https://darbymag.com DARBY Magazine Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:11:03 +0000 https://darbymag.com en https://darbymag.com/HOME Sun, 30 Jan 2022 19:19:07 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/HOME <img width="1080" height="1080" width_o="1080" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/38ca1170829228615fbdb79453bf1e6f2cb39a84a5cb18dc862f4cc2161fe1fa/Issue-6.png" data-mid="249335461" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/38ca1170829228615fbdb79453bf1e6f2cb39a84a5cb18dc862f4cc2161fe1fa/Issue-6.png" /> https://darbymag.com/WITY Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:11:59 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/WITY <img width="737" height="411" width_o="737" height_o="411" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/506edc1830ed32d9f43726f4dfc18e1214a1c246648ff5f412eeaae3ca70583c/WITY_Lockup.png" data-mid="244449402" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/737/i/506edc1830ed32d9f43726f4dfc18e1214a1c246648ff5f412eeaae3ca70583c/WITY_Lockup.png" /> https://darbymag.com/JOURNAL Sat, 07 Feb 2026 20:40:02 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/JOURNAL https://darbymag.com/SHOP Tue, 08 Feb 2022 04:15:37 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/SHOP Continue to our new shop ︎ https://darbymag.com/ABOUT Sun, 30 Jan 2022 19:19:07 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/ABOUT DARBY is an independent print publication and cultural platform founded in 2019 working to grow and shape the game of football in Canada and beyond. We share the untold stories and the unifying passion that drive our community and culture at home and abroad. Want to get involved? Drop us a line ︎︎︎ https://darbymag.com/Christine-Sinclair-FC27-ICON Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:11:03 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/Christine-Sinclair-FC27-ICON CHRISTINE SINCLAIR ICON CLASS OF FC27 Interview: Ketsia Nkumbu Photos: Tagwa Moyo <img width="1200" height="1800" width_o="1200" height_o="1800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9e76aaa6996b93bfd1c6635883a849f725d2f58fc962d448c8b8a0f97a481f00/DAR_EAFC27_Sinclair_Web.jpg" data-mid="251637043" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9e76aaa6996b93bfd1c6635883a849f725d2f58fc962d448c8b8a0f97a481f00/DAR_EAFC27_Sinclair_Web.jpg" /> An icon is a symbol, an emblem, a legacy that time could never touch. A game changer, a trailblazer, someone who transcends their sport and earns a place among the greatest ever to do it. When we think of Canadian greatness, many names come to mind. Some are up for debate, but this one never will be. Three NWSL championships. Six FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances. Three Olympic medals, including gold in Tokyo. And 190 international goals—the most ever scored by any player. Her crown may be heavy, but Sinclair has always carried it with grace. But her legacy goes beyond the numbers. She helped transform Canadian soccer, inspire generations, and shape a national team built on resilience, pride, and possibility. From Burnaby to the world stage, she took her hometown grit with her. Now, after hanging up her boots, Sinclair enters a new chapter as the newest member of the EAFC ICON Class, immortalized among the game’s greatest. DARBY sat down with the G.O.A.T herself to reflect on a record-breaking career, the legacy she leaves behind, and what comes next. DARBY: Christine, you’re officially an EA SPORTS FC ICON. What does it feel like to be part of such an elite class and to have a permanent place in the game’s history? Sinclair: I mean, it really hasn’t sunk in yet, but it is obviously an incredible honor, and just to be recognized amongst some of the legends of the game, it’s pretty crazy.&nbsp; <img width="4046" height="5057" width_o="4046" height_o="5057" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ed72be19e9c92d398129fcca94374c1346fd6c7d8867fac8aafc91d6402a58db/DSCF2547.jpg" data-mid="251636521" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ed72be19e9c92d398129fcca94374c1346fd6c7d8867fac8aafc91d6402a58db/DSCF2547.jpg" /> What was your reaction the first time you saw yourself in a video game? It was a few years ago. I think it’s weird (laughs). I grew up playing video games, and I’m still yet to play as myself. Video games to me are like an escape from reality, you know what I mean? So that hits a little too close to home; I’ll let other people do it. If your career had a FIFA/FC soundtrack, what song would be on it? Oh my gosh, I’ve never really thought about it musically. Back then, my go-to pre-game was always Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror. Since college I had to listen to that before every game. It was like our team song, and it worked. We won the national championship that year. You’ve transformed soccer culture in Canada. You’ve broken records, inspired generations, and paved the way for so many players. Looking back on your career, what’s the one thing you hope people remember most? That I tried to do it the right way, and that I put in the work behind the scenes when no one was watching, and truly gave myself to the game and tried to do it like a good Canadian. Never shied away from bad results or, you know, what it takes to reach those