Episode 561 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Talking Too Long As The Night Came On)

05/02/23 • 132 min

We’re back with another packed show of Canadian soccer chat for what was a veritable feast of footballing action across the country, as we talk MLS, CPL, League1 BC, and football books in this episode with lots of great chat, interviews, and audio.
The Whitecaps extended their unbeaten league run with a goalless draw against Colorado on Saturday. We pick over the bones of that one and dissect the positives and negatives around the team right now. They've turned it around defensively, but can they get the goals flowing or is further help required? Plus we look at some other talking points around MLS.
Our feature interview is with author Farhan Devji whose biography of Canadian superstar Alphonso Davies came out today. We chat to Farhan about Phonzie's rise, his early life in Africa, his time at the Whitecaps, the move to Bayern Munich, and more.
Plus we round up the action across the opening weekend in League1 BC, hear from TSS Rovers head coaches Darren Russcher and Chelsey Hannesson, chat CPL, hear from Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi after his side's latest point, and look ahead to the club's first ever home game in Langley this Sunday.
Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.30: Intro
06.45: Whitecaps extend unbeaten MLS run to seven
28.13: MLS chat
36.25: Farhan Devji interview about his Alphonso Davies book
69.30: League1 BC chat
83.45: CPL chat with Afshin Ghotbi
117.15: Vancouver FC's home opener is finally here
124.15: Wavelength - The Choice - Sunday Soccer

Previous Episode

Episode 560 - The AFTN Soccer Show (History Makers with guests Dino Rossi, Will Cromack, and Malcolm Johnston)

We’re back with another packed show of Canadian soccer chat for what was a veritable feast of footballing action across the country, as we talk MLS, MLS Next Pro, Canadian Championship, CPL, and League1 in this episode with lots of great chat, interviews, and audio.
It's been a week for the history books as we delve into TSS Rovers fantastic win over Valour FC in the Canadian Championship and chat with head coach Will Cromack about the game, the next round, and what's next the club, the players, and himself. We also round up the rest of the action from the competition and hear from Pacific FC head coach James Merriman about facing the Rovers next and from Valour's Phil Dos Santos about his team's now infamous loss.
Our other feature interview this week is with League1 Canada commissioner Dino Rossi as we chat about the growth of the league across Canada, future expansions, the importance of the level to the game here in Canada, and more.
We also look at another historic game, Vancouver FC's first ever goal and win as a club, and hear from head coach Afshin Ghotbi and goalscorers Shaan Hundal and Gael Sandoval, plus Afshin talks about the club's recently announced affiliation with L1BC side Unity FC.
All of that plus we round up the Whitecaps news of the week and chat with WFC2 player Malcolm Johnston about his career, coming to Vancouver, and his hopes and aspirations for this season and beyond. Will he follow in his brother's footsteps and head to Europe?
Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.42: Intro
03.00: Whitecaps News of the Week - WFC2 win again, Dajome departs, MLS roundup
10.55: Malcolm Johnston interview
22.07: Canadian Championship roundup
41.40: Will Cromack interview and TSS Rovers chat
78.00: Dino Rossi interview and League1 chat
112.25: Vancouver FC get their first ever win
134.30: CPL teams affiliate with League1 clubs
143.28: Wavelength - The Skinflicks - Smash The Referee

Next Episode

Episode 562 - The AFTN Soccer Show (What A Tale My Thoughts Could Tell with guests Rob Friend and Will Cromack)

We’re back with another packed show of Canadian soccer chat. As the feast of footballing action continues across the country, we'll be talking MLS, CPL, and the Canadian Championship in this episode.
Vancouver Whitecaps extended their unbeaten MLS run to eight games at the weekend with a crucial win over Minnesota United. We look back at the main talking points coming out of the match, talk attendances again, round-up the weekend's action in the MLS West, and Sporting Director Axel Schuster addresses the Diego Lainez transfer rumours with Har.
Turning our attention to the CPL, we look at the historic match in Langley on Sunday as Vancouver FC played their first home game in their new stadium. We delve into the controversial game against Cavalry and give a first hand account of what the initial stadium and supporter experience was like. We also chat with VFC co-owner Rob Friend about the long journey to get this team off the ground, the difficulty in attracting more local players to the side, continuing to build upon a strong start off the pitch, the sustainability of the league, and more.
It's also a week of Canadian Championship action. We preview the only two quarter-finals that matter and look ahead to the big one, the BC derby between Pacific FC and TSS Rovers. We hear the thoughts of Pacific head coach James Merriman and we chat with TSS head honcho Will Cromack. Is another cupset on the cards? Plus while we're loving cup football and the lower leagues, we chat about MLS Commissioner Don Garber seemingly dissing those things south of the border.
Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.29: Intro
06.50: Whitecaps extend unbeaten run to eight with win over Minnesota
25.35: MLS round-up
35.25: Whitecaps crowd woes
38.00: Axel Schuster addresses the Diego Lainez rumours
44.25: Vancouver FC's first home supporter and stadium experience
70.33: Vancouver v Cavalry game analysis
84.37: Rob Friend interview and discussion
111.10: Canadian Championship chat
124.15: Will Cromack interview
131.52: Don Garber disses lower leagues
138.25: Wavelength - Funky Red Pandas - KarlHeinz Rummenigge