Soccer Stories: Canadian Soccer News and In-Depth Player Interviews (incl. Canadian Premier League) – Details, episodes & analysis

Building a Soccer Legacy in Halifax: A Conversation with Derek MartinIn this episode of Soccer Stories, hosts Jack and Andrew Murray are joined by Derek Martin, the founder and president of the Halifax Wanderers.

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Derek shares his journey from being a professional American football player to falling in love with soccer during his time in Europe. He discusses the genesis of Halifax Wanderers, starting with his vision to utilize the Wanderers Grounds, despite its initial dilapidated state.

Derek details the challenges and triumphs of creating a professional soccer club, including the logistics of building a temporary stadium and the community-focused approach that has contributed to the club's success. He also emphasizes the critical importance of creating a live event experience unique to soccer and his ambitions for the future, including winning a trophy and improving infrastructure.

Listeners gain insights into the intersection of sports management and community building, making this episode a must-listen for soccer enthusiasts and aspiring sports executives.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:20 Derek Martin's Journey to Soccer

01:38 The Birth of Halifax Wanderers

04:56 Challenges and Triumphs of the First Year

07:21 Building a Soccer Community in Halifax

13:36 The Unique Experience of Soccer Games

20:56 Balancing Team Development and Competitiveness

25:52 Future Aspirations for Halifax Wanderers

28:29 Conclusion and Farewell

Phebe Trotman podcast.We are back with our brand-new edition of the Soccer Stories Podcast!In our newest podcast episode, we sit down with Phebe Trotman. I am so glad my dad and I got the chance to interview her and share her story. Phebe is an inductee into multiple sports hall of fames, and the author of "Never Quit on a Bad Day." The conversation is nothing short of captivating as she shares her experiences, from the early days of playing on an all-boys team to reaching the pinnacle of her career and beyond. Phebe Trotman's story is a testament to the idea that it's not the victories alone that shape a champion, but also the setbacks and the courage to rise above them. Her insights into the tactical, technical, and mental aspects of soccer are profound, offering a glimpse into what it takes to excel at the highest levels of the sport. We talked about: How her love of football blossomed Her time as a young girl playing on an all-boys team When she decided she wanted to become a pro player How she ended up playing in the US Playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps, And much more... We also spent time talking about her book (which I was lucky enough to read) I love Phebe's book because it gives you inspiration, motivation and then backs it up with tools and actionable steps. She's so passionate about sharing the "tough stuff" so people can see the "story" behind the story and learn what other people did to get past their challenges, and how to take those lessons and use them in their own life. But it's not just about soccer. Phebe's philosophy of life, encapsulated in the title of her book, resonates with anyone striving to overcome obstacles. Her message is clear: quitting is not an option, especially not on a bad day. I loved hearing about Phebe's recounting of scoring goals, outmanoeuvring opponents, and embracing every chance to shine. Her story is inspiring. Phebe is a great speaker and storyteller and is a great personality to interview. This interview was captivating and full of insights into soccer and life! A must-listen episode for anyone who has ever faced a challenge and wondered if they could make it through. So, lace up your boots, plug in your headphones, and prepare to be inspired. Listen to the episode now and remember, never quit on a bad day. And, make sure to tell me what you think of the episode in the comment section! You can Find Phebe here: https://neverquitonabadday.com/ https://www.instagram.com/trotmanphebe/Be sure to link up and tel her how you found her. Timestamp: (00:39) Introduction (01:22) Phebe's start in soccer. (04:43) What would you say was the pivotal point when you decided to go pro (07:23) Football tactics. (10:56) The transition from club to University soccer. (17:55) The W league and Vancouver Whitecaps. (21:41) How do you decide to stop playing professionally?  (24:49) What are some of the lessons you took from soccer into your daily life? (28:13) What would you say is the biggest lesson you've learned from setbacks in soccer? (31:19) Phebe's book, Never Quit on a Bad Day. (37:15) Phebe's goal with the book. (38:24) Book series? (43:48) The women's game in Canada now. (46:17) What do you think has been the best advice a coach or teammate has given you? (51:52) Rapid-fire questions (54:06) Goals for the future? (55:02) End of Interview Get your own Riobol here: http://www.RIOBOL.com For a 20% off discount, use: JACKMURRAY Here's how to get a Blazepod: Get Blazepod shipped to North America: https://hoply.io/bp Get Blazepod shipped to Europe: https://blazepod.eu/andrew-murray Use coupon code SOCCERSTORIES to get 10% off your Blazepod set!

