Bassett, Tabla Also Nominated for Players’ Player of the Year

October 24, 2022 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Atletico Ottawa News Release

The Canadian Premier League announced on Monday the nominees for its inaugural Players’ Player of the Year award, the first award in league history voted on by the players. Two Atlético Ottawa members were shortlisted: midfielder Ollie Bassett and forward Ballou Tabla.

The Players’ Player of the Year award will honour the best player over the 2022 regular season, as adjudged by his peers. Each player was asked to provide a three-man shortlist to determine the winner. Players were not able to vote for themselves or include a teammate on their ballot.

The inclusion of this new honour as part of the CPL’s annual end-of-year awards was announced in September 2022.

Ten players from six CPL clubs were named to the 10-man shortlist for Players’ Player of the Year:

Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge FC)

Manny Aparicio (Pacific FC)

Mo Babouli (York United FC)

Ollie Bassett (Atlético Ottawa)

Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)

Alejandro Diaz (Pacific FC)

Ali Musse (Cavalry FC)

Woobens Pacius (Forge FC)

Sean Rea (Valour FC)

Ballou Tabla (Atlético Ottawa)

Voting for all the CPL’s annual awards will this year be based on performances during the regular season, not including Canadian Championship, Concacaf or playoff action.

The winner of the Players’ Player of the Year award will be announced alongside the league’s other end-of-year award winners at an in-person CPL awards ceremony on Friday, October 28 at 7 PM ET in Ottawa, ON. The ceremony will take place ahead of the league final between host Atlético Ottawa and visitors Forge FC on Sunday, October 30 at 6 PM ET at TD Place. The awards ceremony will be broadcast in full by OneSoccer.

The winner of the Players’ Player of the Year award will receive a unique piece of Inuit soapstone art, carved by artist Ruben Komangapik. The Muskox statue was chosen to honour the Players’ Player of the Year award winner because the animal earns the respect of his heard through his leadership and organization and gains recognition from his peers for his commanding presence in the heat of battle.

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