The Canadian Premier League (CPL) announced Wednesday, that Goalkeeper Triston Henry, Defender Manjrekar James, Midfielder Kyle Bekker, and Forwards Terran Campbell and Beni Badibanga have been named to the CPL Best XI 2023 Fuelled by Gatorade, honouring the league’s top players at each position through this year’s entire season, culminating in the 2023 CPL Final.
Henry, 30, dominated his fifth season for the club recording 57 saves while also leading the league in clean sheets (10) fortifying Forge FC’s defence. The Scarborough, Ontario native won the CPL’s 2023 Golden Glove Award and led the league in Goalkeeper selections to the Gatorade CPL Team of the Week, being selected five times and was the only netminder to be awarded Allstate Goalkeeper of the Month honours three times, in May, July, and October.
James, 30, was Forge FC’s marquee signing of the season playing an influential role in the teams backline being nominated for the CPL’s Defender of the Year. The Canadian International defender quickly made his presence known in the league, earning the title of CPL Player of the Week in week three, and accumulating two Gatorade Team of the Week nods in weeks 3 and 15.
Bekker, 33, has solidified himself as one of the best players in the history of the CPL. The native of Oakville, Ontario, once again received a Player of the Year nomination, making it his fourth nomination for the award in five seasons. The 2020 CPL Player of the Year finished the season registering three goals and a team-leading seven assists which ranked second in the league. The Forge FC Captain earned Player of the Month honours in July 2023 and was included in the Gatorade CPL Team of the Week on seven occasions.
Campbell, 25, continued his goal scoring ways in the CPL finishing the season with 10 goals and adding one assist to his season tally. Campbell was a finalist for the 2023 Players’ Player of the Year award being recognized for his goalscoring prowess The native of Burnaby, British Columbia, is currently the all-time top scorer of the CPL with 40 goals.
Badibanga, 27, was Forge FC’s key signing leading into the second half of the season. In his 12 appearances with Forge FC the talented winger made his presence tallying three goals including the match tying goal in the CPL Final versus Cavalry FC.
Complete 2023 CPL Best XI Fuelled by Gatorade:
Goalkeeper – Triston Henry (Forge FC)
Defenders – Manjrekar James (Forge FC), Daniel Nimick (HFX Wanderers FC), Daniel Klomp (Cavalry FC),
Midfielders – Kyle Bekker (Forge FC), Lorenzo Callegari (HFX Wanderers FC), Manny Aparicio (Pacific FC), Ollie Bassett (Atlético Ottawa)
Forwards – Terran Campbell (Forge FC), Beni Badibanga (Forge FC), Ali Mussi (Cavalry FC)