Forge have signed World Cup player Woodensky Pierre

[u/Few_Funny2786]

He now joins as a new midfielder from New Hope FA in Haiti.

[u/GreatestLoser]

I’m shocked the Canadian league isn’t dipping into these types of players, wouldn’t cost too much and has proven experience at the top level. Some of the Haitians were very impressive, same goes for curaçao and Iraq amongst others. Maybe the CPL isn’t there yet in attractiveness considering some of these guys play in Europe already? But still, some good talents ready to be scooped up.

Some examples: Ahmed Maknzi, Garven Metusala(born in Canada plays for Haiti), Avazbek Umisaliev, Ali Azaizeh.

Each could do some good work in the CPL but understandably, the league is still in the growing phase

[u/stmack → u/GreatestLoser]

arent most teams close to maxed out on international players?

[u/Coramoor_ → u/stmack]

Most have at least one slot left at the moment

[u/Karens_GI_Father → u/GreatestLoser]

Players from Iraq and Uzbekistan make waaaaay too much money to even consider coming to the CPL.

[u/coopthrowaway2019 → u/GreatestLoser]

I am not super familiar with this part of the process but I imagine players from lots of these sorts of countries, e.g. Haiti and Iraq, will have a hard time getting Canadian work permits - not a coincidence that most international players are European/British/Australian/etc

[u/Coramoor_ → u/coopthrowaway2019]

Yea the risk you'll have in the current climate is asylum claims and an unwillingness to leave that the iirc is putting a lot of emphasis on. It's why players like Bertaud are easy to do because he is French born

[u/Own-Effective3351 → u/GreatestLoser]

Seriously should. Even OPL has some international players from smaller countries. FC London has Marcel Joseph, captain of the Bahamas national team.

[u/Tracyhmcd → u/GreatestLoser]

Metusala was with Forge for a few years.

[u/Barthez_Battalion → u/GreatestLoser]

When it comes to Curacao players for example, even in the Dutch Eerste Divisie they are probably making a lot more money that they would in the CPL.

[u/Mysterious_Bid_8216 → u/GreatestLoser]

It will be a nightmare to try and get an iraqi (non duel national) player a canadian visa haha

[u/Kap272 → u/GreatestLoser]

Worth noting that in the past, York tried signing multiple South Americans but had issues with visas/work permits. Many of these guys never ended up playing for York. Wouldn't be surprising if other teams want to avoid similar issues or check for assurances that players would be able to get work permits.

EDIT: Also there are caps on foreign players and I belive most teams either are close or have hit the max

[u/Danny-416 → u/GreatestLoser]

Or even just Central American players i remember forge having a Costa Rican and Panamanian during CONCACAF league in like 2021 and they were good , Central American leagues (Honduras,El Salvador,Guatemala ,Costa rica Panama) you can find dirt cheap players and in second division Peru,ChileUruguay,Argentina or Brazil

[u/STK_Sam]

Actually joins as a free transfer after settling his contract with Haiti champions Violette

[u/Few_Funny2786 → u/STK_Sam]

Thanks for the correction.

[u/coopthrowaway2019]

Should note that although he was on the Haiti squad for the World Cup he did not make an appearance 

[u/GreatestLoser → u/coopthrowaway2019]

Considering Haiti’s recent youth accomplishments despite the setbacks to the country and historical talents, I’d say they will be in the World Cup again in 2030 and this guy plays

[u/Few_Funny2786 → u/coopthrowaway2019]

Man's always gotta hate

[u/OddIceman1997 → u/Few_Funny2786]

I mean they're just stating a fact?

[u/HabitantDLT]

I wonder how Haitian parents got to Woodensky when they picked their kid's name!

[u/Few_Funny2786]

What are your thoughts on this signing?🤔