levels, and then now that I’m done playing, I just continue to give back and continue to try and grow the game. “Now that I’m done playing, I just continue to give back and continue to grow the game.” <img width="4160" height="6240" width_o="4160" height_o="6240" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4e2700882ab9f7820dc1d6768f243565fa385cb3bfcb16e001e690775adb3470/DSCF2530.jpg" data-mid="251636518" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4e2700882ab9f7820dc1d6768f243565fa385cb3bfcb16e001e690775adb3470/DSCF2530.jpg" /> <img width="4160" height="6240" width_o="4160" height_o="6240" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6ad7945e7045f3d4aec70a0fee07f55692eab4c5643e78c9a761a35a22b59df4/DSCF2485.jpg" data-mid="251603102" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6ad7945e7045f3d4aec70a0fee07f55692eab4c5643e78c9a761a35a22b59df4/DSCF2485.jpg" /> Now that your playing days are behind you, what’s something you’ll never have to do again that makes you very happy? Honestly, put on the soccer boots. Like, I love them, but man, it’s nice not having to put those things on every day. I can put on just a pair of runners and go for a run or go to the gym. Not having to like wake up every single day when you’re exhausted, and you’ve just travelled—that’s so nice. Next year is a Women’s World Cup year. We’ve seen record-breaking crowds and more eyes than ever on the women’s game. What are your hopes for the next generation, and for where the game goes from here? Obviously, we just experienced the men’s World Cup here. And my hope is that all those, especially here in Canada, who became fans over the past few months have become soccer fans and will support the women’s team, just like they did the men’s team, and then support their local club teams, whether it’s in the MLS, the NWSL, or the NSL. I hope we’ve created fans, and then I hope that the women’s team gets the same amount of exposure and investment and attention that the men got this summer. That’s how we grow the game. It’s going to be a great World Cup. I hope Canada does well; they will do well. No pressure, guys. You’ve been part of the women’s national team for so many years and played such a huge role in shaping its identity. When you look at the culture the team has built today, what does that legacy mean to you? Not just me, I think there’s me but also a lot of veteran players who have also recently retired. It was a family, you know. Every single person in that room matters. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first cap or your 300th cap. You’re there for a reason. It’s respecting each other and leaving your ego at the door. I think that culture has continued and will continue, and it just gets passed down. Now you’ve got the Jessies. Janine and Kadeisha are kind of running the show; it’s in good hands, and the next generation will take the reins whenever it happens. It’s all about the culture you create. <img width="4160" height="5200" width_o="4160" height_o="5200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b4aa14d70257fefff8fc992a483df4b300a1cdb3a8e343e2be4427dd44c63720/DSCF2487.jpg" data-mid="251603099" border="0" data-scale="83" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b4aa14d70257fefff8fc992a483df4b300a1cdb3a8e343e2be4427dd44c63720/DSCF2487.jpg" /> Looking at everything she’s accomplished, what do you think 16-year-old Christine Sinclair would say to the woman standing before her today? Don’t stress. As a kid and growing up playing, I was a perfectionist and hated losing, and I think that helped me reach the levels I did, but at the same time, it probably wasn’t the healthiest. So just to, like, relax, everything will work out; those losses as a little kid don’t matter. Just enjoy the ride. You’ve taken Burnaby to the world stage—does it ever hit you how far you’ve come? I’m a firm believer that people need to see it to believe it. I knew what was possible, like a Joe Sakic coming from Burnaby. I knew it was possible; you don’t have to be from Toronto or just Vancouver to make it.I hope what I’ve shown, not only to the kids from Burnaby but across this country, is that anything's possible. If you chase your dreams, yeah, anything’s possible. It takes a lot of work, dedication, and sacrifice, but boy, is it worth it. Read More https://darbymag.com/Stephen-What-s-it-to-Ya Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:58:25 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/Stephen-What-s-it-to-Ya STEPHEN WHAT’S IT TO YA? July 30, 2026 <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7e9db1b2a8cb7749900f79d03ad7a62bfae13b2016381331ff9f2f618ca0b051/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_1.jpg" data-mid="250858536" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7e9db1b2a8cb7749900f79d03ad7a62bfae13b2016381331ff9f2f618ca0b051/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_1.jpg" /> Stephen Attong is a Trinidad-born, Toronto-based photographer whose work explores sentimentality in public spaces. He’s the co-founder &amp; captain of Parkdale Panthers FC, a grassroots co-ed football club in downtown Toronto, a Manchester United supporter, and a prolific tweeter. We caught up with Stephen after a Panthers run to talk early memories, his favourite United era and more. