Remí Cabral has Found a Home With USL Championship Phoenix Rising

Phoenix, AZ – For all the negative chatter about Colorado Rapids DP winger Kévin Cabral being a bust, his twin brother Remí is quietly doing his thing away from Colorado. Now in his second season with Phoenix Rising in the USL Championship.

The former Rapids 2 striker won the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot in 2023 with 19 goals in 20 appearances. He earned an MLS contract for 2024 but was sent on loan to Phoenix. He managed 7 goals in 22 games but was not a locked in starter. The Rapids declined his option and he made a permanent move to the USL side before the start of this year. It’s been a good level for him.

“I enjoy (Phoenix Rising) a lot. It’s different. The league is more mature. You play against grown men. I enjoy everyday this process,” Remí Cabral told Burgundy Wave after a home game in April.

“Everyone likes to play with good players. They’re really good. We have many weapons in front and in midfield. I just enjoyed training with them everyday.”

Cabral has been well-liked by first year head coach Pa-Modou Kah.

“Remí’s doing the things that we’re asking him to do. It’s well documented how his season went last year with off-the-field stuff that he couldn’t control. Losing your dad, losing somebody that you look up to, is a massive thing. We’ve seen him come back. For us, he’s a great connector in the locker room. Helps the guys go together. Brings a lot of good energy. He’s progressing the way that we want him to progress. Proud of what he’s doing. He’s just got to keep going.”

“Remí’s an excellent player. He scores goals and creates opportunities for others. That’s very positive as your No. 9,” added teammate Damien Rivera.

The almost 26-year-old twin Has missed the last month with an injury after starting the first 9 games of the year with 3 goals and 2 assists.

Aside : Kah was a candidate for the Colorado Rapids job that Chris Armas assumed in November 2023. Kah is an up-and-coming manager with MLS player experience who won the Canadian Premier League with Pacific FC. Sources tell Burgundy Wave Kah was a bit off-putting in the interview process. He’s a very intense individual. In my interactions with the Phoenix Rising press corps, he can be a jerk who’s dismissive of criticism and questions he doesn’t like. Contrast that with how positive, approachable, and humble Armas that is. Anyways.

Cabral has been no stranger to adversity. His family dealt with the tragic loss of their father. This season, it’s been the more trivial knocks and some losses. Through all of that, Remí has been a good soldier and a good teammate. That’s part of his character that he developed at R2 under Erik Bushey. He was an older player on a young team. He was a leader. He celebrated the successes of his teammates. All while scoring big goals. There’s a reasons Rapids fans watched his R2 highlights and joked the Rapids have the wrong Cabral brother on the first team.

“To have a group that has bought into what we want to do at Phoenix Rising, that comes to work every singe day, it’s very easy to look at results. People must look at progress. We’ve put them in situations where they’re progressing,” Kah added.

Remí not making it in MLS doesn’t make him a failure. He’s found a club and league that’s at his level. He’s having success while also being challenged. An injury aside, things are stable. There’s something to be said for having that.

Main Photo Credit: Alika Jenner, USSF, Getty Images

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