From Israel to Cape Breton: Tomas Elwahab’s Journey to CBU CAPERS Men's Soccer

TOMAS ELWAHAB watched the images of triumph flicker once more on the big screen at the glittering CBU CAPERS National title Ring Ceremony. He'd seen the carefully crafted celebration video before as part of his recruitment journey but this time it meant more. Much more. This time he was proudly wearing his CAPERS matchday polo-shirt and sitting amongst the players who won Cape Breton University's second Men's Canadian crown as a team-mate and an equal.

"I watched the Championship video CBU made of the Nationals win and it was inspiring," admits Tomas. "I've now watched it twice and it meant way more to sit with my team-mates and look at their faces when they saw it during the Ring Ceremony. The first time I was just a viewer like everyone else but this time I am living and training with the guys who did that. I looked at their faces and I saw how much it meant to them and it made me want to help them win another one."

So how does a cultured centre-back from Ramla in Israel end up playing The Beautiful Game on Canada's most beautiful island? The answer lies in CAPERS Head Coach Deano Morley's worldwide network of contacts and the recent successes of the program.

"When I was back home in Israel assessing my best next move, I looked at Canada and University soccer and did my research," reveals Tomas. "CBU are the national champions, and I wanted to aim high for that and try to find a way to make it here both as an athlete and as a student in Business Administration. In Israel I was playing in the tier underneath the professional leagues with many other ambitious young footballers who want to make a pathway in the game. It was a challenging environment and a great step for me, I grew there both as a player and a person."

That humility and desire to learn shone in the initial meeting Morley had with Tomas after assessing his game film and seeing a calm and assured defender developing. Elwahab's strength of being able to play off both sides to the extent of being close to a true two-footed player was also a huge attraction.

"From our first conversation I liked Tomas' temperament. He was open to a new challenge in a new country where he could continue to perfect his English, grow from world experiences and earn an education," reveals Coach Deano. "His attitude and desire to achieve these goals attracted me to him."

Tomas is now in the throes of his first season in orange and has shown great early promise, but he is only at the start of his journey as a CAPER. "As a footballer he has the ingredients we look to develop, he is decent on the ball, strong in the air, mobile and a solid tackler," stresses Deano. "Tomas knows the hard work he has to put in as he jumps to our level and our demands and I have no doubt he will put in that work and show patience. He is an incredibly likeable young man, and I look forward to working with him in our environment."

Back in Israel playing for Hapoel Bikat Hayarden in the Artzit League, the tier beneath the professional divisions, Tomas was under the wing of respected veteran coach Hanan Azulay who became a mentor to him. Tomas feels now he has found another guiding light in Englishman Morley. He also heaped praise on the roles Associate Head Coach Scott Clarke and Academic Success Coach Brian Tierney have played in helping him settle.

"That's what I love about this sport, how you meet so many interesting and kind people through the game and that's for sure been the case since I came here," reflects Tomas.

"With Hanan I was very lucky, he showed me the way on and off the field and now I have that here too. I came here to test myself and I know that Deano wants to help me become a better player and a better person. To be accountable to myself and be a success, I am in the right place to do that."

"I can't speak highly enough also of the way I was treated by Scott and Brian before I came here," says Tomas. "Nothing was too much trouble for them. They answer every question, they care about you, and they look after you. I hadn't met Deano, Brian and Scott in person before I arrived in Canada but already I knew that I loved and trusted them. Now I know my first impressions were right."

With the season now in full swing Tomas is adapting to life in the AUS and juggling his time each day as a student-athlete. All the paperwork, the waiting and the travelling is behind him now and he is relishing the adventure. Destination Cape Breton.

"Wow, the footballing environment here? " he smiles. "I can look out of my apartment window and see the field every morning! I love that.

"As new players we have to prove we are worthy of being in a national championship team. Greatness is demanded of us every day here and I like that. I saw those National Championship rings at the ceremony and they are really nice. I want one from my time in Cape Breton, no let's be honest I want four!"