Midfielder Kianz Froese returns to his Manitoba roots, signs with Valour FC
After nine years in Germany, Kianz Froese was working on the family's coffee plantation/farm in Cuba when he got a call from Josh Carabatsakis, Valour FC's director of football operations.
The message was simple.
'(He) told me I should come play,' Froese recalled. 'And then presented me the opportunity to come home and play.'
The 29-year-old attacking midfielder said yes, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Canadian Premier League side, plus a club option for 2026.
It's a homecoming for Froese, who was born in Cuba but came to Manitoba with his family when he was one.
'It feels good,' he said. 'It's been a while since I've been back in Winnipeg. So (I'm) happy about it.'
A former Canadian youth international at the under-17 and under-20 ranks, Froese was 19 when he won senior caps for Canada against Ghana in October 2015 and the U.S. in February 2016
Story continues below advertisement
Froese was born to a Cuban mother and Canadian father. They met in Cuba, where his father was involved in a project bringing solar ovens to Cuba.
His mother returned to Cuba after Froese's father died.
Froese joined the Whitecaps residency in September 2011 after a training stint with FC Edmonton, making the move from his hometown of Brunkild, Man.
He was named the Whitecaps' Most Promising Player for 2015, after a productive year that saw him make his MLS debut, score his first MLS goal and make his senior international debut.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
He left for Germany and the second division club Fortuna Duesseldorf in early 2017. He had the option of staying in Vancouver, but wanted to experience playing in Europe.
In December 2017, he was promoted to the Duesseldorf first team. In July 2019, he switched to FC Saarbruecken before moving to TSV Havelse and SV Wehen Wiesbaden, which he helped gain promotion to the German second division before leaving in July 2024.
Froese set a record in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) for assists by a lower-division club while with Saarbruecken, which was promoted to the German third-tier while he was there.
Froese, who also won promotion to the second tier while playing in Germany, says after the first few years, life in Germany started becoming normal.
Story continues below advertisement
'And now I'm maybe more German than Canadian,' he said with a laugh.
Froese didn't speak any German before arriving. That has changed, especially with a German girlfriend.
She will be joining him 'for a bit' in Winnipeg before she heads to China to study
He wasn't sure about his football future after Germany, saying he was 'looking but passively' for a new club.
'Some things did come up, opportunities, but I decided not to take them,' he said.
Time went by, and he began to think about a return to soccer. He chose Winnipeg over several other offers from Europe.
'I made a decision more for the soul … I wanted to do something different,' he explained. 'Come back home and experience being back here.'
Valour is delighted to land Froese, who will wear No. 80
'This is a big moment for our club,' Valour GM and head coach Phillip Dos Santos said in a statement. 'Kianz adds quality and versatility to our group of attackers with a high level of experience. He's a local guy with ties to the community who brings a competitive edge to compete and win for this city.'
Story continues below advertisement
Also Wednesday, Valour announced that midfielder Dante Campbell has been placed on the inactive list with a season-ending knee injury. The CPL club will receive cap relief on the compensation owed to Campbell for the remainder of the year.
Valour (2-6-2) currently stands seventh in the eight-team CPL, two points ahead of cellar-dwelling Vancouver FC.
After a 0-4-1 start to the season, Valour has gone 2-2-1, losing 3-0 at league-leading Atletico Ottawa last time out. Valour has conceded a league-worst 21 goals while scoring only nine, tied for second-worst. Only Pacific FC, with eight goals, has scored fewer.
