CAF Story | When Passion and Purpose Unite
Video / June 02, 2023
Transcript
Marcelo Plad This brings emotions out of me. But we were losing one nothing against Poland.
(Steve Sabadoz) The goalie kind of coughed up the ball. I took it from him. I put it in the back of the net.
Marcelo Plad And the first thing he did, he ran right to me. And I don't know, it's those moments, I guess, that are nice. Because you know, you dedicate to players. And then you see it, because they feel it and you show it.
(Steve Sabadoz) And it was the greatest feeling I have ever experienced in my life. I was just on another level of emotion.
Marcelo Plad Steve Sabadoz. So, I first came across Steve when his name came to my desk. So, we have player profiles that get submitted. So, I reached out to him, just to see ... to gauge what his interest levels were. And he was going through a change in career, he just joined the military. He had no idea that there was such a program.
(Steve Sabadoz) I had jobs, civilian jobs here and there. And I just kind of was not finding something I was really passionate about. And I was at the age of 26 when I joined. So, I was a little bit later.
Marcelo Plad Through this program, it's reinvigorated something in him that has been so eye opening.
(Steve Sabadoz) It is such a high level of soccer; you can't even imagine. You basically feel like a professional soccer player when you go into these tournaments. And you actually, literally are playing professional soccer players.
Marcelo Plad A lot of these countries that are participating in these championships are professionals, and they are pulled from their international, or from their national club teams. So, they already come with a pedigree far beyond what any one of our soldiers have.
Back there! Back there! Back there! Run through the grids. Finish it.
Therefore, we have to find a way to push our guys and make them believe.
(Steve Sabadoz) Marcelo Plada is probably one of the greatest coaches I have ever had.
Marcelo Plad One, two, three. Good turn! Well done! Well done!
(Steve Sabadoz) He is so relatable. He is so understanding. He knows the game so well. And I have learned so much from him.
If you ever had a dream to be a professional soccer player and you know, maybe it didn't work out, this is the next best thing. This is the absolute next best thing. You are basically representing your country. You have so much pride going into these tournaments, putting on that Canada shirt. You are fulfilling, I feel like ... it's just, you are fulfilling a dream. And the first game I stepped on that field, I had goose bumps. I was just ... I couldn't believe it.
Marcelo Plad What we have found within the program, a lot of athletes, you know, are able to bring a lot of transferable skills in terms of leadership and resiliency. Because it's already embedded within the sport itself. So, for us, and the program, we believe that, you know, you can leverage a lot of those skill sets and apply them within the Canadian Armed Forces.
(Steve Sabadoz) You learn to be driven, you learn to be goal oriented. And this just all translates to my job. I feel like I am a better soldier because of this.
I had no idea that this program even existed when I joined the military. And for me, I am so beyond grateful that this program exists, that I took that leap of faith and joined the military. And I will forever be in debt.