Quillan Roberts Joins Ole Football Academy

Former MLS and Canadian Premier League goalkeeper Quillan Roberts will take his next steps in New Zealand with the Ole Football Academy and their affiliate side Western Suburbs FC.

Having wowed crowds at the semi-professional level ever since leaving Forge following the club’s inaugural title-winning season, there’ve been many who thought Roberts return to the domestic pro ranks in the years following.

Instead, he’s aligning himself with former CPL head coach Alan Koch – the technical director of New Zealand’s Ole Football Academy – to showcase his talents abroad.

Roberts won’t be the only former CPL talent to make the trip, with former Eddies striker Kairo Coore making the same move to New Zealand.

The Guyanese international will don the number one kit for both Ole Football Academy and the organization’s affiliate club in the country’s top flight, Western Suburbs FC. It will mark his first time playing club football outside of North America.

The majority of the Guyana international’s playing career saw him serve as a depth option in Major League Soccer, spending some seven years in the US top flight with Toronto FC (for whom he made 43 appearances with their USL affiliate) and LAFC.

He then joined Forge FC for the club’s inaugural season, winning the 2019 North Star Shield before returning to League1 Ontario with 1812 FC and earning both East Division Golden Glove and all-star honours. 

Roberts neared a professional return by trialing with Valour FC, but landed with another L1O expansion side, Electric City FC, last year.

Roberts has accrued six appearances for Guyana, though his senior international debut actually came for Canada in a 3-0 friendly win over Puerto Rico.

“I’m excited to be here on the other side of the world doing what I love with such a great group,” said Roberts. “I hope my past experience and knowledge of the game will help us succeed over this coming season.”

Peterborough’s Electric City FC has some replacing to do for the club’s star talent: Roberts isn’t the only big name to depart, with Jordan Brown leaving near the tail end of the previous season and marquee signing Zachary Ellis-Hayden joining Guelph United this year.