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NEWS

September 13, 2021

COVID-19 CONCERNS

TREETOP PROTEST

The province has basically handcuffed the post secondary institution from mandating their own public health measures D R . S C OT T LEAR // SFU professor

NEWS

VACCINE VERIFICATION

This is a meaningful approach, and will have a significant impact on vaccination rates JOY JOHN SON // SFU President

TRANSIT TIME

News Editor Nancy La

News Writers Karissa Ketter and Yelin Gemma Lee

news@the-peak.ca

OPINIONS

September 13, 2021

CLIMATE CALLOUSNESS

If the morality of addressing climate change, or the thought of being beaten to the punch by UBC isn’t enough to change SFU’s stance on divestment, the financial aspect might

OPINIONS

Opinions Editor Lubaba Mahmud

opinions@the-peak.ca

SAFE STUDENT HOUSING

MAKING VOTES COUNT

Voting for the “safest” candidates gives you less of a chance to have an MP that represents your values

Four new players joined SFU’s men’s soccer team this season, including defensive midfielder Ali Zohar. From Bangladesh to Kentucky to Surrey, Zohar has demonstrated commitment and drive on the field, racking up several accomplishments — including being named the 2017 BMO Whitecaps Youth Player of the Year. After being benched with an injury for almost all of 2020, Zohar is back. The Peak caught up with Zohar right before his first official league game to get his take on confidence, family, and cold showers.

Editor’s note: Some answers have been edited for concision and clarity

The Peak:

Could you walk us through what your soccer career has been like, from kicking a soccer ball for the first time to now?

Ali Zohar:

I was born in Bangladesh. My family and I moved here as refugees. So, I would say I started kicking a ball here in Canada. I used to play back home on the street when I was very little, like seven or eight, but it wasn’t with a soccer ball. It was more like a flat volleyball or maybe a plastic ball or something. When I first came to Canada [ . . . ] I think in grade five, this kid saw me play at lunch and saw I was somewhat okay, and invited me to play on his team. I played with that team for a year, I went from bronze, silver, and gold — three different levels in one year. From there, I had a mentor. He’s like my soccer dad; his name is Jack Reddy, and he’s helped me with every step of the way, from when I started playing soccer in Canada until basically now. He mentors me and gives me advice.

From the Whitecaps, I got called up to play for the U15 national team at the age of 14. I also went on to the U17 team camp at the age of 15 or 16. I was named the 2017 BMO Whitecaps Youth Player of the Year, then had some opportunities to train and play an exhibition with the Whitecaps First Team.

I think, for me, my motivation comes from my family. Seeing where we came from. It just makes me hungrier and hungrier, wanting to work even harder.

What has been your impression of the SFU soccer team thus far?

I committed to Northern Kentucky University to play NCAA DIV1 Soccer, did two years there, was named in the Horizon League Fresh XI. But then I had surgery, in 2020, and I was out for all of 2020. Now I’ve finally transferred to come back home to play under coach [Clint] Schneider and [assistant coach] Kevin Harmse. That’s one of the main reasons I transferred to SFU, just knowing Kevin Harmse from when I joined the Whitecaps at the age of 13 or 14. He's someone who played pro and I know I will learn a lot from him. It made my decision to come to SFU easy. They have a really good playing style, and it suits me really well. I’ve been friends with most of [the guys] from when I started playing at a young age and I’ve stayed in touch. Throughout my journey, even until now, I have had so many friends, family coaches, teammates help me along the way.

Could you tell me about that injury you mentioned, if you don’t mind getting into it? I went to Northern Kentucky University. My first year was in 2019. A month into the season, I basically tore my meniscus a little bit, and I kept playing because the season was so short and I didn’t want my first season to go down like that. There was a point where I had to stop because it was getting worse and with three games left before the season ended [ . . . ] we weren’t going to make the playoffs. The physio team in Kentucky decided it would be best if I rested and did rehab on that knee. I came back home during winter break in January, rested for that period, saw my own physio, did rehab every day. I went back to Kentucky in January 2020 and then I was just feeling good, just wanted to train every day, because I hadn’t trained for like three months. I think I came back too soon to training fully [ . . . ] I went to the field, kicked the ball the same way as I did the first time I injured it, I felt the exact same pain in my knee. The next day I got an MRI and an X-ray, and they gave me the bad news that it was a really big tear. I had to get surgery as soon as possible, and so I got surgery on February 14, on Valentine’s Day.

That must’ve been really difficult, especially the second time. What kept you going while you were recovering? Was there a thought or idea that you were holding onto?

After I was done with that team, I went to play BC Soccer Premier League with Coastal FC 2000, won the provincials with them, and played for a year and a half. I went to play for Surrey United SC, and played there a season, then got called up for the provincial team and made the Whitecaps.

From then on, I was just recovering for the whole of 2020, and now I’m finally back. Healthy, feeling good, and excited to play for SFU.

