By Canadian Press

Winger Kris Twardek joins Valour FC from Atletico Ottawa in CPL transfer

Jan 10, 2025 | 9:58 AM

Valour FC has acquired winger Kris Twardek from Atlético Ottawa, looking to boost an attack that finished with the third-fewest goals in the Canadian Premier League last season.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Valour subsequently signed Twardek to a one-year guaranteed contract, with an option for 2026. The 27-year-old from Kinburn, Ont., had joined Ottawa in January 2024 on a two-year contract.

In other CPL news, the Halifax Wanderers signed captain Andre Rampersad to a new two-year contract through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027. Rampersad has been with Halifax since Day 1.

Halifax had exercised the 2025 contract option on the 29-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder in December.

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The six-foot-one Twardek had one goal and two assists in 23 CPL games in his lone season with Ottawa.

“We are extremely happy to add Kris to our front line,” Valour coach and GM Phil Dos Santos said in a statement. “We’ve watched him a lot before he came to Ottawa. He’s strong, vertical and objective. He’s also versatile which is important in this league. Kris will add experience and quality to our squad.”

Twardek previously played in Ireland (Sligo Rovers, Bohemians FC), England (Braintree, Millwall, Carlisle United), Poland (Jagiellonia Białystok) and Slovakia (FK Senica).

He represented the Czech Republic at the youth level before switching national associations to play for Canada and went on to represent Canada at the 2017 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship in Costa Rica. He has one senior cap for Canada, from a game against El Salvador in 2017.

Shaan Hundal led Valour with seven goals last season. The Winnipeg-based club, which finished last in the eight-team league at 7-14-7, scored 31 goals in total.

Rampersad is the Wanderers’ all-time leader in appearances (140) with three career goals and six assists. He has completed 89 per cent of his passes during that time.

“Andre is an inspirational leader who has proven to be an incredible person through the transformation of this league since Day 1,” Wanderers coach Patrice Gheisar said in a statement. “He is still elevating his level as a player, and his play last season shows how he continues to grow. We look forward to seeing him continue to lead by his example to our younger players.”

Rampersad has made 18 appearances for Trinidad and Tobago.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 10, 2025

The Canadian Press