“We need to adapt!” After playing well in a friendly vs. MLS Orlando City in Cancun, Forge returns to Hamilton for a Winter Classic Champions Cup Match.
For the first time in their history, Forge FC faced off against an American MLS team, and they didn’t back down.
With both teams training in Cancun, Mexico, the Hammers played a full friendly against Orlando City SC, a club fresh off a successful 2024 season that saw them reach the MLS Cup final four, ultimately falling 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference final last November.
While playing behind closed doors with no official score, both teams rotated their squads throughout the match. Forge head coach Bobby Smyrniotis was pleased with his team’s performance, particularly their offensive chances and defensive structure.
“It worked out well,” Smyrniotis said from Cancun. “It was a good test for us, just over a week away from our Champions Cup game at home against Monterrey. We wanted a strong opponent, and it was an excellent outing for both teams.
“There was a rotation of players—probably one or two of ours and maybe three of theirs were out—but key players were involved. It was a good, competitive game for this time of the season, exactly what we needed.”
Interestingly, CF Monterrey was also in Cancun holding a mini-camp, but the two teams did not cross paths.
After two weeks of training in Mexico, Smyrniotis gave his squad a well-earned rest before they flew back to Hamilton.
“We gave the guys a well-needed beach day,” he said. “It’s the one reward for all the hard work over the past two weeks.”
Now, it’s back to reality. Forge will have Thursday off before resuming training outdoors at Hamilton Stadium on Friday morning. With frigid temperatures and high winds expected, it’s a stark contrast from Cancun’s warm climate, but necessary preparation for next Wednesday’s crucial Champions Cup opener against Monterrey.
“We need to adapt,” Smyrniotis said simply.
* As Forge enters another three-year roster retooling cycle, several new faces have joined the squad. The team brought 25 players to Cancun, including young prospects who will return to development clubs or university teams by late summer.
“Obviously, we’ve got some new faces who need to get acquainted with our training style and its demands,” Smyrniotis noted. “But we’ve been very happy with their response. The energy, fitness, and health of the players have all been good—there’s not much more you can ask for at this time of year.”
The team endured a mix of weather conditions, from scorching heat to cooler, more manageable temperatures before things heated up again towards the end of camp.
Smyrniotis was particularly pleased with his backline’s performance against Orlando City. With some defensive restructuring underway, Forge still boasts the strong presence of Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson and Malik Owolabi-Belewu.
“We brought back a familiar face in Rezart Rama, and Dan Nimick has integrated fantastically,” he said. “A couple of guys have even said it feels like he’s been with the club for years.”
* Right-back Rezart Rama is eager to begin his second stint in Hamilton, having won two CPL titles with Forge in 2022 and 2023 before departing for Albania’s top professional league.
A strong leader both on and off the field, Rama is relishing the challenge of facing a powerhouse like CF Monterrey next week.
“Every game has its own difficulties,” he said. “Playing against such a big club with such good players is motivating. They’re dangerous, but we’re not scared of that—it actually makes us want to play them more. That’s what prepares us tactically and mentally.”
Like many athletes, Rama has his own pre-game ritual—getting a haircut before every match, something he has done for the past four to five years.
“I think it brings me luck,” he said. “Back home in Greece, if something brings you luck, you keep doing it.”
* New signing Dan Nimick, like Rama and others—including Brian Wright and Mo Babouli —was drawn to Forge because of the club’s tradition of competing in major international matches. The 24-year-old central defender from Harrogate, UK, will get his first official taste of high-stakes competition in Forge’s burnt orange when they take on Monterrey.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever played against a team of Monterrey’s calibre at full strength,” Nimick admitted. “That’s a massive draw when choosing a team in the CPL. You see these Concacaf games from the outside and want to be part of them. I’m excited to test myself and for us to put on a good showing—to pull off the upset and keep moving forward in the competition.”
“They’ve got great players and a strong coaching staff. They’ll be well-drilled, but as a player, those are the challenges you relish. You can learn a lot from them.”
Nimick, a finalist for the 2023 CPL Defender of the Year, is not only a sturdy presence in the defensive box but also a scoring threat at the other end. During his two years with HFX Wanderers, he registered 20 goal contributions (14 goals, six assists) across 51 matches.
He’s also a reliable penalty taker. In league play, he converted 11 penalty kicks over two seasons, with only one miss in 12 attempts. Notably, three of his penalty goals came against Forge and Triston Henry.
* Kudos to Tristan Borges, for being named also a finalist for the prestigious Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year award. The two time CPL Player of the Year becomes the first Forge player to receive this nomination.
His competition? NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a two-time winner, and fencer Eleanor Harvey became Canada’s first Olympic medalist in fencing with a bronze at the 2024 Paris Games.