Valour FC Add to Coaching Staff
Published on March 1, 2019 under Canadian Premier League (CPL)
Valour FC News Release
WINNIPEG, MB. - Valour FC Head Coach & GM Rob Gale today announced the addition of Damian Rocke and Patrick Di Stefani to the club's coaching staff. Rocke will serve as assistant coach & assistant GM, while Di Stefani has been named goalkeeping coach.
"I am delighted to have Damian and Patrick on board, I know their work well and they bring a lot to the table to help make us a competitive and winning football club," said Gale. "They fit right in line with our club's philosophy to win with Winnipegger's, and I am excited to get out onto the pitch with them."
For more than 20 years, Rocke has served in various coaching positions, working with players of all ages, up to the senior men and women's levels. He was part of the Manitoba Soccer Association's technical committee (2008-2011) where he worked alongside Gale, and the pair also worked together at the 2010 Canada U-17 camp.
At the MSA, Rocke was an integral part of creating what is now the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency Prospects Program. Rocke also served as an Academy and club team coach with Winnipeg South End United (WSEU) and recently completed his "A' License certification with Canada Soccer.
As a player, Rocke was a member of the Cornell University squad from 1995-1997 and later went on to coach the university's junior varsity squad. Upon his return to Winnipeg, he joined the Lucania Football Club where he played from 1997-2014, helping lead the club to a national championship in 2000.
Patrick Di Stefani brings almost 30 years of professional and international coaching experience to Valour FC. His career began in Belgium in 1998 as the conditioning coach and goalie coach with the Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht Youth Football Academy (First division Belgium Jupiter League) before joining Royal Union St. Gilloise (3rd Division Belgian League) as Assistant Coach and Head Conditioning Coach (1999-2003).
In 2004, Di Stefani became the Head Coach for the Premier League Men's team FC Lucania here in Winnipeg. He then held the same position with Hellas SC from 2005-2007, leading his squad to two provincial championship wins. Di Stefani has also coached the provincial U-13 and U-14 teams, Western Canada, and Canada Games teams (both male and female).
Di Stefani held the position of Technical Director for the Association de Soccer de Charlesbourg (2009-2010) while also serving as Assistant coach and Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Laval (Women's Team) during that time.
Di Stefani holds a UEFA goalkeeper license and Canadian Provincial "B' license. He is also a certified Speed Agility and Quickness instructor.
Canadian Premier League Stories from March 1, 2019
- Brathwaite Named to Canada's U-17 Squad for Mexico Camp - FC Edmonton
- Valour FC Add to Coaching Staff - Valour FC
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