Page 30 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 138

30 Issue #138 July 2024 www.sportsenergynews.com

Continued from page 29 imagined, with multiple trips to
second family.” Provincial Championships over the
last three years, with the NCAFA
Regarding his coaching techniques
teams,” said Zarifi.
and philosophies, Zarifi believes
coaching should be enjoyable. The U-18 program has also
enjoyed two great seasons, reaching
“I believe that, if the players bring
the league’s B final and hosting the
dedication and a solid work ethic, I A semi-final last year. Now, they’re
can teach them the proper techniques working on a third consecutive solid
and strategies to be successful,”
season.
said Zarifi. “I never played football
as a youth. My games were always Among his favourite coaching
baseball and soccer. So, I’ve had to memories, Zarifi finds it hard to pick
learn everything I know by reading, just one.
watching, and listening. On the “I’ll never forget winning our
upside, my mind has been a clean Provincial title with the Mosquito
slate, never burdened with the “that’s Wildcats, nor will I forget winning our
how my coaches did it, back in the Montreal high school championship,
day!” my first season coaching ES
Reflecting on recent seasons, Zarifi Soulanges, in St Polycarpe,” said
shares that they have been highly Zarifi. He also cherishes the memory
successful. of his peewee Wildcats scoring over
100 points on their way to an NCAFA
“Our last few seasons have been B cup title, along with individual
more successful than I could have
plays made by his players.

Alex Zarifi and Costa Zarifi holding Michener Cup, awarded to the
Mosquito A champions, along with three of the players. From left to
right, Ronin Van Gessel, Luc Nadeau, and J T Nadeau.
Photo Submitted
In addition to his coaching Alex’s, teams,” said Zarifi. “Now
achievements, Zarifi highlights the I’m coaching with him, last year
personal joy of coaching his son, I coached for him, and a couple of
Alex. years ago I coached against him,
Photo by Robert Lefebvre, icelevel photography in Cornwall’s house flag football
“Selfishly, some of biggest perks league. Yes, his team did beat mine.

of my coaching career were the Strangely, I was quite proud of him,
seasons spent coaching my son, just the same!”