I was born in 2008. I am a Brazilian footballer. I have known coach Jihad Saleh since 2020. He used to give me feedback, support, cheer me on and produced highlights on YouTube. I played with Palmiras, Cruzeiro, Vitoria and now I play with Criciuma. I wish for him, his club and his career best of luck.

- Gabriel Abdo.

I was born in 2008. I am a French footballer. I have known coach Jihad Saleh since 2020. He used to give me feedback, support, cheer me on and produced highlights on YouTube. I was on my old team Pessac FC but now I signed a professional contract and I play in one of the biggest clubs in League 1 in France

called Strasbourg. I wish for him, his club and his career best of luck.

- Robin Druelle.

In 2020, I stepped onto the field as a player on Coach Jihad’s team, not knowing that those practices, lessons, and moments of growth would shape my path far beyond that season. Four years later, in 2024, I returned to the Edmonton Knights Soccer Club—not as a player, but as a coach standing beside the very mentor who once guided me. It feels like a full-circle moment: the club that taught me discipline, resilience, and passion is now the place where I get to pass those same values on to younger athletes. What started as a journey of learning has become a journey of leading, and I’m grateful every day for the chance to help inspire the next generation, just as I was inspired.

- Hakan Gulluk.

My name is Hasan Koujan. I’m 22 years old and originally from Hama, Syria.

First of all, I want to share my experience as a soccer player. I’ve enjoyed every moment of the beautiful game: the good and the bad. Through soccer, I’ve made many memories, lifelong friends, and built what feels like a big family. We all shared the same passion and mentality, and that was the key to our success. Together, we won many trophies, medals, and matches. But playing alone wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to give back, to share my experience, help others succeed, and bring out their full potential. That’s why I started coaching. I met Coach Jihad back in 2016 when I was just a kid with a dream of becoming a professional soccer player. He played a huge role in shaping who I am today, his guidance and belief in me inspired the dedication I have for this game. Now, I’m proud to be an assistant coach with the Edmonton Knights Soccer Club. I’m grateful and excited to be part of this amazing community.

- Hasan Koujan.

I first met Coach Jihad Saleh in 2008 through my cousin, Aboud Al-Qsrawi. He trained me and gave me the chance to play at Al-Firdous field, and we even traveled together to Saudi Arabia. Because of his guidance, along with the training of Coach Jihad Saleh, I developed a strong love for football that has shaped my entire life. I started my journey with the Al-Firdous Mosque team, then moved on to Krishan High School’s team. At the age of 15, I proudly signed my first contract and represented Real Madrid’s official team in Jordan. My passion for football inspired me to study Sports Training at the Hashemite University, where I also played for the university team. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Training, I began coaching with Al-Wehdat Club in Jordan and later returned to Al-Bashaer School, where I was once a student, as a teacher and head of the sports department. Alhamdulillah, thanks God, I also fulfilled another dream by launching my own football academy. I now work as a scout and youth coach, training children aged 5 to 15, and I am proud to lead a group of talented young players who have already won several championships in Jordan. I truly owe much of my success to my role model, my teacher, and my captain, Coach Jihad Saleh. Thanks to his influence, I reached this stage in my career, and I continue to dream of achieving even more progress and success in the world of football.

- Tareq Alqsrawi

Job: Physical Education Teacher
Graduate of Hashemite University

I have known Coach Jihad Saleh since childhood, as he supervised our training in mosque teams and Quran memorization centers, where together we achieved many championships. His guidance played an important role in shaping my journey as both a player and a coach. I grew up in the Prince Ali Academies for Football Talents and represented several Jordanian clubs from a young age. Later, I transitioned into futsal, where I proudly represented the Jordanian National Futsal Team in numerous continental tournaments. I also played professionally in the Saudi Futsal Premier League with Al-Tai Club, winning multiple championships and earning several individual awards. Beyond playing, I obtained an AFC futsal coaching license and was appointed as a coach for all age groups within the Directorate of Education’s football teams. Today, I am a player, coach, and teacher and my journey in football continues.

-Samer Ramadan

I am a former player for Victoria U17, Born To Be Soccer Academy (BTB), and The King’s University. Victoria was the first club I played for in Edmonton, and it holds many memories filled with both challenges and growth. One of my proudest moments came in 2019, when we won the Power Play Cup against Inter FC. That victory marked my first major achievement in soccer and motivated me for the future. Later that same year, my team competed in the Sulupee Cup, finishing in third place. In 2019, I also joined a youth program called Free Play for Kids, which played an important role in my development both on and off the field. Under the guidance of Coach Jihad, I not only improved as a player but also learned valuable life lessons. Coach Jihad has remained a mentor to me over the years, and through our strong connection, he later invited me to join him as an assistant coach at both Edmonton Knights Soccer Club and the Real Madrid Club Camp. Most recently, I played for Born To Be Soccer Academy (BTB), where I built unforgettable experiences. With BTB, I had the opportunity to travel across several Canadian provinces, competing against some of the top U17 teams in the country. In 2022, my team achieved remarkable success, winning both the Indoor and Outdoor Provincial Championships. That same year, we proudly represented Alberta at the National Championships, where we secured second place in the Outdoor competition. Another highlight was winning the BTB Spring Cup, a hard-fought victory that remains one of my favorite memories. I also had the privilege of playing for The King’s University, competing in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) against colleges from Edmonton and across Alberta. During my time with the team, we finished 4th in the North Division, gaining valuable experience at the collegiate level.

- Mamady Bamba