Pereira wins OCAA Coach of the Year

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
Rob Pereira, OCAA Coach of the Year

In his first season as the head coach of the Fanshawe Falcons’ men’s soccer team, Rob Pereira has been named the OCAA Coach of the Year for the 2015 season.

“There are a lot of good coaches in the OCAA, so it is an honour for me to be recognized…for me, my focus isn’t on the individual award, it is more on making sure the team is doing well and focussed and moving forward to become an even stronger program,” Pereira said.

The men’s soccer team had a very successful season under Pereira’s leadership, where his Falcons had the best record in the OCAA West Division, going 7-1-2 on the season. The team’s only loss came on Wednesday, Oct. 21st, the Falcons’ last game of the regular season, which was a close 2-1 loss against OCAA West St. Clair Saints, who were in second place.

The team enjoyed a nationally competitive season, being ranked in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) National Rankings for six consecutive weeks during the 2015 season.

Their first place divisional finish qualified the team for the 2015 OCAA Provincial Championship, which were held on Oct. 29 to Oct. 31 at Humber College in Toronto.

The Falcons won their first game of the tournament in extra time against the Niagara College Knights on a pair of goals, with one in the 97th minute from Cedric N’Guessen and an insurance goal in the 110th minute by Daniel Amaya-Romero. The win advanced the Falcons to the bronze medal match against Cambrian, where the Falcons won 4-0 to take home the medal.

According to Pereira taking home a bronze medal will help be a motivating factor for the team to make it further next season.

“With the guys that are returning, we have a bit of a bad taste in our mouths not making it to the finals… [they will have] the hunger to be in the finals and compete for a provincial championship and to be part of a program that is one of the top in the province and the country,” Pereira said.

While Pereira had talent in players such as Falcons offensive leader and OCAA West scoring champion Mike Marcoccia and Rookie of the Year Chad GoPaul, his presence and ability to coach his young players cannot be discounted.

Pereira has strong roots within the Fanshawe community, having played as Falcon himself from 2003 to 2005. As a player, he was the recipient of several accolades, including being named an OCAA League All-Star, a CCAA All-Canadian and Fanshawe’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2005.

He became an associate coach for the men’s Falcons the following year in 2006, a role in which he remained until 2010 when he was promoted to assistant coach of the team.

He was named the Falcons’ head coach following his predecessor Paul D’Hollander’s retirement after the 2014 season. Given the incredible success of his first season, it is easy to see the Fanshawe Falcons being a successful men’s soccer program under Pereira’s guidance for years to come.

In addition to his recognition at the provincial level, Pereira will be the OCAA nominee for the CCAA Coach of the Year award, which will be announced on Nov. 10.
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