Musse, Bekker repeat as finalists for CPL Players’ Player of the Year Award

Forge FC midfielder Kyle Bekker (right) and Cavalry FC forward Ali Musse (7) battle for the ball during first half Canadian Premier League finals soccer action in Hamilton on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Nick Iwanyshyn/CP)

Cavalry FC’s Ali Musse, last year’s winner, and Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker, runner-up in 2023, are among the 10 finalists for the Canadian Premier League’s Players’ Player of the Year award, the lone CPL award decided by the players.

The other contenders are Forge’s Beni Badibanga, Tristan Borges and Alessandro Hojabrpour, Cavalry’s Daan Klomp and Tobias Warschewski, Halifax’s Lorenzo Callegari, Atletico Ottawa’s Ruben del Campo and York United’s Brian Wright.

The award is separate from the league’s Player of the Year Award.

Klomp finished third in last year’s voting while Callegari was fourth. Atlético Ottawa’s Ollie Bassett won in 2022.

The award honours the best player over the 2024 regular season, with CPL players providing a three-man shortlist that is used to determine the 10 finalists and ultimate winner. Players can’t vote for themselves or a teammate.

The winner will be announced Nov. 7 in Calgary as part of the CPL championship game festivities.

Cavalry is hosting the Nov. 9 title decider against either Atletico Ottawa or Forge FC, who meet in Saturday’s semifinal in Hamilton.

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