PHOENIX – The Phoenix Rising, riding a six-game unbeaten streak, have been in blazing form lately under first year coach Pa-Modou Kah. When Kah joined the organization last November, he brought with him familiar faces who would help build continuity and, hopefully, guide the Rising to another USL championship.
“It was important to build a culture when I came here,” Kah said. “Bringing staff and players from where I previously was at helps me to achieve that goal.”
Joining him in the Valley were Vikram Virk and Vitor Da Costa Ferreira, both of whom coached with Kah in the Canadian Premier League, where they led Pacific FC to the 2021 title.
“Being able to understand what Pa wants to create is massive for me,” Virk said. “Being able to transmit that to players alongside me has allowed me to help build this culture.”
Kah has deployed Virk to help the academy player to assimilate to senior squad play with a lot of the senior squad currently being on international break or injured.
“It made the transition easier with there being similar tactics,” attacking midfielder Hope Avayevu said. “Having what I consider to be a breakout year, I have to credit Pa and the other staff for making that happen.”
Avayevu leads the team in combined goals and assists with a total of eight and, at 22, has been tasked with orchestrating the young offense.
Kah is the Rising’s third manager since January of 2024 but he plans on being a mainstay in the Valley for the foreseeable future.
“The goal is to not only have success here but for players to be able to move to better leagues,” Kah said. “We want this to be a factory as well as a powerhouse and it starts here with practice.”
Kah also brought Cory Robertson, goalkeeper coach, and former Rising player Darnell King onto the Rising staff. While neither one had worked with Kah beforehand, they have left their impact on the squad this season.
Rising are now entering the heart of the season, sitting in fourth place in the western conference standings with a 5-5-3 record heading into Saturday’s away match against the Charleston Battery.
Practices in the unforgiving Valley heat have helped the Rising prepare for a season that extends through October.
“Being able to train in 110 degree weather has us ready for anything.” Avayevu said. “It’s like training in Denver with the altitude, you get an advantage.”
Kah places a heavy emphasis on sprints at the end of practices, which is where the games are won and lost. In previous seasons, the Rising practiced after 6 p.m. to avoid the intense heat. Instead, Kah embraces it.
“Training’s extensive but Pa knows how far to push them,” Virk said. “Just getting everybody on the same page especially during conditioning to get the best out of them.”
The Rising finished eighth in the west last year which was followed up by a first round loss in the playoffs. After winning the USL championship in 2023, the club’s first, the Rising look to climb back to where they were two years ago. That starts with the Kah regime that has been implemented.
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