Rob Friend honoured by the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

Former Canadian striker Rob Friend was honoured by the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame as an athlete in the Class of 2022. Friend enjoyed a 12-year professional and international career from 2003 to 2014, notably helping Canada reach the semifinals at the 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Friend was one of three persons honoured by the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday 10 November 2022. Alongside Friend, who is the first soccer player honoured, the Class of 2022 also featured runner Phil Ellis, basketball builder Jack May, and the Kelowna Major Men’s Fastball Association.

Friend played his club soccer in Canada, USA, Norway, Netherlands and Germany, including appearances in Europe’s UEFA Cup. He won the Norwegian Cup with Molde FK, the 2.Bundesliga title with both Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hertha BSC in Germany, and the MLS Cup with LA Galaxy.

With Canada, he made 32 career international “A” appearances across 10 seasons from 2003 to 2012, notably leading all Canadians in minutes played in 2006. He represented Canada in one cycle of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, played in two editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup, and also played in one FIFA youth tournament.