We actually interviewed William just under a year ago when he was still playing at the University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley and when his YouTube channel only had a few thousand subscribers. 

Since that time William has done great things like being called up to the South Sudan national team, his YouTube channel now has over 20k subs, he is now playing pro in the Canadian Premier League for Valour FC, and he has gotten his first-ever pro goal.

Andrew and I dive into all of that news with William.

William has grown so much since we last talked. During our first interview, he was full of advice and he knew so much for his age but now he knows even more that he has another year of high-level soccer under his belt. Plus, William now has a taste of what playing for a professional soccer team is like in that he has recently signed with CPL team, Valour FC.

Willy has always been a fantastic striker with a knack for getting balls in the back of the net.  He is fast, strong, and a deadly finisher!  He is someone who will be able to score in lots of ways for Valour FC. Just giving you guys a heads up but if you haven't seen William play yet, he is an amazing striker who any team in the Canadian Premier League would want on their side!

We talk to William about his YouTube channel which has seen some excellent growth - and about how he deals with creator burnout, how to grow subscribers fast, who inspired him to start a YouTube Channel, and how he developed into a successful monetized YouTuber. This is a critical section for anybody who has a YouTube Channel.

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In this interview, William talks about some of the goals that he hopes to achieve by the end of the season. One of his goals was to get 10 goals in the Canadian Premier League in his first season, and so far in just 2 appearances and just under 45 minutes on the field, Willy has already scored his first pro goal!  If you want to know what team William is most excited to play against, how William balances his YouTube and soccer life, and more, then enjoy this interview with Valour FC striker William Akio!

Welcome to another episode of "Soccer Stories: Get Into The Journey". This week's guest is Halifax Wanderers and 2020 CPL Coach Of The Year, the illustrious, Stephen Hart!

I love him as a coach. I think he is a phenomenal tactician, and right before the interview, I couldn't believe that we were about to interview the Halifax Wanderers Head Coach but also the former head coach of not one, but two National teams - Canada 🇨🇦  and Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹!

It's certainly not every day that you get to speak to someone who is so well versed in football, and yet we got to chat with Stephen for a good hour covering many different topics.

We started off talking about his background growing up in a rural area of Trinidad & Tobago where watching soccer and cricket were literally "events" that people experienced. There were no replays while watching live, and he talked about how watching a lot of live games at his local field brought a romance to the game, and how that helped him tactically. Stephen's father, we found out, actually thought he was a better cricket player than a footballer!

We also spend a brief time talking about the cuisine of Trinidad And Tobago. We really enjoyed talking about food and culture and lucky for us, Stephen shares one of his favourite recipe sites for Caribbean food.

We then delved into his playing career and how he got his start in coaching.  Interestingly, with not much equipment, he started training kids to kick the ball through the legs of chairs and to pick the ball up on the other side.

He mentioned one thing that was very revealing and it was that he sees himself as a "player developer" and you can see the importance of that throughout the interview.  He has a passion for helping players reach that next level in their careers.

During the course of the interview, Stephen Hart gave us amazing advice for young players; the importance of enthusiasm and his belief that how you carry yourself, respecting the dressing room, and staying humble is critically important as a footballer and to the team morale.

He also explains that nothing is more important than the team. The one thing he won't allow in his dressing room is a bad attitude and a player that won’t conform to the team. Talent does not trump attitude at any level of soccer. We also had an interesting exchange on how he handled challenging players, which he has had to deal with in his career as a coach.

The conversation covered much ground, and things that came up during the interview were his thoughts on about ball winners, passers, dribblers, strikers and their different roles.

We got to chat about the Wanderers, the new squad, the Italian concept of "Grinta," which was vital during their run at the Island Games, and how Coach Hart likes a vertical game and playing forward to eliminate lines.

Near the end of the interview, we dive into more tactics and we talk about the death of the pure number 10, why that is, the re-invention of the number 10, and some players that are doing well with the re-invention!

And so much more.

YT Version

Blog Post

Today, we are excited to share with you this episode of "Soccer Stories, Get Into The Journey" where we interview Halifax Wanderers brand new signing, midfielder Pierre Lamothe. Pierre is a player that can make a big impact for the Wanderers.

First off be sure to follow Pierre on his Instagram account here.

Next, if you have not seen Pierre Lamothe's highlight reel, go check it out, because once you see it you will get excited for the Wanderers in the upcoming season.

