Wanyama misses out as CF Montreal unveil player of the season contenders

Former Harambee Stars midfielder Victor Wanyama was not among the candidates as CF Montreal selected the players in line for end of the season honours.

Wanyama, who has become a bit-part player for his club in the last two months, has seem his few minutes on the pitch prove costly as he will not be among the player of the season contenders.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton midfielder was not involved in four straight matches before being handed a rare start in Montreal’s 1-1 draw with Cincinnati on September 21 but has fallen down the pecking order again, only featuring as a substitute in two of the subsequent four matches.

Wanyama started the season as one of coach Hernan Losada’s most dependable players, and even captained the team, but has fallen down the pecking order in the second half of the season.

Three players have been nominated by the Club's technical staff for the Giuseppe-Saputo Trophy awarded to the first team's Most Outstanding Player: midfielder Mathieu Choiniere, striker Mahala Opoku and goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.

Defender Gabriele Corbo, goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois and defender Joel Waterman are in the running for the Defensive Player of the Year title.

Choiniere has played a pivotal part by scoring five goals this season while becoming the first player trained at the club academy to collect five assists in the same season in the MLS.

Ghanaian forward Opoku, who joined the club in July 2023 from LAFC, has quickly become an essential player, scoring four goals while providing an assist in 11 games this season. He notably scored winning goals against Charlotte on July 15 and against Portland on October 7.

Another Montreal academy graduate, Sirois, who is in the running for both trophies this season, has established himself as a starting goalkeeper, setting two new club records by collecting 11 shutouts in MLS, including nine at home.

Fans will cast an online vote to determine the winners with voting closing on October 18 while participants have a chance of getting to win an authentic Montreal jersey autographed by the 2023 Most Valuable Player winner.

The Jason Di Tullio Trophy is determined by a private vote among the first team players. The Jason Di Tullio Trophy is an annual distinction awarded in honour of former Montreal player and assistant coach Jason Di Tullio, who died on July 29, 2022.

Recipients of individual honours will be revealed at the conclusion of the regular season. Montreal will play their final match of the season on October 21 against Columbus Crew with an MLS playoff spot at stake.