CPL Newsroom

In the latest episode of CanPL.ca Newsroom’s Beyond the Pitch, CanPL.ca and OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack sits down with a career spanning chat with the delightful Canadian men’s national team and Toronto FC fullback Richie Laryea, who is set to suit up against Honduras Thursday (7:30pm ET live on OneSoccer) in the final stage of 2022 World Cup qualifying.

The pair dissect his career trajectory from League1 Ontario to Orlando City SC to Toronto, his form with the national team, and their prospects in the eight-team final round.

Check back Tuesday and all days this week for more Beyond the Pitch episodes with more Canadian men’s national team players as they take in three matches in the “Oct” – away to the United States on Sunday (8pm ET) and back home vs. El Salvador next Wednesday (7:30pm ET).

In the latest episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, hosts Kristian Jack, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, Benedict Rhodes, Marty Thompson, and Brady Reid tee up the Canadian men’s national team’s massive week as they open the final round of 2022 World Cup qualifying.

The gang discusses the Canada squad called by John Herdman (5:01) hashes out a projected XI (8:08) vs. Honduras (7:30pm ET on OneSoccer) and debate how many points it would take for, dare we say it, Canada’s qualification for the World Cup.

Up next is Canadian Premier League action, starting with Forge FC’s swashbuckling win over York United Saturday (20:31). How has Woobens Pacius become such an integral part of this Hamilton squad and, a more theoretical question spurred on by Barton St. Battalion, who are Forge FC?

Next is Atletico Ottawa’s 2-2 draw to HFX Wanderers FC (26:29) in a match that defies description or logic. Regardless, Marty tries to parse Ryan Telfer’s red card and yet another match in which Stephen Hart’s Wanderers side dropped points.

Sunday’s second of three matches on the day, Al Classico between FC Edmonton vs. Cavalry FC (34:02), brought a debate among the guys with Charlie gushing over Joe Mason and others simply commiserating with an FC Edmonton side that just can’t quite crack their Albertan rivals.

Finally, Pacific FC’s 3-2 win over Valour FC (39:29) as the Tridents continue the momentum from their Canadian Championship midweek victory. Has Terran Campbell found a new gear and just what went wrong for Valour?

In an extra special late-night edition of the CanPL.ca Newsroom podcast, Kristian Jack and Charlie O'Connor-Clarke are here with their immediate reactions to Pacific FC's monumental 4-3 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Thursday's magical Canadian Championship tie at Starlight Stadium.

Covering all bases, from the incredible atmosphere off the pitch to Pacific's relentless performance on it, Kristian and Charlie break down every angle they can think of just moments after the fulltime whistle.

They spare a thought for Marco Bustos, the Tridents' talismanic winger who missed out on the coveted Whitecaps clash due to injury, but heap praise on all the Pacific players who stepped up tremendously in his absence. 

Ending the postmatch reaction show are a few listener questions, including: Did Pacific punch above their weight, or did the 'Caps stumble (18:50)? Also, can Pacific maintain this kind of form and intensity in the next round vs. Cavalry (21:10)? 

In the latest episode of CanPL.ca’s Beyond the Pitch, CanPL.ca and OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack sits down for a fascinating chat with Pacific FC head coach Pa-Modou Kah ahead of PFC's massive 2021 Canadian Championship tilt with British Columbia rivals Vancouver Whitecaps (Thursday, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on OneSoccer). Kah discusses that match, how the Whitecaps shaped his coaching aspirations, and, you guessed it, much more. From his beginnings in the Gambia, distaste for the defensive football of Norway in the previous decades, to his people-first managing philosophy, this is a must-listen for any Canadian soccer fan.

2:31 – Why Pa-Modou Kah crossed "the dark side" from playing to coaching: "I wanted to make a difference.. make a change."

7:43 – Kah speaks about his time growing up in *The* Gambia, as the most enjoyable time in his life and seeing snow for the first time in Norway

11:42 – When did Kah know he could make it as a professional? When his dad pulled him out of training: "I didn’t train no dumb footballer"

16:59 – How Pa found a home away from home in the Netherlands: "The fun left when you play defensively."

22:10 – Pa on becoming the first black player on the Norwegian national team

31:20 – On former Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson "He truly helped me – he could have easily left me. He was a man to his word."

32:45 – "Half of the team will be from the Whitecaps so this match on Thursday will be a great chance for the players to measure themselves."

34:10 – Kah on his team’s ascension during COVID-19 era: "If you leave the game as a better person you leave the game as a better person."

38:30 – Kah offers a glimpse into tactics through "morals and values" starting with winger Victor Blasco

45:30 – Who was the best player Kah’s ever faced? A certain Manchester United legend comes to mind…

In this week's episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, the editorial gang of Kristian Jack, Charlie O'Connor-Clarke, Benedict Rhodes, and Brady Reid recap the action in the Canadian Championship, and break down a couple intriguing results in the Canadian Premier League. 

They begin in Hamilton (2:30), where champions Forge FC stole a point from HFX Wanderers at the very end thanks to Kwame Awuah's cross-turned-goal — which both Charlie and Benedict were on hand to see at Tim Hortons Field.

