A Sit Down with Sam Salter
A wide ranging conversation with Salter, discussing the team's current slump, to where the CPL should expand to next, to what book he is currently reading.
Q: How was training today?
A: Pretty intense. We played 11v11 so it’s pretty intense. It’s not something we normally do. It’s actually pretty rare that we do it . That’s why it’s a bit intense on the body, but it might be good. We need some change.
Q: How do you feel the season is going so far?
A: The season started pretty well for us. Everything was working, but we knew that at some point things would change. We can’t go well for 28 games without a problem. So we are in a bit of a low moment right now, and we just have to bounce back, get ourselves together, and perform well on Saturday. And then hopefully, things will start changing a bit.
Q: What do you do when you aren’t playing soccer?
A: I have a lot of hobbies. One of my main hobbies is reading. I like to read and chill. I like to watch some documentaries, movies, and also spend time with family. That’s what I mostly do. But I also enjoy watching all kinds of sports.
Q: What book do you have on the go right now?
A: The book I’m reading right now is called Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (by Stephen Covey).
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in town?
A: An Italian restaurant, it’s called Mama Teresa. I went there with my uncle. It has good Italian food. As far as something you could get quick, I like a good shawarma plate. The shawarma is good here.
Q: Was being a pro soccer player always the end goal?
A: No, I think it was always my passion so that was something that drove me when I was little. I had the dream of becoming a soccer player when I was young. So I think it was more of a passion, not an end goal. But the more I grew up, the more I started getting closer to become a pro, I started wanting to achieve that. And as far as anything else, I was in school but it wasn’t really my thing, to be honest. I think soccer was what drove me the most. So I’m happy that I’m here.
Q: As the league’s first ever inter league transfer for a fee, did you feel any added pressure to perform?
A: I actually did. I spoke about it a lot last season, but it was more the pressure that I had put on myself. Coming to a new club that achieved a lot the season before [2022], it was a mix of the pressure from the club inside wanting to win. When it didn’t turn out well at the beginning of the season, I started to doubt in myself a bit. But I think it was more the pressure that I had put on myself because I always have high expectations for myself. When it doesn’t go well, you start questioning yourself which is normal but you live and you learn. It’s not always going well for you like it is right now, you just have to keep going and things will get better.
Q: Last season you were the number one starter up front, compared to this season you’re used more as an impact sub off the bench. How have you adjusted to this role?
A: It’s always hard because you want to play every game and play every minute as a player. You want to compete. But as far as my new role, as you can say, it is more of trying to make the most of the minutes I play and trying to impact the team as much as I can when I’m on the field. In training, you try to push to show the players that I can play and show the coach that I can play more. I try to impact the team in a positive way and then go from there.
Q: In 2019 you were at California State University and played one season there. Why did you come back to play in Quebec compared to staying and playing college soccer?
A: It was March break and I had booked a flight back home because it was my mother’s birthday at the time. The next day after, I arrived home and everything shut down because of Covid. I just never ended up going back. I was stuck in Quebec at my parents’ house for two full years due to Covid. That’s when the decision of me playing at Blainville came about because there was nothing else to do. I was stuck at home. I didn’t know what to do so I played there and then got an offer from Halifax. I had to make a decision of either going to Halifax or going back to school and I decided to go to Halifax.
Q: What did you study while you were at school?
A: I was in Business Admin but I only did three semesters. The first two were in person, while the third was when Covid hit so I did it online. I felt as if I never really got the chance to experience the business degree because I had to take all the prerequisite classes first.
Q: Once you’re done with soccer, would you go back to that degree and finish it off?
A: I’m actually doing school right now. I’ve enrolled in online classes at a university in Quebec. I’m currently doing that but at a slow pace, just mainly focusing on football but also doing some school on the side. I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to finish the degree.
Q: Home or away kit, which do you prefer?
A: Definitely the home kit. For some reason I don’t like the away kit. It feels a bit weird, too many colours, so definitely I like the home kit more.
Q: With the league being only eight teams, you end up playing the same seven teams over and over, four times a season. Do you get bored of playing the same teams so much?
A: It’s more so the flying and the traveling that gets you because if the teams were closer it would be less travel. But also it is harder in a season when you play four times each team because after two times you start to know each other and it’s really hard to find ways to win. You can’t play like you played in the first two matches because teams adapt and they figure out stuff. So it’s definitely hard.
Q: The league is looking at expansion in some cites. Where do you think would be your ideal spot for expansion?
A: I definitely would have a team in Quebec. I think Quebec City would be the best option because it’s a market where there’s no other professional team in the area, a bit like Halifax. They definitely have a spirit for sports, so I think it would be a good area. If you look at York and the teams that are in big cities like Vancouver and Pacific, it’s a bit hard to compete with the likes of MLS clubs and stuff, so I don’t know the exact city but I think Quebec City would be a good one to start with.
Q: What’s your favourite team to play against and what is your least favourite team to play against?
A: My favourite team to play against is Halifax because there is a bit more enthusiasm to play against my old team and I still have some old teammates and friends on the team, so there is a bit more excitement in those games.
My least favourite is York because we always have a hard time playing against them.
This interview has been edited and condensed for spacial and grammatical reasons.