It’s a really good team. A lot of talented players with really good attributes and character, but I knew I was going to bring something different. I knew that this team could go really far with the talent they have, and the coaching staff is really good. I’ve watched the players play before, trained with them before, played with most of them growing up, so I kind of knew what it was going to be like and knew what kind of players they were. I’m so happy to be here. Speaking of your coach, Clint Schneider, he has said you bring leadership potential to the team — what’s the secret to being a great leader? I just like to keep learning, analyzing, from everyone. Leadership, I think it is almost a natural thing. There are leaders that lead by example, leaders that vocalize [ . . . ] I scream here or there, but I’m more of a leader that leads by example. Maybe like winning the ball in the air, making a good pass forward that breaks the other team down — I think that’s the type of leader I am.

Where does your passion for soccer come from?

I’d say it’s my brothers — I have two older brothers, two younger brothers, and a younger sister. My two older brothers used to play back home in the village, so I used to walk to go watch their games.

What is your pre-game routine?

It’s changed a bit in recent years, it also depends on what time the game is. If the game is in the morning, [I would] wake up early [ . . . ] watch a game or two, have some breakfast, and head to the game. Before the game, I would listen to some nice RnB music, and relax [ . . . ] just calm my mind. I usually take cold showers. If it’s a game at like 7:00 p.m., then breakfast, watch some games or anime — just relax as much as I can. But there are times when you do think about it, so just know it’s normal, part of the game. What are you looking forward to in upcoming seasons and your future with SFU? For the season, I’m just really excited to play my first game [ . . . ] We’ve played pre-season games and trained a bunch with the guys, and now I’m just excited to get on the field with these guys, y’know? I would say we’ve got really high expectations of ourselves for this year, got a really good group of players, talented players, good coaching. I think just seeing how far we go together as a team, game-bygame, and hopefully going all the way. We play a lot of top teams this season, which is really exciting, and we travel a lot, which is nice, too [ . . . ] My main reason for transferring to SFU was for me to go somewhere, professionally. I knew that if I came to SFU, this was like the perfect place to be a pro, to go somewhere, to be a pro. I just knew that I could learn a lot. Also get my degree at the same time, hopefully.

To read the rest of this interview, visit the-peak.ca.

September 13, 2021

ARTS & CULTURE

Arts & Culture Editor Sara Wong

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

“XS”

“Normal At Last”

By Rina Sawayama

By Dane Terry

“We Are Not Alone”

“Sad but Not Depressed”

By Karla DeVito

by It Makes A Sound

arts@the-peak.ca

HUMOUR

September 13, 2021

Email Updates

HUMOUR

Humour Editor Carter Hemion

humour@the-peak.ca

HUMOUR

September 13, 2021

ARIES — Mar 21–Apr 19

LIBRA — Sept 23–Oct 22

You’re a gas, but the things that fuel you might leave you a wreck. At least you’re driven, like the car that crashed into the pond.

Know your worth, Libra! Some dumped pet fish in Burnaby can cost a fine of $250,000. Tell your ex you’re worth at least two fish, maybe even three.

TAURUS — Apr 20 –May 20

SCORPIO — Oct 23–Nov 21

You might want to sit down for this . . . A case of plastic chairs found their way into the pond. Take a stand by bringing them to class. The three decent seats will be taken by the time you get there, anyway.

You’re a catch! Your own reflection shines through the murky waters and reminds you to reel yourself in and stop fishing for compliments.

GEMINI — May 21–Jun 20

SAGITTARIUS — Nov 22–Dec 21

Bud, you’re balling, but I have something that’s right up your alley. Put a pin in it and go snatch a bowling ball!

Shoe la la! It’s a-boot time you reclaim those shoes from the pond. We all know you jumped in there as a dare.

CANCER — Jun 21–Jul 22

CAPRICORN — Dec 22–Jan 19

1,000 goldfish live in the pond, not added by SFU. You are all of those fish simultaneously. Don’t be koi — dive in after your dreams but stay in a school.

You’re exactly the person to annotate a book with “she should have kicked him in the strawberries” and it shows. Kick your internal dialogue in the strawberries and just enjoy a book for once.

LEO — Jul 23–Aug 22

AQUARIUS — Jan 20 –Feb 18

You are, clearly, the koi fish that routinely eats cigarette butts. This is your sign to quit vaping all those milky mustard-flavoured nicotine pods. Or don’t, I don’t know your story.

Turtles definitely don’t belong at SFU. Join them in returning to natural habitats: basking in the sun, swimming in a swamp, and eating lots of bugs.

VIRGO — Aug 23–Sept 22

PISCES — Feb 19–Mar 20

Go puck yourself! Three hockey pucks have your name on them. Literally. Stop trying to play hockey on the frozen pond every year and find a normal hobby, like doing homework.

In 2008, a “really boring” diary was found. I’d say you should ask for it back, but it’s probably long gone by now. Hey, at least someone read the soggy pages, right?

DIVERSIONS

Business Manager Yuri Zhou

business@the-peak.ca

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