Joining Rayo OKC Was A 'No-Brainer' For Billy Forbes

Billy Forbes didn’t have to think twice when Rayo OKC coach Alen Marcina, who signed Forbes out of college as the pair worked together for the past two years in San Antonio, reached out to him about joining the expansion side.

“The working relationship with Alen and I is pretty great,” Forbes told NASL.com. “Obviously he believed in me while I was in college. When I became a free agent, it was a no-brainer that I would love to work with Alen again.

“When he came calling and laid out his plan to me – I know he’s a winning coach, what he’s looking for – it was a no-brainer to not find any other team and trust Alen and his plan.”

Forbes, 25, has been one of the most dynamic players in the NASL over the past two years. A Turks and Caicos international, Forbes has consistently been at the top of the assists chart with 15 over his first two professional seasons. He also scored the game-winning goal in The Championship Final in 2014. Forbes, though, is ready to show even more this coming year.

“I would love to get more assists, not only assists, but goals as well,” Forbes said. “For the past two years I’ve been leading the NASL which is a great achievement and a lot of hard work,

“This year I want to step it up a notch. I’d like to get more goals and assists, but it’s not about individual aspects, it’s about the team and winning games.”

Forbes admits it may take being more selfish in front of goal, but he won’t take a shot if one of his teammates is in a better position. For a player who has been key in setting the attack up, Forbes has plenty of targets to aim at, including U.S. international Robbie Findley and Greek international Georgios Samaras.

“It’s going to be really fun to play with those guys and try to find them [with passes],” Forbes said. “Those guys have been to the top and played at the highest level. It’s going to be a challenge to learn their games and how to cross to them. It’s a process, but at the same time I’m learning from those guys. Hopefully by the start of the season I can learn their movement.”

While Forbes is trying to push his game further in 2016, so has the NASL as a whole. Entering his third year, Forbes knows the competition will be even more ramped up than in previous years.

“I think the competition is going to be really hard this year,” Forbes said. “The NASL is evolving as a brand. The talent and the kind of world-class player in the league right now is amazing.”

Forbes, though, is just ready to get on the field in league play again.

“I can’t wait to get started.”