Distinguished coach makes Wanderers debut in Halifax home opener
Posted Apr 17, 2026 08:52:18 AM.
Last Updated Apr 20, 2026 10:17:33 AM.
Halifax soccer fans are gearing up as the Wanderers take to the pitch for their home opener this weekend.
A new batch of young players will highlight the start of the franchise’s eighth season in the Canadian Premier League, but it is a new head coach and general manager who is grabbing attention as the Wanderers enter a new era.
Vanni Sartini signed on during the offseason, bringing with him a wealth of experience as a former three-time Canadian Championship-winning coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS.
The Florence, Italy-native says he was excited to get a chance to come manage the Wanderers in front of an avid fanbase.
“That was actually one of the reasons I decided to come here,” says Sartini. “The atmosphere at the grounds always looked fantastic, very exciting, energizing (and) I really believe the crowd can often be the 12th man, especially in the hardest moments of the game.”
In addition to Sartini, the Wanderers also made key moves on the roster as well, acquiring star goaltender Marco Carducci following a lengthy run with Calvary FC in Calgary, among others.
“We created, I would say, a good roster (and) of course, there are a lot of new faces,” says Sartini. “I think we need to improve in the last 30 minutes of the pitch, we need to be a little bit more creative (but) I think we have all the weapons to compete to try to be in a top spot.”
Saturday’s 2 p.m. match against Pacific FC will actually be the Wanderers third game of 2026, having started the season on a good footing by going unbeaten in two previous games while on the road.
According to Sartini, fans should anticipate some great soccer this year at Wanderers Grounds as he works to develop Halifax into a winning franchise.
“Of course, we want to win the league,” he says. “But in order to be realistic, we need to see how we do at least until the break of the World Cup, so in the first ten games, and the objective now is to win every game, especially at the grounds, because we know that in this league, winning at home is a key to success.”
