After being a key player in TRU’s first National Championship in 2022, Alesandro Comita took his talents overseas, signing a professional contract and playing soccer in Slovenia. Now he’s back at TRU to play out his final year of eligibility. The Omega sat down with Comita to talk about his time abroad, what it took to get him back on the Kamloops pitch, and what it’s like to play one more season with his brother.
Let’s go back to before your university soccer career began. You were playing in the Whitecaps Academy in Vancouver. What made you want to come back to Kamloops and play for TRU?
I always wanted to come home and be back with my family. I felt like I was living away from home for quite some time. John [Antulov] approached me, and he said, “Hey, you know, if you wanna come here, you always have a spot available.” John [had] been coaching me for probably about six years [prior] to me going down to the Whitecaps, so we’ve always had a good relationship. I always knew that if I didn’t end up signing with the Whitecaps first team, then I wanted to play for him and come back home to be back with my family and my brothers.
Domenico, my middle brother, was on the team; it was nice to just come back and play with him. It was also the national year, so it was a big year for TRU, and we were hosting it, and that was another big factor as to why I wanted to come back.
Ω In 2022, during the national championship game against UBC, you scored the first goal, then your brother ended up scoring the game-winner in the shootout. How special was that moment for you and your family?
It was [special]; it was crazy. You couldn’t write it up any better. I was speaking with Patrick Izett, one of the main guys on the team at the time, and he was saying, “You and your brother, you’re gonna play a big role in the final.” And it’s funny how it came to fruition. All my family was there, and I ended up scoring. It was actually my first goal of the season at the time, and then my brother scored the penalty [goal]. It was kind of funny. While he was talking with Jost [Hausendorf], another guy on the team, he was saying, “Who’s gonna take it?” They were deciding and kinda going back and forth. I was in between them, and I was like, “Domenico, just take it. Let’s go.” And he ended up taking it and scoring, so it was a great feeling.
Just crazy how things work out. One team didn’t want to sign me, and then I ended up in Slovenia of all places, but it was really cool.
Ω Moving forward, in 2024, you announced you were going to sign a contract with ND Gorica. What was your decision like to take a pause in your university career and go play pro soccer somewhere?
I always wanted to go overseas and play. I was in Italy at first with one team called Fiastina. I had a trial there, and they ended up not wanting to sign me. Thankfully, my agent at the time had a connection in Slovenia, and [ND Gorica] were interested in signing me. I ended up going there, and I played half a season with the academy. Then, from there, I started training with the first team more and more, while I was playing games with the academy. Eventually they said, “Hey, we’re gonna sign you to a first team contract, and we want you to play for us.”
Just crazy how things work out. One team didn’t want to sign me, and then I ended up in Slovenia of all places, but it was really cool.
Ω How were your years in Slovenia?
At first, I thought it would be quite difficult being in Slovenia, not speaking the language or not knowing anybody there, but it was pretty easy actually. A lot of people spoke English, and I was working on my Italian at the time as well, so it was definitely a lot easier there with the language barrier. Playing there, the first year was good. With the first team, my first full season was really good. We were fighting for promotion in the playoffs to get promoted into the first division the whole season. At first I started out kind of on the bench, not playing as many games, and then eventually I broke into the lineup and started playing a lot.
We were playing a lot of good teams and winning, and [we were] in contention for promotion, but at the end of the season we didn’t end up getting promoted, which was a bit unfortunate. It’s funny, when you know you’re doing well and everything’s going your way, you’re winning games and all the fans are on your side.
Then my second season there, it was kind of the opposite; we didn’t start out quite well. We were near the bottom of the table fighting to stay in the league in the second division, and our fans, they weren’t happy, to say the least. It was obviously a great experience, a great opportunity…I decided to leave there. It just wasn’t something I wanted to continue doing because of the fans and all that stuff. I was trying to look around for another opportunity, but it just didn’t end up happening. I spoke with John again and found out I have one year left of eligibility, so I could come back and play. I’m excited to now be back and playing again with my brother in our last year.
Ω Instantly, you made an impact with the WolfPack; you scored the game-winning goal in your first game back. Can you walk me through how that made you feel having a moment like that?
It was, it was awesome. I had to do six courses in order to be eligible for the season, so I was grinding a bunch of courses to get ’em done in a month and a half. Which was difficult, but it was really rewarding. I wasn’t able to play in the first game because my grades didn’t show up on myTRU in time. But in the second game, I was able to play, and my parents came out to watch my brother and I. Then, scoring the goal it was amazing.
You know, the last time I played for TRU was at nationals, so reminiscing about that and then being able to score a goal in front of the fans, my family and everyone was a great feeling.
We have quite a tight-knit group. We’re really a family. John has done really well recruiting quality players, but also quality people. That’s really important, and it’s translated on the field.
Ω Before the season started, TRU wasn’t ranked in the top 10 of U Sports Men’s soccer teams, but you guys went 4-0 in your first four games of the season and beat teams like UFV and UVIC. What do you think your key to success has been this early in the season?
We have quite a tight-knit group. We’re really a family. John has done really well recruiting quality players, but also quality people. That’s really important, and it’s translated on the field. We’ve been a really cohesive group and have been working well together. It’s a credit to John. He’s done really well with the recruiting, and obviously, the guys’ attitudes and work ethic have really contributed to a great start to the season.
Ω Now you’ve mentioned your brother a few times; how special has it been to be able to share the pitch with him for so many seasons?
I remember calling him; I was in England at the time. I was like, “Hey bro, I’m thinking of coming back to TRU and playing my last season together if I have eligibility,” and he was ecstatic. He was like, “Oh my God, you know, you gotta come back, and you gotta play.” So eventually I decided to come back, and it’s amazing to be back, being back on the field together.
When we were younger, we used to play in our backyard and always compete against each other. So it’s an amazing feeling to be back with him, and being back [means] my family’s able to watch me play again at home in person. It brings back amazing memories playing with my brother, and obviously the last time we played together, we won a national championship, so hopefully we can do something like that again.
Ω Looking ahead, what are your goals for the rest of the season, and your university career?
I’m looking forward to a good season with the guys. I think we have a really good group to make a really big run in the playoffs and get into nationals and do well there. I also think that we have, you know, the quality to win nationals, just depending on how we do in the other games and stuff like that. But we really have a good team to do well. With it being my last year, at the end of the year, we’ll see what happens if any opportunities come up. Obviously, I want to go back to Europe. I have some connections there, so the goal is to get back to Europe and continue to finish my degree as well.