Valour hosts second-place Forge FC (5-0-5) on Sunday at Princess Auto Stadium.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ottawa Citizen
43 minutes ago
- Ottawa Citizen
P.E.I.'s Will Murphy describes being drafted by NHL team as a dream come true
The Detroit Red Wings provided a moment for Will Murphy every hockey-playing Canadian kid dreams of. Article content The Red Wings called Murphy's name in the sixth round, 172nd overall, in the 2025 NHL draft on June 28. Article content Article content 'It's a pretty cool, pretty surreal feeling – like a dream come true,' Murphy told The Guardian in a phone interview the evening of June 28. 'I mean it doesn't happen for too many kids, so it's unique and a cool feeling, especially to experience it all with all my family and friends around… It is really a fun day – once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity). It's pretty awesome.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Murphy, who played the 2024-25 season as a rookie with the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), watched the draft at his family home in Miscouche, P.E.I. Article content Article content When the Red Wings called Murphy's name, the six-foot-four, 211-pound, 17-year-old defenceman immediately hugged his parents, Ben and Amanda Murphy. Article content Also in attendance were Murphy's younger brother, Drew; grandparents, Mike and Barbie Murphy and Dolly Silk; his billets with the Eagles, Ryan and Jennifer MacPherson, along with their two young children, Boyd and Ella. Article content Article content Murphy, who flew to Detroit early on June 29 to participate in the Red Wings' development camp at Little Caesars Arena from June 30 to July 3, was thrilled to share the draft experience with those closest to him. Murphy, a projected sixth-round pick, acknowledged watching the draft became more stressful as it went on waiting to be selected. Article content Article content 'It helps being with your family and they help keep you cool, not get too stressed out,' said Murphy, a recent graduate of Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside. 'Then the name gets called and it's all happiness for everybody. Everyone is smiling, laughing and good times.' Article content Murphy was thrilled to be drafted by the Red Wings, an Original Six franchise with a strong following throughout Atlantic Canada. Article content 'They're definitely one of the teams that seemed interested in me,' said Murphy, who had two goals and four points in 54 regular-season games while playing a defensive-first game with the Eagles. 'I'm really pleased with it. It's pretty close to (P.E.I.)… It's a great organization and I couldn't be happier with it.' Article content Article content Article content Article content
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Canada's Branstine falls to world No. 1 Sabalenka in Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon
Published Jun 30, 2025 • 1 minute read Carson Branstine of Canada returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their first-round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, June 30, 2025. Photo by Kin Cheung / AP WIMBLEDON — Canada's Carson Branstine saw her Grand Slam debut end Monday with a first-round loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, falling 6-1, 7-5 at Wimbledon. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Branstine fired seven aces and matched Sabalenka with 17 winners, but the Canadian committed 26 unforced errors and was unable to convert her lone break-point chance. The 23-year-old, ranked 194th in the world, earned her spot through last week's qualifying tournament at the All England Club. Branstine, who was born in California but represents Canada through family ties in Toronto, was one of four Canadians in singles action Monday. Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., seeded 29th, was set to face Britain's Hannah Klugman, while Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime (No. 25) was drawn against Australia's James Duckworth. Montreal's Gabriel Diallo was scheduled to make his Wimbledon main-draw debut against Germany's Daniel Altmaier. Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Relationships
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
LAFC loses Giroud's farewell match, falling 1-0 to visiting Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps forward Emmanuel Sabbi (11) celebrates after his goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Los Angeles FC, in Los Angeles, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) Emmanuel Sabbi scored on Vancouver's only shot on goal, Yohei Takaoka made four saves, and the Whitecaps spoiled Olivier Giroud's farewell match with a 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC on Sunday night. Giroud started and played 60 minutes in his final appearance for LAFC. The famed French forward is expected to sign with Lille after one disappointing year in Los Angeles during which he was largely an unproductive substitute, scoring just five goals in 38 matches. Giroud had a chance to go out with a bang when Denis Bouanga fed him an exceptional cross while he was unmarked deep in Vancouver's penalty area in the 50th minute, but Giroud volleyed it over the bar. Giroud still left the field to a standing ovation 10 minutes later, but LAFC failed to equalize without him in its first match back from a winless three-game stint at the Club World Cup. LAFC scored one goal in the entire FIFA tournament, but still netted at least $9.5 million for earning the final spot in the field. Back in Los Angeles, its nine-match unbeaten run in league play ended with even more offensive frustration against Vancouver. Takaoka secured his 10th clean sheet for the depleted Whitecaps, who won for just the second time in six matches while falling out of first place in the Western Conference. Vancouver doesn't have key contributors Brian White, Jayden Nelson and Sebastian Berhalter due to Gold Cup international duty. Sabbi scored in the 20th minute with an exceptional effort, starting a counterattack with a midfield steal before controlling Jeevan Badwal's pass in mid-air on the run and scoring his first goal since April 12. It was Badwal's first career MLS assist. Backup goalkeeper David Ochoa made his first appearance for LAFC in place of Hugo Lloris, who got the day off after playing the entire Club World Cup. FOOT NOTES: The Caps shut out LAFC at BMO Stadium for the first time — just the fourth time in the past two seasons that LAFC has been held scoreless at home. … The Whitecaps are back in action Friday when they face the host L.A. Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. ___ AP soccer: Greg Beacham, The Associated Press
