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There’s no way to hide from the truth of the situation facing Ottawa Fury FC: Seven matches in a span of 25 days is somewhere between demanding and insane in terms of the physical and mental demands for even professional soccer players.

They claim they’re OK with it, though.

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After clinching its first berth in the semifinal round of the Amway Canadian Championship, Fury FC has added home and away contests against the Vancouver Whitecaps to a schedule that already included four North American Soccer League dates between now and June 11, starting with Sunday’s visit to TD Place stadium by the Jacksonville Armada.

Managing the physical aspects will include “recovery” days and reduced on-field training, but the mental side matters, too.

“I know, from my experience, as long as I’m sharp mentally, when I go and touch the ball and get my touches in, it kind of transfers into that (physical side),” defender Onua Thomas Obasi said. “I know some players need to be touching the ball every day.