What’s better than having Jimmy do CPL Corner on the podcast? Having Jimmy AND Craig do CPL Corner!
York was the only team to come away with all 3 points on the weekend. Three other matches ended in draws, leaving Valour as the only club empty-handed.
Nothing is working for Winnipeg right now. A goal differential of -10 and just 3 scored in 5 matches (-17 if you include the Canadian Championship.) Those are just issues on the pitch.
They need someone who can put the ball in the net, and it just so happens there is a Canadian that’s just been released from his contract with TFC. Ayo Akinola is looking for a new place to play football and while he deserves a chance with another MLS team, the CPL is also an option for him.
This got me thinking about other Canadians who could benefit from a similar move. So today, I’m going to give you four players who might just be a good fit in our league:
Thomas Hasal: Remember when he burst onto the scene in 2020’s incredibly strange MLS is Back Tournament? 8 saves in a heroic performance vs Sporting KC in the knockouts. After that it was up and down in Vancouver until not being renewed after a season-ending knee injury in 2023.
Zorhan Bassong: Since leaving CF Montreal after 2022, he’s been in desperate need of minutes. He spent 2023 in Romania and only made 10 appearances. Now in Kansas City, he has only 17 minutes of MLS action and one start against USL League 1’s Union Omaha. He’s clever on the ball and has great vision. He just needs to find his confidence.
Stephen Afrifa: Can we get #FreeAfrifa trending? Another Canadian in KC who can barely get on the pitch. The first team is filled with established veterans and Peter Vermes is the type of coach that sticks with his guys. Afrifa can barely get minutes with SKC II with players like fellow Canadian Kamron Habibullah producing up top. A loan move for a season could do wonders.
Mark-Anthony Kaye: He’s been getting plenty of time on the pitch this season. But, what the 29-year-old needs right now is to be on a team that actually wins. After spending nearly two seasons stuck in a tough situation with TFC, he goes “Shipping up to Boston,” only to be firmly in the basement once again with the Revs. A loan spell with a team like Cavalry or Forge could be a lot of fun for him, because what’s more fun than winning?
That’s CPL Corner for this week. Am I mad for thinking it could be a good fit for these players? Who do you want to see in the CPL?
Let me know your thoughts and thanks for reading, I still can’t believe any of you actually do!
