TORONTO — Forge FC's Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson, a defensive midfielder who shifted to centre back this season to fill an injury hole, is up for Defender of the Year in the Canadian Premier League.
The 26-year-old Swede is up against Pacific FC’s Amer Didic and York United FC’s Dominick Zator, with the three nominees chosen by members of the league office. The winner, to be decided by a media ballot, will be announced Oct. 29-30 during the league's championship weekend.
It's the first season the CPL has handed out a Defender of the Year award.
Achinioti-Jonsson moved into the Forge backline this season to fill the void left by Daniel Krutzen, who was sidelined after suffering a knee injury last November in CONCACAF League play. Forge assistant coach David Edgar, a former Canadian international defender, helped the Swede adapt to the position.
Forge conceded a league-low 25 goals this season. Achinioti-Jonsson led the league with 1,996 passes and his nine blocks, 29 interceptions, 49 clearances and 31 aerial duels won were the most by any Forge player during the regular season.
Didic, 27, joined Pacific as a free agent in February after three seasons with FC Edmonton.
The six-foot-six Didic led Pacific with 16 blocks and garnered a league-high 65 aerial duels won and 123 clearances. He also scored twice.
Zator, 28, led all York players in minutes played (2,506 minutes), blocks (27) and clearances (94).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2022
The Canadian Press
