The Sapperton Rovers has taken on a new look and believe the team has found a new mix.
The Vancouver Metro Soccer League premier division squad has renamed itself Rovers United following a recent affiliation with summer league club Vancouver United earlier this year.
The Rovers will keep the Sapperton maroon red, while adding the Van United blue in a design similar to the vertical striped uniforms of Barcelona.
"I think we're going to be stronger," said Rovers president Brian Wevers. "I think Sapperton is going to be a really strong team this year."
The association with Rovers United will bring an influx of youth, including former collegiate goal scorer Rizal Ganief, who had 12 goals with Imperial Cup champion Surrey United last season.
Coming over with Ganief are former Whitecaps residency player Bobby Jhutty and USL Division 2 forward Gibson Bardsley, who hails from Western Washington.
The premier division squad will be coached by Sipho Sibiya, a former Canadian national beach soccer team player and women's Vancouver Whitecaps team assistant coach. Sibiya will be helped out by Vancouver United coach and backer Umby Johal.
"I am truly excited to get this thing going," Wevers added.
So too is Vancouver United goalie/manager Ted Hans.
"Our guys have been playing everywhere in the winter, so when this opportunity came up with Sapperton it seemed like a good fit," said Hans.
United, which formerly played a strictly summer tournament schedule, made the connection with Sapperton through Rovers forward Jason Pierotti who suited up with the Vancouver squad this summer.
Pierotti told Wevers of United's desire to move into the premier league and the deal was done a relatively short time afterward, said Hans, who at 28 is the youngest member of the Vancouver squad.
"(The affiliation) brings a little bit of everything - our youth and their experience," said Hans. "So hopefully we get the good results at the end of it. We're excited. The buzz around the team right now is unreal. Everyone is ready to rock."
Rovers United will also field an under-21 team in the graduate league, as part of its partnership with the Burnaby Selects Metro soccer program.
An additional u-18 team will keep the Burnaby Selects identification, but train with the u-21s once a week. The u-21 will also share one practice each week with the senior squad.
The club's masters team will keep the Sapperton Rovers moniker.
Rovers United will kick off the metro league season against the Delta United Hurricanes on Saturday when all 12 premier teams face off at Trillium Turf in Vancouver, beginning at noon.
United will open at home against Norvan Pacific at Queen's Park Stadium on Sept. 17 at 2 p.m.
