Musse can’t wait to play in familiar setting
Valour FC player thrilled to be a pro in his home city
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This article was published 11/03/2019 (2378 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
In many ways, Ali Musse’s first steps in the game of soccer, over a decade ago, are mirroring those leading up to his professional debut this spring.
The 23-year-old, Somali-born Winnipegger grew up playing the beautiful game in parks surrounding his townhome in Tuxedo with kids from all over the world.
“They had all immigrated to Canada in similar situations as me,” Musse said, following day three of training camp with Valour FC, Winnipeg’s new professional men’s soccer team. “We all just became friends and played soccer in this little field in the area every single day.
“I spent a lot of my time there playing the game I love.”
On May 1, Musse will make history on a much bigger field, as Valour FC plays its first game in the Canadian Premier League against Pacific FC in Langford, B.C.
Joining him on the pitch that day will be a contingent of players hailing from countries as far away as Belgium, Uruguay, and Croatia, all of whom have come to frosty Manitoba to pursue their dream, along with a group of homegrown players, some of which came up with Musse through local soccer programs.
“That’s always something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little kid,” the 5-11 midfielder said of making the jump to a pro league. “I just love the game so much and want to take it as far as I can.”
In the early 2000s, Musse’s parents immigrated to Canada, with children in tow, from Somalia by way of Saudi Arabia and Turkey. They settled in Winnipeg with the hope of creating a better future for their family. Musse said he was introduced to the game by his father and older brother, two big soccer fans, and instantly fell in love with the sport.
To be a bona fide professional soccer player in his hometown is an amazing feeling, Musse said, and a dream come true.
“My parents wanted us to have a good upbringing, better than how they grew up, because back home was, at the time, not the safest place to live,” Musse said. “It’s tough when you come to a different country and start from scratch basically, so a lot of credit goes to my family.
“I want to do the best I can in what I want to pursue, and I want to chase my goals and my dreams and hopefully I can inspire people who are in similar situations.”
Growing up, Musse played for Winnipeg South End United and was a part of the Manitoba provincial U14 (2009) and U16 (2011) teams. In 2010, he joined World Soccer Academy Winnipeg in the USL Premier Development League, where he spent three seasons.
That set the stage for Musse’s departure to Vancouver in 2014 where he played in the Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) residency program on the U18 squad, and later joined Calgary Foothills FC in the Premier Development League in 2016, where he was a huge producer for the team and earned the nickname ‘Magic Musse.’
In his first season with Foothills, Musse scored five game-winning goals and led the team to the PDL championship final. In 2018, he helped the team secure the PDL championship title, scoring two goals in extra time against Reading United.
Having earned a reputation as an attacking threat, other CPL clubs, including FC Edmonton and Cavalry FC, courted Musse. However, his connection to Valour FC head coach and general manager Rob Gale made coming home to Winnipeg a bit sweeter, Musse said.
Gale has a long history in the city coaching youth soccer, provincial and national teams, and the two have worked together for over a decade.
“He’s known me since I was a little kid playing here and he’s given me opportunities,” Musse said. “To be able to come back to where I started, I want to thank my city in a way.”
Though they’ve spent some time apart, Gale said the chemistry between the two has been automatic.
“It feels like a family straight away and we’re delighted to have him back,” Gale said.
“He’s grown as a player and as a person, and that’s very important for us in the organization to have another Manitoban back who’s got great experience, and he’s going to be one the locals can enjoy getting behind.”
Valour FC plays its first home game on May 4 at Investors Group Field, against FC Edmonton.