Cavalry FC sat down with U21 Head Coach Vikram Virk, forward Chanan Chanda, and U21 defender Nicholas Mackinnon to discuss the 2024 Cavalry FC U21 season, the club pathway, and opportunities to play professionally.
A Look Back at the League1 Alberta 2024 Season
2024 marked the second season for Cavalry FC U21, and the first full season for League1 Alberta. The side was led by Head Coach Vikram Virk, who joined from a wealth of coaching experience.
Virk was recently named Head Coach of Men’s Soccer at the University of Lethbridge and previously acted as an Assistant Coach at both North Texas SC and Pacific FC.
The U21s finished fifth in the League1 Alberta standings this season, accumulating 15 points from four wins, three draws, and five losses.
“Overall, our performance was quite good for such a young team,” said Virk. “It was exciting to be part of the full season of things and getting things kicked off in Alberta. In terms of results, there were some lessons that we had to learn quickly, but that’s super important for the young players.”
Following the regular season, the U21’s faced Premier League 2 side Fulham U21 in a post-season friendly in the Kamloops International Cup.
“Going into the match, we knew that Fulham are a very good side and would make very good opposition. The match was a big one for us to wrap our season up with and was a good final test for the squad.”
Cavalry forward Niko Myroniuk opened the scoring early in the match, before Fulham scored the equalizer. The squad showcased a strong defensive performance and kept the scoreline even until the referee blew the final whistle. A penalty shootout followed, and the Cavs converted all five of their shots, securing the win over Fulham.
“The squad was very resilient. You could see them gaining confidence and belief in themselves, displaying a collective spirit. Overall, it was a really strong performance that everyone was very proud of.”
From U21 Team to First Team
Cavalry forward Chanan Chanda found himself unable to make the U21’s in 2022, until he was called in for a match against Calgary Foothills FC mid-season.
“When I got cut the first time, it motivated me even more,” said Chanda. “Then once I got called in, I knew I had something to prove.”
In 2023, the U21 staff reached out to Chanda, offering him a full-time position within the squad. This season marked the launch of the League1 Alberta Exhibition Series, before the league went fully semi-professional in 2024. The club finished fourth that season, and Chanda was ambitious heading into the next season.
Prior to the League1 Alberta season kicking off in 2024, Chanda was invited to take part in the first teams preseason training camp in Mexico. The forward joined the 10-day camp and scored against Liga de Expansion MX side Celaya FC in a friendly, resulting in a 7-1 win for the Cavs.
“Getting the call to join the squad for preseason was so exciting. I told Vikram that I wanted to prove myself to get a spot in the first team, and he told me to keep working and we’ll one day get to the position I want to be in.”
Chanda appeared for the U21s on eight occasions in 2024, scoring seven goals, leading the league in goals scored this season. These performances impressed the first team staff, and Chanda was presented with an opportunity to reach his dreams.
“I got a message from Jay [Wheeldon] one day saying that there was an opportunity for me that the club wanted to present. We had a meeting, and they let me know that they’d like to sign me to the first team on an Exceptional Young Talent contract. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t expect it, and now to be in the position that I am in, I’m exactly where I want to be.”
On June 21, 2024, Chanda made his professional debut as a substitute in the 76’ minute away to Atlético Ottawa, resulting in a 1-1 draw. He came on for fellow forward Malcolm Shaw, and quickly brought a fresh sense of energy into the match.
“I was on the sidelines getting ready to go on and I was so nervous. The entire time that I was on the pitch, I felt as though I couldn’t feel my body because of all the nerves, but it was an incredible feeling. I was so happy to get the debut, and I can’t wait to prove myself even further.”
Since making his debut, Chanda has made four appearances for the first team and trains with the squad on a regular basis.
Pathway Opportunities
In November, Cavalry launched its first ever ID Program, which is designed to identify young players from across Alberta. Many of the 2024 U21 roster were selected through the ID process and would train with the club throughout the winter.
Growing up, Virk doesn’t recall having opportunities like today.
“When I was younger, my teammates and I always joked about what we were going to do to play professionally. Having these programs now established in Alberta – it’s extremely important. Young players are now being given these opportunities and get to be tested at a high level, as it provides the next step into a professional environment. Having these pathways allows players to continue their growth and development towards the professional game.”
Cavalry’s player pathway has evolved since the club’s inauguration in 2019, implementing itself as a premier destination within the Canadian Premier League (CPL) for footballers to develop both on and off the pitch.
“Having the opportunity to stay at home and be near my family and friends while playing professionally is so important to me,” said Chanda. “It’s so cool to me that my hometown has a professional team that is giving me a chance. I can’t describe how grateful I am for that.”
Another element of the club’s pathway is the Open Trials, which takes place every January. The trials are open to players locally and globally, who want to have a chance at playing for the club or learn from first team staff on ways they can further their development.
British Columbia native Nicholas Mackinnon attended the Cavalry FC Open Trials, finding the trials to be the perfect opportunity to develop his skills and abilities. The defender plays NCAA Division 1 soccer at Elon University in North Carolina and found himself being invited to Cavalry’s U21 side in the spring following a successful performance at the Open Trials.
“When the club reached out, I knew immediately that I wanted to play for them,” said Mackinnon. “Everyone was so welcoming when I first joined the U21’s. I settled in well with the group and had a great experience being able to further develop my abilities and grow as a player while being in a professional environment.”
Mackinnon emphasizes the importance of local opportunities for up-and-coming players to be able to showcase their talents in a professional setting.
“The U21 team is the reason why I was able to gain professional experience in the first place. The timing wasn’t right for me to get minutes with the first team, so being able to learn the club’s DNA with the second team was so important for me and my development.”
Cavalry FC will hold its annual Open Trials in January 2025, where players from all over are welcome to register and showcase their talent to club coaches.
Development to Professional
Cavalry FC takes immense pride in the development of young players within Alberta. This season, the club announced three development contracts for Alberta-based players: James McGlinchey, Josh Belbin, and Neven Fewster. McGlinchey and Fewster were selected through the Southern Alberta ID Program, with Belbin identified through the Northern Alberta Program. All three players appeared for the U21’s during the 2024 campaign and can now gain first team minutes if selected.
The Albertan trio all play with local youth clubs, where they have developed prior to joining Cavalry’s system. James McGlinchey, 17, is a midfielder who has spent his youth playing for Calgary Foothills FC. Josh Belbin, 17, is a midfielder who has played for Sherwood Park and Edmonton Juventus Youth. Neven Fewster, 17, is a goalkeeper who has come through the Calgary Rangers Youth system.
“We are delighted to have all three fine young gentlemen sign with the club,” said Jay Wheeldon. “It’s great to see players from both ID programs get genuine opportunities and exposures in the CPL. All three have deserved this through their hard work and dedication. Massive credit to their clubs for developing their skills both on and off the field. We have had plenty of success with young players and our ID/LG1 pathway is designed to help and support players reach their goals, we look forward to seeing them progress even further.”
Development contracts are designed for domestic under-18 players to gain experience in a professional environment, while being selected for the first team. Forward Niko Myroniuk joined the club on a development contract in 2023 and has appeared for the first team on 11 different occasions.
Cavalry FC continues to offer numerous opportunities for youth in Alberta, while growing the club’s pathway. The club prides itself on the success achieved so far with local talent and looks ahead to the 2025 League1 Alberta season and the remainder of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season.
