Beyond the Lens - Gloire Amanda

For those who don’t follow the Whitecaps Residency teams or WFC2 that closely, might not recognize the name Gloire Amanda. Born in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania, his family moved to Edmonton when he was 8.

Edmonton, you say? The only people who can answer that for you are his parents. While in Edmonton, Gloire spent time with Xtreme FC, Internazionale and the St Nicholas Soccer Academy, where he first met Alphonso Davies and became good friends.

After a successful trial with the Caps, he joined the Residency program and hasn’t looked back since. In his first season with the U16 team, he tallied 15 times in 23 appearances, helping the team to the USSDA QuarterFinals, falling to Georgia United, in front of first team players, coaches, former Residency players and a handful of supporters.

He was moved up to the U18 side for the following season, collecting 17 goals in 33 matches while helping the team to the USSDA U18 Championship game, falling to FC Dallas U18s 2-1.

Before signing his first pro contract, he’s helped the U18s to the top of the standings while collecting 16 goals in 14 appearances.

Since debuting with WFC2, he’s had to endure the usual struggles that come with making a significant jump from playing against kids to playing against men. It should not be overlooked that the consistent thing in Gloire’s rise is current WFC2 Head Coach, Rich Fagan, who was coaching the U16 team when Gloire joined the club.

Much like many before him, Amanda finds himself with WFC2, alongside fellow Residency graduates Matthew and Michael Baldisimo, Terran Campbell, Kadin Chung, Thomas Gardner, Sean Melvin and Patrick Metcalfe.

Time will tell if Gloire can follow in the footsteps of Teibert and play first team minutes, or he’ll go the route of Kianz Froese, go on loan and eventually be sold.

Either way, Gloire has been through a lot in his 18 short years and soccer has helped him find his way to Vancouver and WFC2.