Highlanders Add Caleb Clarke As Victory Shumbusho Departs

VICTORIA, B.C. - Victoria Highlanders FC announced on Friday that the club has brought in former Vancouver Whitecaps FC and current UBC forward Caleb Clarke as a short-term signing prior to the weekend matches versus Vancouver TSS Rovers FC this evening and Seattle Sounders U23 on Sunday, July 7th,

Clarke will provide cover for the departing Victory Shumbusho who had a previously approved family engagement taking him away from the Highlanders team as of July 1.

Clarke had a highly successful youth career in the Whitecaps residency program scoring 24 goals in 27 appearances as the Whitecaps made the USSDA Championship game in 2012. Subsequently, Clarke signed with the MLS roster under a homegrown contract but found playing time limited and in 2013 joined FC Augsburg in Germany on a season long loan, scoring 8 goals in 26 appearances. A permanent move was on the horizon but a training injury saw Clarke forced to return to Canada to undergo surgery to repair a ruptured quadricep muscle.

Clarke parted ways with the Whitecaps in 2015, joining SpVgg Unterhaching and then FC Amberg before making a decision to return to Canada for school with Mike Mosher’s UBC squad.

“We had planned for Victory to leave us in July, and this was always understood,” stated Highlanders Head Coach Thomas Niendorf. “We need to thank Victory for his contribution to our season, and now we look forward towards the next steps. Caleb is a technically gifted player who has proven himself at a very high level We know his qualities and what he’ll be able to provide this team in an important time for us. This is absolutely a top-quality addition for our upcoming games that we are excited to have open to us.”

The Highlanders continue their playoff push this evening (July 5) versus Vancouver TSS Rovers FC, kick-off at 7:15pm at Centennial Stadium, followed by an away game on Sunday July 7 versus Seattle Sounders U23. Currently, the Highlanders are tied for first place with 19 points and a game in hand.