The coaching staff and the players have made it very easy for me to adapt here so I’m having a good time. It’s great to play for another beautiful city. Vancouver was great but Montreal is probably one of the greatest cities in Canada. I like to play here. The Impact had been playing great soccer lately and it’s fun to be part of it all.
You came here with Joey Gjertsen, a good friend of yours. Would you say the adaptation was easier with him?
I was shocked when I heard that I was being traded, but less so than Joey because things for me were not going very well with head coach Bob Lilley. I think it was easier for me to come here because I played for a few teams before and I come from the East Coast. Joey spent almost all his life on the West Coast, with his family based in Seattle. So the transition was not as hard for me.
Both Joey and yourself played against your former team, on August 18, at Swangard Stadium, in Vancouver. How was it?
It was great to go back where I had spent almost two seasons and it was nice to see my former teammates again. The game against the Whitecaps was only three weeks after the trade, so it was a little strange. At the beginning, I was a bit confused on which side I was, but once the game started, I knew exactly for which team I was playing. There is a great rivalry between both teams but I’m happy now to be part of the Impact.
"I think that it doesn’t matter where you end the season in the standings because winning the final is the main objective."
What would you consider the main objective to be: winning a regular season championship or a playoff championship?
I want to win a playoff championship. I think that it doesn’t matter where you end the season in the standings because winning the final is the main objective. This is what we fight for all season long. Last year, I had the chance to win the championship with the Whitecaps, in Rochester. Now, I would love to win the cup here in Montreal, in front of the fans. I think it would be very special. There is always a good turnout at every game and it would be a great gift for them.
When you're not on the field, do you participate in any other activities?
I like to bike, surf and do mountain trekking. I like being outdoors with my dog, Champ. We do a lot of things together. I also like to scare people (laughs). I could be hiding behind a wall for example. I’m waiting any day for my friends’ and family’s revenge! I know it’s strange, but I always liked doing that.
How would you describe yourself?
I think I am a bit lazy. I like to take it easy in life and have no plans for the day because I’m a very spontaneous person. This being said, I’m completely different on the field. With the experience, I learned that you have to get the job done and work hard during training. It’s not always easy, but you have to fight for a spot on the team. Even if you’re fighting against a friend, you have to fight. You have to be a little selfish because otherwise somebody else will take your place. Every day, I also like to work on being a better person. I think that I’m also a very committed person.
What other sport do you like practicing? Were you good enough to play at a high level?
I liked tennis and baseball. In high school, at T.C. Roberson, in North Carolina, I decided to play soccer and not baseball because I prefer the mentality and the freedom of soccer. Also, you are more active in soccer. One of my good friends in high school, Chris Narveson, is playing for the St. Louis Cards organization, which won the World Series last year. I don’t regret at all my choice because I have a pretty good life. I had the chance to travel around the world thanks to soccer.
