“When the train passes, you have to jump on it. » And Samuel Piette was on the lookout when the whistle of the Montreal Roses convoy was heard.
Posted at 3:49 p.m.
The captain of CF Montreal is now an investor-ambassador of the city’s new women’s soccer club, which will kick off its first balls in the spring of 2025.
The project “called out to him” as soon as it appeared on his radar, he told The Press. It was on the eve of the Paris Olympics last summer when Bruny Surin was announced as the first of these star investors. Then, Patrice Bernier, Maxime Crépeau and other personalities from Québec inc. joined this group.
I met Gabriel Gervais, the president of CF Montreal, and I asked him if he had any information on that. I wasn’t thinking of becoming an investor at all, it was just to see the potential of playing a role in this organization, if I could help.
Samuel Piette
Two weeks later, the co-owners of the Roses, Jean-François Crevier and Isabèle Chevalier, contacted him. “It was not a speech, not a sales pitch. It was super light. They were very excited about this project. »
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
The co-owners of Les Roses, Isabèle Chevalier and Jean-François Crevier
We asked him a few questions which he was able to answer using his experience as a player. “I turned 30 [lundi]. I feel even more mature than four or five years ago, and capable of giving my opinion. »
What interests him? The idea of helping to establish a new environment for young female soccer players to flourish. At their house. Like him.
“My boy is 4 years old,” submits Piette. When I was 4 years old, I didn’t think about going pro. But when I got older, sport interested me a lot, especially football. I saw that there were more or less opportunities available for me. The Impact was not in MLS, there was no academy. »
Like all Canadian professional players today, Samuel Piette had to go into exile in Europe to grow as a player. Before finally returning to Montreal with the Impact in 2017, at age 22.
“I realize and feel every day how lucky I am to do what I love, at home. It’s worth so much. To have these opportunities now presenting themselves at the women’s level is huge. »
Piette does not have a specific task as investor-ambassador. “They didn’t tell me: ‘OK, you take care of the t-shirts we sell’! “, he jokes.
But he doesn’t hide it either: if he gets his foot in the door now, it might pay off later.
After my career, will there potentially be an opportunity for an even bigger role?
Samuel Piette
We come back to the metaphor of the train. “I see it as an opportunity to get into this project. The train has passed. With good passengers, I think. We’ll see where that takes us. »