Something that I noticed when I watched him was how very adept he was at taking the ball out of the air and playing forward or calming down the play. The big plus is that his passing, work ethic, and footwork are excellent and he is incredibly FAST!

During the interview with Pierre Lamothe, we talk about his time with the Montreal Impact Academy, learning about Grinta, mindset tips, how to take care of your body, and the biggest takeaways from being in that learning environment.

We also expand on his playing style and what he tries to accomplish in games. Pierre also played for the Montreal Carabins with Omar Kriem and Aboucar Sissoko and they all know each other well. They won a title together, so we dive into that experience.

Of course, we can’t forget to chat about how he’s settling in here in Halifax, about meeting the rest of the squad, what the training has been like, and general stuff about the upcoming season.

Pierre has got a great personality; he's a lot of fun with a good sense of humour (you see it within the first few minutes of our interview) while also being very insightful with a calm confident aura. He is definitely one to watch.

We then finish off the interview with some fun rapid-fire questions to get to know Pierre’s personality better!

Watch the Pierre Lamothe interview on YouTube.

Warning! This interview is highly recommended for any kids who aspire to go pro. 

The first time I saw Joel Waterman playing soccer was when he was playing for Cavalry FC under head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. 

Joel was so good in the inaugural season of the CPL that Club De Foot Montreal signed him and became the first team to sign a player from the CPL, and Joel became the first-ever player that started out in the CPL to go to the MLS.

Since that defining moment, Joel Waterman has received multiple call ups to the Canadian senior Men's National Team.

We had a great conversation. Joel left a huge impression on me. If you have watched our previous interviews, you know how much I believe that having the "right" mindset can get you through anything. Listening to Joel I was impressed by his attitude, mindset, and discipline. In fact, there is one thing he  said will stay with me, and I think this is part of the secret to his incredible ascent is:

During our interview, our goal is to get into the soccer journey of our guests. We want to know how they fell in love with soccer, how they realized that soccer was the path they wanted to take, what drove them to pursue their football goal with passion, and what set them apart from the rest.

We loved getting into Joel's journey, from the love of soccer shared by his whole family, Saturday morning games, and how his Dad was instrumental in developing his skills, getting him to understand the importance of "getting good at the basics."

We also talked about the defining moments in his career, starting with the CPL to his move to the MLS and coaching with Thierry Henry. We delve into the changes he made to his game when he went from a CDM to a CB, what its like to be a ball-carrying center back (CB), his playing style and who he likes to watch and emulate.

We also covered his Ambassadorship with Kidsport and other passion projects that are important to him. To wrap up the interview, we asked Joel some fun Rapid Fire Questions to get to know him better!

Watching the interview, you can see that each answer was given with much thought and reflection. This is an incredibly in-depth interview and I want to thank Joel for getting into his journey and inspiring me and others to pursue our dreams.

In the interview, we had a lot of questions for Mateo.  We talked to him about his game style, the importance of his position (some surprises there!), mindset, diet, his time in Germany, his time with Santa Barbra, the Island Games, studying to be a doctor, and more!

Mateo also talks extensively and in great depth about how he ended up playing in Germany, this experience in the Under 19 Bundesliga, and the pressure of playing there.

Mateo Restrepo is a fantastic player with a fantastic mindset so get ready to enjoy this interview with the Halifax Wanderer’s fullback because we get into the journey.

Below is the full interview and if you watch it on YouTube, the interview timestamp is on our Mateo Restrepo blog post.

For me (and many people) Peter has become the iconic Halifax Wanderer.  A fan favourite, always giving back to the fans and community, he's a great guy and we're honoured that he came back on the show to give us a recap on what he's been doing recently and what we can expect this coming season.

In this interview we catch up, find out what he's been doing in the offseason like spending some time on the West coast, we get into pre-season training, Peter’s connection with the fans, and his coaching experience with local club Halifax County.

We also cover some of his other projects and marketing company - Did you see Halifax Wanderers Beer "The Grounds"  during the Island Games?  - yup that was him behind the marketing campaign!  You can check out more about Peter's involvement in the marketing campaign behind the limited edition Wanderer's been here.

One of my favourite parts of the conversation were what he looks for in terms of development from the kids he coaches, and the tips Peter gives young players specifically on heading, and when to check your shoulder as a defender.  He gets into some very specific details like his own personal "triggers" and more. Really insightful!

