TORONTO - Bold men's soccer forward Ameer Kinani has been selected by Vancouver FC with the second overall pick in the 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft. Vancouver is an expansion team building its inaugural roster which will play out of Langley, B.C.

Kinani becomes the second TMU player to be selected in the CPL-U SPORTS Draft, following Jacob Carlos who was selected by Valour FC in 2022.

Kinani's first season in the blue and gold this year was a successful one, registering six regular season goals and one playoff tally. He also added two assists over the course of the season. His production helped the Bold to a 9-3-0 regular season record, an OUA silver medal, and a fifth place finish at the U SPORTS national championship.

"What we see with Ameer, he has a nose for goal and I think it's always important to find players that can go in danger areas and be as efficient and precise as he is," said Vancouver FC head coach, Afshin Ghotbi said after announcing the selection.

Eight of Kinani's teammates also declared for this year's draft, including Juan Pablo Delgadillo, Kai Martin, Justin Santos, Tristan Marshall, Mario McLennon, Zakaria Abdi, Bilal Reslan, and Karamvir Mehmi. 

The Bold wish to congratulate Kinani and wish him the best of luck in the CPL. 

Founded in 2017, the Canadian Premier League (CPL) is Canada's premier national soccer league, with eight teams in five different provinces.