The Stepover

Ottawa Rapid FC made its formal introduction to the world at a launch event on August 15, introducing the clubs brand, logo, and some members of the staff. One person who was at the event, is Tom Gilbert, who leads the cub as CEO. Tom has been involved in the new Northern Super League since its inception, and we wanted to get to know Tom a bit, and ask him about Rapid FC and the league as a whole....

This episode we're joined by the pride of Russell, Ontario, Atletico Ottawa's Tyr Walker!   Tyr is one of the rising young stars of the Canadian Premier League. Formerly of Ottawa's Futuro Academy, Tyr signed his first pro contract this season. We talk to him about his journey to get there, home-cooked meals, and who he thinks is the GOAT.

**tumbleweed rolls by**   Yup, pretty quiet in the soccer world these days   **record scratch** OR IS IT??? Olympics, dronegate, NSL Ottawa, we had to have one of Canada's best voices in women's sports, Michaela Schreiter, on the show to talk about **waving arms** EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING.   Don't miss an episode of She's Got Game, which Michaela co-hosts with Vanessa Sanchez every week on TSN1...

One of the brightest young prospects out of Ottawa of late is Maya Hindson. An incredibly versatile player, she's been ranked #1 in Canada by FTF among players in her graduating year, and now plays for Arsenal's academy in London, UK. We find out about her journey to London, being at THAT GAME at the 2012 Olympics, and what life is like for a player in one of the worlds great football academies. M...

At just 20 years old, Ottawa's Sofia Iaderosa has already had an eventful career. Leaving the NCAA early for a chance to play professional, she's already played in professionally in Malta, Georgia (not the state) and Turkey, and even has UEFA Champions League action under her belt. A forward with huge potential and a bright future, we caught up with Sofia during her holiday break to talk about gro...

This episode we're joined by the new Head of Soccer Operations for the Carleton Ravens mens and womens teams, Marcelo Plada. He takes over from Kwesi Loney, who was promoted to Assistant Director of High Performance Sport. Marcelo has coached around the world, and comes to Carleton from Canada's Military National Team, holding a Canadian A National Licence. We talk about the wealth of experience h...

Twitch icon and Canadian floorball star Jasmine McKnight is back on the pod to talk all things Gee-Gee's! As uOttawa kicks off their 2023 OUA campaign with the goal of heading back to the USports National Championships, Jasmine gives her takes on new players to watch, important returning players, and how she expects the team will fare this season. Then we turn our focus to Project8, and what Gee-G...

We're chatting with Ottawa's own Christine Eiblmeier! Christine is a 17 year old defender currently playing for Eintracht Frankfurt's U19 squad. Christine talks about the move to Germany, the difference in the culture of women's soccer between Germany and Canada, and meeting Alphonso Davies. Oh, and ditch the caesar dressing, Christine will talk you into a proper salad. Don't miss this chat with a...

This episode we're chatting with Atlético Ottawa CEO Fernando López ahead of the 2023 home opener. We ask Fernando about the preseason, player recruitment, where the trophy is at for winning the 2022 regular season, and whether the club is considering starting a women's side for the upcoming Project8 league. Can't miss this one!

This episode, we're chatting with CPL player Gaby Bitar, currently playing for expansion franchise Vancouver FC. Gaby is an Ottawa native and former Carleton standout, and can claim the title of first ever CPL USports draft pick. Bitar is looking to build on what was a bit of a breakout season in 2022 when he played for FC Edmonton (RIP), and he tells us all about how things are going in Vancouver...

It's not often we have a hall-of-famer on this podcast, but this episode we chat with former uOttawa Gee-Gee forward Victoria Marchand, a World Indigenous Games gold medal winner, and recent inductee into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame! We chat about the HOF honour, the support of her family throughout her career, and her lifelong passion to grow soccer in indigenous communit...

One more episode for 2022, we're chatting with former pro Ndzemdzela "Zela" Langwa. You might know him better as "Zoom" Langwa, he's played professionally in multiple European countries, and was an inaugural member of HFX Wanderers. Recently retired, he's now working on a new project called Ottawa Selects, helping bridge gaps for local players looking to trial overseas.