Forge found a way to get the draw, but did the Wanderers deserve a better fate (8:45)?

In CanChamp action, York United blew out League1 Ontario's Master's FA by a 5-0 scoreline; the gang breaks down just how important a win like that could be for the Nine Stripes going forward (15:35). 

Valour FC also moved on in CanChamp, and looked great doing so on the road against Atlético Ottawa (21:32). Can Rob Gale's side get back their strong form of the Kickoff?

Finally, a look at Cavalry's big win over Pacific: Was Pa-Modou Kah right to rest Marco Bustos and Lukas MacNaughton before their own CanChamp clash with Vancouver Whitecaps (26:07)? And are Cavalry the best team in the CPL right now (34:10)?

In the latest episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, Benedict Rhodes, Marty Thompson, and Brady Reid delve through Canadian Championship, CanPL, and Concacaf League action in one extra vibey chat.

First stop is Atlético Ottawaa’s euphoric 2-1 win over HFX Wanderers FC as 12,000+ fans enjoyed the club’s first home match ever – over 16 months since the club was first founded. Charlie debates whether this could be a turning point for the battle-hardened side and, of course, checks in on #MistaVibes.

Forge FC’s "lights-out" Concacaf League performance was also ripe for banter as Hamilton dispatched CD Fas of El Salvador 3-1 in the first leg. Is Tristan Borges back in a big way? Also, what can we expect in leg two on Tuesday?

Cavalry FC was next to be gushed over with the side trampling FC Edmonton 2-0 in the opening match of the 2021 Canadian Championship. Brady theorizes why Cavalry's back three has worked so well and offers praise to Karifa Yao, Cavalry’s “false left back.”

Up next was Marty’s precious “Nil Nil Report” as the gang recapped both scoreless draws from midweek – Cavalry vs. Pacific FC and Edmonton vs. Valour – before teeing up this week’s CanChamp tilts.

In the latest episode of CanPL.ca Newsroom’s Beyond the Pitch, CanPL.ca and OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack sits down with none other than Forge FC captain and 2020 CanPL Player of the Year Kyle Bekker to discuss his life in football and much more.

The two chat about his time in MLS, specifically with Toronto FC, what he enjoys so much about his leadership role with Forge, and how he winds down when there are no games to be played – any It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia fans out there?

In the latest episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, the CanPL.ca editorial crew of Kristian Jack, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, Benedict Rhodes, Marty Thompson, and Brady Reid go team-by-team through the Canadian Premier League, reviewing each side’s first weeks out of the bubble and react to the Canadian women’s national team’s historic Gold Medal win at Tokyo 2020 – has it sunk in yet?

Starting with Pacific FC (4:31), the gang gush over Pa-Modou Kah’s depth and what’s next, starting with a date against Cavalry FC this Wednesday (7pm MT/9pm ET). The Cavs (10:01), in second place, also impressed the team, who grabbed six points from two home wins this week (FC Edmonton and Valour FC).

As for Rob Gale’s Valour side (16:29), Kristian asks if four-straight slim losses are cause for concern. In fourth, Forge FC (21:59) brings a worthy debate – is a lack of goalscoring outside of Mo Babouli worth stressing over?

Finally, the gang recalls the final four teams outside of the playoff spots – York United (27:01), FC Edmonton (34:35), HFX Wanderers (39:58), and Atlético Ottawa (42:31).

In the latest episode of Beyond the Pitch, CanPL.ca's Kristian Jack goes deep with Cavalry FC's Daan Klomp, discussing his rampant start to the 2021 CanPL campaign, his origin in the Netherlands, and how he ended up with Tommy Wheeldon Jr. in Calgary, Alberta.

Klomp, 22, scored his first goal for Calgary in dramatic fashion this week, netting the winner in a 2-1 Al Classico win over FC Edmonton and sending a home-opening crowd at ATCO Field into a frenzy. This goal came a week after Klomp won CanPL.ca Player of the Week, capping off an exceptional first month in red-and-white.

But, like most things and football, these golden times were preceded by heartbreak for the Dutch defender, who nearly quit football this past Fall. Jack goes deep on those difficult discussions, finding confidence playing against Ajax in his league debut, and his aspirations beyond the Cavs – including MLS.

In the latest episode of the CanPL.ca Newsroom, the CanPL.ca editorial crew of Kristian Jack, Charlie O’Connor Clarke, Benedict Rhodes, Marty Thompson, and Brady Reid take in arguably Canada’s greatest ever victory in football: a 1-0 win by the women’s side over the United States at Tokyo 2020 to qualify for the gold medal game. The gang discusses the team’s ongoing legacy, its future, and tee-up the generation-defining finale.

Plus, the gang recap the weekend’s return to CanPL stands, starting with a "soaking" match at Wanderers Grounds between HFX Wanderers and Atlético Ottawa. The Newsroom also debates FC Edmonton's potential winning formula, following goals from Tobias Warschewski and Easton Ongaro and a win over Valour FC, Pacific FC's enjoyable romp over Cavalry FC, and Mo Babouli's spoiler status after grabbing all three points in the 905 Derby over York United.