his teammates are anxious to score their first goals against Atletico after playing two games against them in the first half of the season and not managing any goals to Ottawa鈥檚 six points.

The 6 ft. 2 in. local defender is confident the addition of their new teammates will make 鈥渁 really big impact, I think,鈥� White said, impressed already with the contributions of the three mature players.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e definitely been role models鈥� I think they鈥檙e going to be really big mentors for us.鈥�

As a Lower Mainland native, White was asked what it鈥檚 like playing so close to home. His response: 鈥淗onestly, amazing!鈥�

He is super excited each time VFC get to play at home pitch in 91原创 where he has family, extended family, and friends always loading the stands.

Speaking of which, Vancouver FC is back home next weekend for their next game. They鈥檒l take on the Calgary Cavalry on Saturday, July 22, at 4 p.m. on home pitch at Willoughby Stadium (next to the 91原创 Events Centre) with gates opening at 2:30 p.m.

Coach Ghotbi has been grateful for the fan support for the fledgling VFC, especially when they play at home in 91原创.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if one person or 6,500 are cheering for us, we feel at home. I think the love they bring to the stadium and the stands is truly appreciated. What I鈥檓 really impressed with is, through our tough times they鈥檝e stuck with us, and through our victories they鈥檙e thrilled and they show it鈥� it鈥檚 very touching,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 really look forward to having this fan base grow and I鈥檓 sure there will be a day when we not only have every seat full and occupied, but I think the stadium will be bigger and bigger and eventually we鈥檒l play in front of 20,000-plus. That鈥檚 my dream for Vancouver,鈥� Ghotbi shared.

RECENT WITH VIDEO: A crucial home victory for Vancouver FC

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