Plenty of familiar faces will be back with the HFX Wanderers next season.
The Canadian Premier League club announced Tuesday that a dozen players, including leading scorer Akeem Gracia and standout keeper Christian Oxner, have agreed to contracts and will return to Halifax for the 2021 campaign.
It's a sharp contrast to last year when the team turned over 75 per cent of its roster from its inaugural season in 2019. The Wanderers reached the 2020 league championship final in September, capping off a surprising run at the six-week Island Games bubble tournament in P.E.I.
"These core players have embraced their role as representatives of our city, our fans and our club, earning themselves the opportunity to continue to build on the momentum they created at the Island Games," Derek Martin, club president and founder, said in a news release.
"Our goal of bringing a championship to our supporters remains at the forefront of every decision we make and we are confident these returning players put us in a great position to compete."
Joining Garcia and Oxner on the initial 2021 roster are Peter Schaale, Andre Rampersad, Mateo Restrepo, Omar Kreim, Alessandro Riggi, Jems Geffrard, Eriks Santos, Joao Morelli, Cory Bent and Alex Marshall.
The Wanderers will also welcome back under-21 players Scott Firth and Jake Ruby to their pre-season camp where they will vie for a contract in 2021.
The club is continuing discussions with Alex De Carolis, Daniel Kinumbe, Aboubacar Sissoko and Ibrahima Sanoh in hopes of bringing them back next season.
Chrisnovic N'sa, an original member of the Wanderers, has declined the club’s new contract offer.
The club has also opted not to extend Louis Béland-Goyette and Jason Beaulieu has decided to retire from professional football to pursue a career in engineering. Luke Green will join the St. Francis Xavier X-Men for the 2021 Atlantic university season.
"It is always difficult to say goodbye to players who have given their all for the club," Stephen Hart, Wanderers head coach general manager, said in the release.
"Despite making our best efforts to maintain continuity, in football there will always be some off-season movement and we wish all of these young men continued success wherever their careers and lives take them.”