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What is your first football memory? The first one that sticks out is when I first started to get into football; my dad wouldn’t get me any name-brand shoes, so we went to Payless and they had these all-black, like, really terrible cleats that were pretty cheap. So I remember him buying those for me, and then I would basically play with him in my backyard before I ever played with friends. It was just me and my dad. I used to have this iron clothesline in my backyard that kind of looked like a goalpost, so I would just shoot on that all day basically. I was probably like eight or nine. You’re from Trinidad and Tobago. How would you describe the football culture there? Football is basically the number one sport in Trinidad—the only rival would be cricket. But as far as the culture, it was very focused on the Premier League. Everyone has their favourite team. Growing up, you were either a United fan, Liverpool fan, Chelsea fan, or Arsenal. Obviously with United, Dwight Yorke was a big influence. In Trinidad, when you say you’re gonna play something, we have what we call “sweating”, which just means you’re gonna play football. That’s the default sport. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/354bae552ad23c50ce5d81b2c6b2d80d07d6711023b0d377a8e56d4ff72acb94/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_2.jpg" data-mid="250858538" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/354bae552ad23c50ce5d81b2c6b2d80d07d6711023b0d377a8e56d4ff72acb94/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_2.jpg" /> <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b0224424062fc162d3d123a881edc7287fd73780468b8404ab6beefe8bc55280/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_4.jpg" data-mid="250858541" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b0224424062fc162d3d123a881edc7287fd73780468b8404ab6beefe8bc55280/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_4.jpg" /> Do you have any special memories of watching the national teams? The greatest goal I’ve ever seen live is Chris Birchall versus Bahrain. This was 2005. It was the first leg of our World Cup qualifying playoff, and we drew 1-1. It was at the national stadium, Hasely Crawford Stadium, and Chris Birchall scored like a 25-yard volley. The stadium just erupted. So that to me is probably my best memory watching the national team. Everyone on the island was going crazy. To this day, that’s the craziest goal I’ve ever seen live. You’re the co-founder and captain of Parkdale Panthers FC. What’s been your approach to building the club? Well, basically, to start, I just wanted an excuse to have people come and hang out, and the friends that I already had who were interested in football to gather once a week to play. Because of that, the environment was never like you had to be of a certain skill level to join. You could just show up once you’re friends with one of the players. That’s kind of expanded now to where people will be like, oh, ‘I want to join the Panthers, how do I join?’ And basically, you just have to message one of us, and that’s pretty much how you join. There’s no tryout; it’s literally just a message. So if you’re down and we have space, you just join. I think people gravitate towards that because a lot of people want to be active but they don’t want that type of intimidating environment. I feel like it’s kind of become bigger than my initial plan, but it’s good. I have fun telling people about it and inviting people to play. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/52aa6529c14d071f477c4d929e7f5f647ff8a36129c7214581a6e088b6e2ce75/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_3.jpg" data-mid="250858540" border="0" data-scale="79" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/52aa6529c14d071f477c4d929e7f5f647ff8a36129c7214581a6e088b6e2ce75/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_3.jpg" /> How did you come to start supporting Manchester United? My dad was a United fan, so growing up, those were the jerseys that were in the house. Then I would say, around 2003, 2004, when a bunch of my friends were starting to watch football, and I started to watch, and saw Wayne Rooney playing, I was like, this is the sickest player I’ve ever seen. And he played for United, so it was like that coinciding with my dad’s support of them. And since then it’s just been United. That’s the only team we’ve known. But yeah, Rooney was my first favourite player, and I used to try to play like him. If you had to pick a favourite United team or era, which would it be? I’m going to pick the 2007-2008 team. That’s when Ronaldo broke the scoring record for a winger. I think he scored like 42 goals in one season. We won the Champions League, we won the Premier League, and that team to me, I could always bring up in a debate. I could always argue against the other team that’s brought up. Like, that’s one of the greatest teams of all time. I think between '07 and '09, United had basically a bulletproof team. Watching back then, it was never if we would win or lose, it was just like how much [we would win by] in those days. It’s crazy to think that that was my experience, cause nowadays, we might lose to fucking Burnley. Every weekend is a toss-up now, whereas back then, it was just smooth sailing. <img