THE CANADIAN PRESS
WINNIPEG — Obby Khan went back and forth between cracking jokes and tearing up as he announced his retirement Wednesday after eight CFL seasons.
The big, friendly Blue Bombers’ centre had spent the past six seasons with Winnipeg, including comebacks after illness and surgeries because of Crohn’s disease.
"Obviously, you can see today is a very emotional day," Khan said as his voice cracked and he paused to compose himself.
"It’s funny because it’s filled with sadness and great joy. I’m very happy to be taking the next phase of my life, but it’s unfortunate I have to leave behind the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a playing capacity."
The six-foot-three, 300-pound native of Ottawa then apologized for the length of his speech, which he read from an iPad.
"But it is my retirement and I can do whatever I want and you have to sit here and listen so tough luck," he said to laughs in a room filled with Bombers staff and current and former players.
Khan thanked everyone in his family, players, staff and fans in a speech that ran close to half an hour.
It also included an announcement he was opening a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant in Winnipeg this summer called Shawarma Khan.
The 31-year-old had lost his starting job late last season, but was back at centre for the playoffs and the club’s loss to B.C. in the Grey Cup.
After his speech, he told reporters it wasn’t true Bombers brass had asked him to retire.
He said he’d been thinking about playing another year, but also about opening the restaurant and those plans got serious in the off-season. He talked to head coach Paul LaPolice and made his final decision to retire last week.
"I still believe I can play," Khan said. "It’s not an issue of whether I can play or not.
"It’s an issue of what do I feel like I should do with my life, and I just have a feeling I should move on."
LaPolice denied he’d encouraged Khan to hang up his helmet and didn’t want to discuss the plans he’d had for the veteran.
"Obby and I had conversations mutually about the direction of our roster and all those things," LaPolice said. "At the end of the day, he wanted to retire."
He predicted Khan would be successful after football.
"He’s been one of the guys who really bought into everything we did and I respect him a lot," LaPolice said.
"I really am kind of happy he’s going to live in Winnipeg and make it his home because I hope that’s a message to other people."
Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce was surprised by Khan’s retirement and said he’ll miss the man who snapped the ball to him.
"I guess you could probably say that we’re two of the most intimate players on the team," he said with a smile.
"He’s a great athlete, even better person and I wish him well."
He acknowledged the team is moving on with younger players, but he believed Khan could have still contributed.
"I think he could have kept doing what he loved to do, but, you know, it’s a personal decision for him and what he wants to do."
A graduate of Simon Fraser University, Khan was selected second overall by the Ottawa Renegades in the 2004 CFL draft. He was acquired by Winnipeg in the Renegades’ dispersal draft in 2006 and quickly became the Bombers’ starter.
He appeared in 118 career regular-season games and was a three-time winner of the Cal Murphy ‘Heart of a Legend’ award, which goes to the Bomber player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, dedication and community service.
In 2008, he also received the Ed Kotowich award as the Winnipeg player who excelled in combining football ability, team camaraderie and extraordinary effort in the community.
"The reality comes down to, can you keep playing at the high level you need to and is the passion and desire there and how’s your body holding up?" Khan said.
"I don’t want to be one of those guys who can’t walk away from the game — literally can’t walk away from the game because they’re too injured."
