Virk looks to build off past work as Horns begin a new season

By Lethbridge Herald on August 21, 2024.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Horn menÕs soccer player Karim Bey attempts to fend off Cole Rosenlund from getting the ball during an attacking transition drill on Wednesday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s soccer team begin a new Canada West season this weekend under a new head coach that plans to build on what has already been implemented in past seasons.

“It’s really about kind of building off of work these guys have done with the previous coach and the previous seasons,” said Vikram Virk, who is in his first year as Horns head coach,

“If you look at the team, they’re on a good projection right now. They’ve had a good two seasons where you see development (in) making the playoffs last year  …  So it’s for us to carry on the work that’s been done and build off the principles that are already in place.”

Under Virk, the team will play an aggressive style and an exciting club to watch.

“We want to be a team that’s looking to be the protagonist in games,” said Virk.

Virk values respect and mutual respect with his players.

“My relationship with my players is No.1,” said Virk.

Sticking to their DNA and staying strong in terms of what they want to do is what Virk feels will be a recipe for success.

“It’s for us staying true to the game we want to play and obviously hitting our marks,” said Virk.

“We have objectives set in terms of specifics we want to see … and if we hit those marks we feel that we’ll be successful.”

Virk thinks the team is competitive in the Canada West.

“We’re ambitious,” said Virk.

“We want to take another step forward if possible this year and of course, from our end, our big mission is continuing to leave the program in a better place than we found it.”

The Horns made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016 and Virk will want to build on that too.

“We’re eager, we want to push on and we want to be there again,” said Virk.

Fifth-year Tom Denness thinks the last three and a half weeks have been intense.

“Definitely some hard work has gone into it with a new coach,” said Denness.

“He’s definitely drilled some new ideas into us but yeah we’re enjoying it for sure,”

Denness wants to see the team finish their chances.

“That was kind of an issue for us last year, but we’re hoping to kind of capitalize on those chances once we get them,” said Denness.

U of L opens the season at Mount Royal and University of Calgary on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

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