Forge FC isn’t intentionally trying to recreate history, but the precedent is there:
A skilled teenage Canadian, who departed an MLS Academy for career development in Hamilton, was internationally capped in the national youth program, gradually nurtured by Bobby Smyrniotis and his staff, and eventually shifted forward from another offensive position into a cameo—let’s-see-what-happens—trial at striker.
Aghilas Sadek, his own man, is not Kwasi Poku—now playing in Belgium after a record CPL transfer fee in 2024—but there is definitely an echo.
Sadek, who turned 18 just a couple of weeks ago, had played a small handful of games for Forge at attacking midfielder, but Smyrniotis started him at striker just over a week ago, and he acquitted himself well in a 3-1 victory over Inter-Toronto, then came off the bench in relief of regular starter Brian Wright in Halifax on Sunday, for the final 26 minutes of the scoreless draw.
He worked his way into perfect position for a late header scoring chance in Halifax and was a constant threat opening both sides and the middle and working 1-2s with several attackers in his striker debut in the 905 Derby leg. He used the dribble to hang onto the ball to create gaps, and to challenge, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, into the box. And he set up Nana Ampomah for a goal.
And remember, this was his first start—at any level—as a striker.
“It was different, and I had to adapt, but I felt I did pretty well up front just by pressing, just by playing my game,” said Sadek, who does not lack for confidence. “We did a pretty good job—Marko (Jevremović), Nana and then Hoce (Massunda)—passing around the block and we got those three points.
“You need to take risks at striker even if sometimes it doesn’t work. If you lose it, just try again…it’s going to work. All the guys behind us work to get the ball up, so you need to work to create chances and to score goals.”
Sadek was born in Algeria but emigrated to Canada with his family when he was a toddler and grew up in Longueuil, on Montréal’s south shore. He played youth soccer in Longueuil and was called up to Canada’s U-15 team before joining CF Montréal’s Academy. He was also on the national U-17s World Cup side and scored a goal in the Concacaf group stage for the U-20s earlier this year.
“I grew up here in Canada so whenever you put on the badge it’s something you have to wear with honour and give everything every time you play for the country,” he says.
Sadek played one pre-season MLS game with Montréal and was on their second team but wanted a full-pro experience and decided to come to Hamilton.
He had other options on the continent— “I’m like all players who grow up loving the game; we want to get to a big league in Europe”—but it was difficult to work it out at 17, and he felt Forge’s ultra-professional approach gives him the best chance to win titles, learn the game and develop into a solid player.
He plays some games for Forge’s League1 affiliate Sigma FC, trains every day in the Hammers’ extremely demanding sessions, and shares accommodation with fellow CPL rookie Ismael Oketokoun.
“He came to us as a youth player so there’s a lot to learn on the tactical side,” Smyrniotis says, “So we’re working with him a little more tactically week-in, week-out, and allowing him to mature in this environment.”
“The regulars have a pressure-training environment each day, but he shows up with a smile, competes with a smile and week by week is getting better.”
He's also the youngest player on the team, and the challenge of that was one of the reasons he gravitated toward Hamilton for the next stage of his career.
“The academy in Montréal was a good experience for me, learning football, training every day, training with the pros, playing a pre-season game,” he says. “With older guys like this (in Hamilton) you just need to adapt so you feel like you’re playing with academy players. You need to stay focused and be on your game.”
“I came here first of all because it was a league of men, it’s a high pro level, and I think physically I’ve already got better, and I think it’s really going to help me in the future.”
Smyrniotis plans to use him intermittently, depending upon the schedule, opponent, and Sadek’s development, but he’s already had significant minutes in the two games since moving to striker.
“I think the first year I need to be patient and to wait on the process,” he said. “But I hope I can get to be a starter every game. That’s the mentality.”
And in the professional soccer world, that’s exactly the right mentality.