Forge FC’s Cela Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery

Forge FC defender Klaidi Cela successfully underwent surgery this morning to repair an ACL tear suffered after coming on in added time against the Halifax Wanderers on August 19, 2020.

The update was announced by Forge FC Digital Host Louis Butko, who also gave credit to Forge FC athletic therapist Emily Coleman for her work with the youngster ahead of the surgical intervention.

Cela’s injury meant that the youngster left the Island Games after having only played for three minutes across two appearances in the Charlottetown-based bubble tournament.

The loss of Cela put Forge FC under pressure to fill its required U-21 domestic youth minutes ahead of the regular season deadline, with Monti Mohsen racking up 208 minutes following the injury and teenage goalkeeper Baj Maan being handed a debut against Valour once Forge had already qualified for the group stage.

This was the last season that Cela will count as a domestic U-21 player, for which Forge FC is required to have three on the roster next year as per league regulations. That means at least one new U-21 player will need to be signed ahead of the 2021 Canadian Premier League campaign.

Cela isn’t the only athlete to have left The Island Games with a long-term injury, with Cavalry FC midfielder Nico Pasquotti set for a similar surgery next Wednesday and Cavalry FC forward Oliver Minatel suffering a devastating tibia and fibula fracture against York9 FC that required immediate emergency intervention.

Cela has made twelve appearances for Forge FC over the last two title-winning campaigns, scoring his only professional goal against FC Edmonton last year. Prior to his time in the hammer, Cela spent a year with Sigma FA following a few seasons with Portuguese side GD Gafanh and the Toronto FC developmental system.

Cela is expected to be sidelined for several months as he recovers from the ACL tear. While it’s known that the 21-year-old defender re-signed for the reigning champions back in January, whether the club intends for him to return to the fold next season remains unclear.

At the present, Forge FC gaffer Bobby Smyrniotis is preparing for the club’s second straight year of Concacaf League action, with the club set to travel to El Salvador to face first-timers Municipal Limeno overseas. It appears that the club won’t be able to play against smaller local sides to keep up match fitness due to the OSA having its own competitive bubble, while the possibility of a prospective friendly against York9 FC is now looking less likely, too.

We wish Klaidi all the best in his recovery from the injury.

Source: Louis Butko (via Twitter)