There were a lot of great moments and Peter is always great to chat to.

We also touch on the inaugural season, being named to the Team of the Decade for the CBU Capers, and then we look ahead to the hopefully soon-to-be-announced season. We talk about what back to training has been like in the 5v5 intrasquad tournaments - football tennis competitions that are more competitive than the Wanderers games and what it’s like to be coached by Mesut Mert.

#canpl #hfxwanderers #peterschaale #football #canadasoccer

Our first interview of 2021 is here!

For our first interview, booked an interview with Game Awareness.

Game Awareness is the company founded by two brothers, Sijad and Farshad Yaqubi who are trainers out of Ontario, Canada, who have a very innovative and different approach to training the next generation of soccer players coming out of Canada.

What I find absolutely amazing about Game Awareness and you can check out their training here on their website and many more videos on their Instagram account is their unique approach to training.

Their philosophy is that most so much emphasis is placed on learning the technique but not enough on the “awareness” aspect of the game which is the “key.” Think quicker, play quicker.

They have trained many youth players from many different clubs all across Ontario including many players from the TFC Academy.

Several of their trainees have gone on to play at very high levels and just recently, one in particular, has gone to play with the Feyenoord Academy in Holland.

Again, like I mentioned they train many up and coming players and also train professional players, including Emilio Estevez who went on from York United to Ado Den Haag, and several players from York United: Lowell Wright, Ijah Halley, Max Ferrari, and the CPL Champions from Forge FC: Chris Nanco, Mo Babouli, Montreal Impact: Kamal Miller, Vancouver Whitecaps: Ryan Raposo, and more!

When they train players they focus mainly on one specific part of the game – AWARENESS. Awareness has become even more important in the way soccer has evolved during recent years.

If you can think a little faster than your opponent it could result in not losing the ball, a goal, and a lovely play but if you cannot think on your feet or you think even just a second slower than your opponent it could result in losing the ball, one of your defenders having to make a professional tackle that could end up seeing the player get a red or yellow card, and it could also end up being a goal on your net.

This is why Game Awareness are so effective and unique in their training and why so many players keep going back for sessions. They teach you how to be more aware and that is why so many players see such an improvement in their game from just one session.

In the interview, we go in-depth about their progressive training methods, the different types of equipment they use like the vision goggles, the lights, and their robot! They also give us their thoughts on the Canadian National Team, the Canadian Premier League, Virtual Reality training, and some great advice about penalty taking.

So let's get into the journey!

Enjoy the interview, it's a must listen for anyone wanting to play quicker, think quicker, improve their awareness and overall soccer IQ.

And if you're anywhere near Ontario, be sure to check out their training.

New Episode Drop!

We're excited to release our interview with professional soccer player and KickDeck founder, Skylar Thomas.

First off, Skylar is a great guy; fun, relaxed, and extremely friendly. He's also engaged, thoughtful and his story is one I have wanted to share since I started our interviews on CPLFever.

In fact, I have been wanting to interview Skylar now for a very long time. He first caught my attention when he played for CPL team, Valour FC and then more recently as the founder behind the amazing product – KickDeck a valuable tool for young footballers looking to take their training and game to the next level.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with KickDeck, KickDeck is your personal trainer in a deck of cards. By using the deck (shuffle, deal, and train through 4 different categories) you can build your own custom workouts that will unlock your full potential.

Learn more about KickDeck here:

http://cplfever.ca/kickdeck

During this interview that lasted about an hour, we chat to Skylar about:

His upbringing and how he developed his love for soccer

His current season with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds

How he developed his entrepreneurial spirit and how he ended up founding KickDeck

How he balances being a professional athlete and entrepreneur running a highly successful business.

What his day looks like as a professional footballer

Mindset and how it's helped him in everyday life

Advice for young athletes who aspire to go pro

And of course, the always fun rapid-fire questions where we get to know our guests on a more personal level!

Skylar Thomas has an incredibly fascinating story and one that we are so excited to share with you today. Some of my favourite moments of the interview have to do with his mindset and how he developed a great attitude that has served him well not only in professional soccer but also as an entrepreneur.

When you hear him speak about his passion and commitment to helping youth athletes first through his own coaching program, UVU Soccer Training, and now through KickDeck (by providing solutions to fundamental problems like the lack of direction when training alone that plague young athletes) it's inspiring.

So go ahead and watch the interview below.

Check out the blog post for complete timestamps.