Get to know a bit about Halifax Wanderers defender Kareem Sow with a few questions on his life off the pitch:

How did you get started playing football?

The main influence that brought me into soccer was my dad. He was my first coach and actually started my first team for me. He was my coach from U5 to pretty much U13 before I joined the Montreal Impact Academy. He’s definitely what brought me into the sport at first, and then my passion for it kept me in it.

What’s the most memorable goal you have scored?

Not a lot of people would remember, but my like close, close teammates would remember this. I used to play for Gloucester Hornets. It’s a team in Ottawa. And we had a game and it was like a cup final. I used to play attacking midfield. So I got the ball in midfield and dribbled one player and did a one-two with my boy, Nick Aramouni, (who I still talk to and is one of my closest friends) and I hit a crossbody shot top corner. I remember that because I was like 12 years old and it was a cup final and it was the only time I ever scored in a cup final.

Including yourself and one Wanderers teammate, who would you want on your dream 5-aside team?

I’d probably pick Pierre (Lamothe) because we get along well and we have good chemistry together and we’ve played for a really long time together so we just understand each other well. And then I’d probably just take Iniesta, Busquets and Xavi. I’ll take the midfield trio from Barcelona and that’s it, I won’t even need to touch the ball.

What’s an interesting fact about one of your teammates? 

Sam Salter…So, this guy is actually GOOD at Fortnite. Sam and I play a lot when we have some extra time when we get back home. Even though he’s a lethal finisher on the field he’s also lethal at Fortnite.

What do you like to do in your free time? 

Gaming is one but when it’s nice in Halifax we go to the lake a lot. That’s something I really enjoy. This year, I’ve been doing it more so I’ve been really enjoying how calm it is at the lake.

What’s your favourite thing about Halifax?

I’m not a big city guy. What I really like is that it’s calm but at the same time you can go to so many places. you can go to the beaches, you can go to Peggy’s Cove, you can go to the lakes. You’re right next to the water and I love that aspect of Halifax, all the nature. That’s my favourite thing about the city itself. It’s pretty, it’s nice to live in, I could see myself staying here and having a family here. 

What’s one dish you have mastered? 

Probably one of my mom’s recipes. If it’s a breakfast-type thing I’d make my banana pancakes, so good (Kareem proceeds to give a chef’s kiss). It’s my mom’s recipe though so all the credit goes to her. If it’s lunch or dinner then lasagna.

If you weren’t a professional footballer, what would you be doing? 

I’m studying engineering. After I’m done with my degree I plan to fully focus on soccer and see where it takes me. But other than that it would be engineering.