Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker announces retirement in tearful farewell

A Canadian soccer legend announced Thursday that he is hanging up his cleats.

After decades on the pitch and eight years playing for Hamilton’s Forge FC, Kyle Bekker says he has known for some time that this would be his final season.

The 36-year-old says when his career began, he wanted to go ‘until the wheels fell off’ and now, after battling cancer and suffering a season-ending injury, he felt now was the right time to say goodbye.

“After a cancer diagnosis and a ruptured ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), I don’t think there are any wheels left on this 1990 Honda Civic,” said Bekker.

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Bekker spoke to friends, family, coaches, and teammates at Hamilton Stadium on Thursday, as he announced that he is leaving the pitch for good.

“For the last eight years — running off after warm ups, looking up and getting a wave, and seeing you there rain or shine — has meant more to me than you’ll ever know,” said Bekker.

He thanked his parents for their continued support and thanked many others for making him the player he is today.

“To those of you who have been with me since the beginning and all of you here in Hamilton, just remember one thing: we just went and done it,” said Bekker.

Bekker has been with Forge FC since its inception in 2019. He was the first player to sign with the club, and since then he’s made 239 appearances, with over 300 hours on the pitch

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That resulted in four Canadian Premier League (CPL) Championships, three CPL shields and being named the 2020 CPL Player of the Year.

But it’s the man when off the pitch that coaches and teammates say where Bekker really shines.

“When I look back now, what really means most to me isn’t really the championships, the games, or even those celebrations, it’s that one of my teammates became one of my best friends,” said David Edgar, Bekker’s former teammate and friend.

“Some people have asked me, ‘what are the few words you can use to describe Kyle?’,” said Bobby Smyrniotis, the Forge FC Head Coach. “One of the easiest one is ‘legend’. You know, he’s a legend for this league. You’ve done everyone proud, you’ve done your teammates, your coaches proud — you’ve done me proud.”

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Bekker says he has known for some time that this year would be his final season, but he missed part of it after getting surgery for testicular cancer, and when he returned in May, he suffered a season-ending ACL injury.

“Given the decision that I made and where I was at with it, yeah I knew right away that I blew my knee out,” said Bekker. “It was an unfortunate ending to the season, because I really do think we have a chance to lift trophies.”

Bekker says that his soccer journey still isn’t fully over.

“Yeah, I mean, this is the thing that I have been in love with my entire life,” said Bekker. “I want to continue to play a role in whatever that may be. Conversations are ongoing, but I have, obviously, a great relationship here at this club.”

Forge FC will celebrate Bekker with fans on Oct. 12, during their final home match.

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