He's one of the faces of Capital City Supporters Group, and if you've ever been to an Atletico Ottawa match, he's one of the guys leading the rabid fans of section W in song and chants. He's Brandon Adibe! Ahead of the biggest match in franchise history, the fan support, and culture created by CCSG, has gained nationwide attention. Josh chats with Brandon about how he got involved with CCSG, how t...

This episode, we're joined by Cornwall native and former player for both West Ottawa and Ottawa South United player, Taylor Beitz!   Beitz is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, having spent 4 years as a Razorback in the NCAA, and is now playing professionally for FC Nantes in France's D1Arkema. Josh asks Taylor all about her journey, from Cornwall and her long drives to her clubs in Ottawa,...

With university sports getting underway for another year, we ask The Charlatan's Sports Editor, Jayden Dill, to preview the Ravens upcoming MSOC and WSOC seasons. With the women's roster gaining experience, and the men's roster experiencing massive turnover, how will the teams fare? Don't worry, Jayden has you covered!!

The defending World Champs are back! Always one of the top programs in the country, the University of Ottawa women's soccer team is back in action, looking to make their way to the National Championships. Jasmine McKnight from The Fulcrum returns to the pod to preview the Gee-Gee's season, tell us who to watch, why we should be excited, and key games for 2022.

Two legends in one episode! Carl Haworth and Drew Beckie were kind of enough to join The Stepover and talk about a wide range of topics. From the heights that Fury FC reached in 2015, to what they're helping build now with Atletico Ottawa, their roles as Assistant Technical Directors with Gloucester Hornets, and who sends the better cross: Carl or Janine.

Arguably one of the best collegiate soccer programs in the world, a lot of great players have come through the University of Ottawa. One of the all-time greats is Hailey Walsh. A member of the 2019 squad that won the FISU World Cup, Hailey recently graduated and spent the summer playing in League 1 Ontario with Electric City FC. We ask all about the World Cup win, playing with the exciting new clu...

Ottawa-born keeper Luka Vujičić is 19 years old and recently committed to playing for Queen's University in the OUA. He's currently practicing with Atletico Ottawa's new Development Program, but it's been quite the road for him to get to this point. Luka's career was turned on its head when he was convinced to go to Serbia to seek playing opportunities. It's quite a story! Get to know up-and-comer...

College soccer returns to Canada's capital in September when the Algonquin Wolves men's and women's sides take to the field for the first time in two years. HC of the women's program, Basil Phillips, talks to The Stepover to talk about, essentially, starting the program over from scratch. We learn a bit about coach Phillips, his influences, and expectations of the coming OCAA season. If you are go...

Who's The Drake?? This episode we chat with Ottawa's Zak Drake, a fullback currently playing for League 1 Ontario side Electric City FC in Peterborough. ECFC has CPL ambitions, and Zak gives us some details on the organization, what it's like to play for Electric City, as well as talking about his own career. Where was his favourite place to play? What's it like living in a cottage in the Kawartha...

As Ottawa South United kicks of its 2022 PLSQ campaigns, we chat with program head coach Peter Mapendere to talk about the upcoming season, the goals of the program, and some players to watch. We also chat a bit about Peter's journey, growing up in Zimbabwe, idolizing Bruce Grobbelaar (and then being mentored by him!!), and the fundamental reason he wants to coach youth players.

We're chatting with Ottawa native Jay Bhindi, now an assistant head coach with Valour FC. Jay's career has taken him from Ottawa South United, to Fury FC, to Austin, Edmonton and now Winnipeg. Jay is one of the great young coaching minds in Canada, and in this wide-ranging interview we touch on: -the developing soccer pyramid in Canada -Jay's love of Turkish footy -learning from Phil Dos Santos -f...

Our guest this week is a fantastic player, he's a champion in Finland, and he's also a businessman. He's Ottawa's own, Jeff Addai! Jeff plays for PEPO Lappeenranta in Finland, which he recently helped earn promotion to the Finnish second tier. He's also co-founder of the Ottawa-based One Performance Sports Management (OPSM Pro) which represents players around the world, and helps provide pathways...

Welcome to your González years In late February, 36 year old Spaniard Carlos González was named the new head coach of Atlético Ottawa. Now, barely two and a half months later, after an intense training camp in Madrid, his Ottleti squad will kick off the 2022 CPL campaign at home against Cavalry FC. Ahead of the opener, Josh talks with Carlos about cheering for Atlético as a kid, what kind of coach...