Midfielder Sean Rea and goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois arrived at CF Montreal training camp with one mission: to earn a position.
The club’s two Academy products both spent the 2021 season with Winnipeg’s Valor FC of the Canadian Premier League, a loan spell that gave them a taste of professional soccer for the first time.
“I’m super happy with my decision, I gained confidence and gained experience”, confirmed Rea.
This is a second camp with the first team and despite his 19 years, his perspective is already different.
“During my first camp, I had just signed up and it was more of an exploration mission. This year, I’m fighting for a place this season, I don’t want to go back on loan. »
good season
Either way, the past year in Manitoba has been a very positive one. Rea played 1176 minutes in 23 games, registering one goal and four assists.
As for Sirois, he had an exceptional first season, playing 24 of the team’s 28 games. He led the CPL with 94 saves and nine shutouts.
He also set a new league record with six straight shutouts, claiming the Golden Glove awarded to the top goaltender at the end of the regular season.
“It’s a season that has exceeded my expectations. I was going there to gain experience and get minutes with professionals. »
“I really didn’t expect that because I was going there and my position was not guaranteed at all,” admits the 21-year-old goalkeeper, who is in his fourth camp with the team.
Difference
What made the difference for both of them was the possibility of playing on a regular basis and against seasoned players.
“On the pitch, you don’t feel like a child, you feel like a man,” confirms Rea. At the academy, it’s strong in terms of talent, but physically, it’s not there yet. »
“In PLC, you play against guys who are strong, who are monsters, admits the Laval resident. You place yourself better, you play faster, your information gathering is better, you learn that by playing against men. »
For Sirois, being confronted with older players allowed him to progress in several aspects.
“I improved the maturity in my game, I learned to better manage the tempo of the match and it’s something you can hardly work on in training. »
Confidence
This stint in Winnipeg also allowed the two hopefuls of CF Montreal to develop a very important mental aspect, confidence.
“I found a certain confidence, confirms Sirois. It’s a detail that is sometimes forgotten, but when you sometimes go two years without playing in a competitive environment, it’s
more difficult. »
Another valuable learning from this stay in the Manitoba capital, the possibility of playing with a free spirit.
“I was trusted, the coaches gave me a lot of advice and we had the right to make mistakes,” explains Sean Rea, who says he benefited greatly from this loan.
Two different perspectives
When you’re a prospect on a professional sports team, attending training camp is an opportunity to showcase yourself.
“Even if it’s been three or four days since it started, you have to give your all, insists Sean Rea. It’s the little details that will get you what you want. You have to show the coaches that you are ready for anything. »
Rea has been proclaiming for several years that his desire is to become a professional soccer player and he won’t budge. He would rather stay here and play little than go back on loan and play a lot.
“I have quite rare dribbling qualities and if I manage to do what I do during the camp, I can make a place for myself. »
Other status
Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois has the same objective, but does not approach the situation in the same way. It must be said that he has in front of him the same duo who were with the team last year, James Pantemis and Sebastian Breza.
“I arrive at camp with a fairly simple mentality: I want to fight for a position here, but I know that everything has to be redone. »
He therefore wants to leave a favorable impression with the coaching staff, but also with the sporting director, Olivier Renard.
“I see myself as the person in the shadow of both who works hard to have a place in the discussion. »
“If I do that at the end of the camp, my goal will be achieved. If I ever don’t get the job or fail to crack the roster, I won’t be disappointed. »
For him, being loaned again in 2022 would not be catastrophic at all.
“I’m still looking at development. The option to go on loan, I don’t see that as a failure. »