width="1400" height="1000" width_o="1400" height_o="1000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/93290ddaf2ef8c25328f7703420b1a5165fbefc0b09eb0d3b4468fd03a37f993/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_5.jpg" data-mid="250858543" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/93290ddaf2ef8c25328f7703420b1a5165fbefc0b09eb0d3b4468fd03a37f993/DAR_WITY_Stephen_Web_5.jpg" /> Tell us about your pilgrimage to Old Trafford. Okay, so my pilgrimage—it’s pretty funny. I had a summer abroad in 2014 and was staying in Oxford for a month. One weekend I decided to go to Manchester to see the first Premier League game of that season. We were playing against Swansea, and it was Louis van Gaal’s first game. I was excited, I was like, “I’m gonna see Rooney for the first time—like it’s gonna be crazy.” I went to a pub before to get a pint, and we ended up losing 2-1 in that game. Rooney scored, but it was like a consolation goal. They had some players on that team that I just started to hate even more because I saw them live, like Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young. Watching these guys live, I just started to be like, ‘why the hell are they playing?’ But overall, it’s sick that I managed to pull it off. Like I went to Manchester by myself, got a hotel by myself, and saw a game to tick it off the bucket list. Last question: if you could photograph any 3 players, dead or alive, who would you choose? Okay, one would be Eric Cantona for sure. I think he would be fun to photograph, and I think he’d be interesting to talk to. I think he has a lot of cool opinions. So that’s one. I think to impress my family the most, David Beckham. My sister would hate me and love me simultaneously if I got to photograph David Beckham, so that’s number 2. Then let’s see… number three for the nostalgia of it, I’ll do Wayne Rooney, even though I think it’d be kind of goofy to photograph him. I feel like I wouldn’t really like the photos that much, but it would be cool to meet him, just to get that experience and tell him how much of an impact he had on my childhood. So yeah, I would do Cantona, Beckham, and Rooney. Photos: Ella Murphy &nbsp; <img width="768" height="226" width_o="768" height_o="226" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/081f0e412dde785417642b262ca4a1322b207f48a3b47913a7bce951000944c0/Group-3.png" data-mid="250855430" border="0" data-scale="80" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/081f0e412dde785417642b262ca4a1322b207f48a3b47913a7bce951000944c0/Group-3.png" /> https://darbymag.com/Chaehyun-What-s-it-to-Ya Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:00:30 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/Chaehyun-What-s-it-to-Ya CHAEHYUN WHAT’S IT TO YA? July 29, 2026 <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0a2321a7b4d5cf2d64086b1523fb971b4c5081cb0c74e54e5556859a27e4e84a/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_1.jpg" data-mid="250823713" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0a2321a7b4d5cf2d64086b1523fb971b4c5081cb0c74e54e5556859a27e4e84a/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_1.jpg" /> Chaehyun “Romance” Lim is a Korean photographer based in Vancouver whose connection to football began at a young age. After moving from Korea to Canada, the game became a way for him to remain connected to home while finding community in a new city. Through his photography and involvement in Vancouver’s growing football scene, Romance is now helping document and shape the culture surrounding the game. We chopped it up about his earliest football memories, growing up watching South Korea, supporting the national team from across the world and experiencing their journey at the 2026 World Cup. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. How did you first fall in love with football? I’m a 2002 World Cup kid. I was in fourth grade when South Korea and Japan hosted the tournament. Even before it began, Korea was already warming up for it. The national team played friendlies against England and France, the streets were filling with people in red shirts, and it felt like the entire country was preparing for something huge. Around that time, I became close with one of my classmates. After school, I would go to his house, and we’d spend hours playing EA Sports’ 2002 FIFA World Cup. He later got a PlayStation 2, so whenever we got tired of playing FIFA on the computer, we would switch over and play Winning Eleven 7. Football completely took over our lives. We read World Cup books, built paper figures of the players, and used a small rubber ball to play a kind of heading volleyball in his bedroom. Once, we were taking penalties in his living room and broke the glass on one of the kitchen lights. We ended up standing there with our hands in the air as punishment. Those are the smaller memories that happened inside my friend’s home. But when I think about the tournament itself, the first words that come to mind are pure madness, excitement and hysteria—in the best possible way. The entire country was caught up in it. I felt so much energy and emotion that summer. Even as a kid, I couldn’t stop thinking that football was going to become something important in my life. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/405679363cd233cad5e725dbd3cc2165bd843bd73023eb4d27239f1edbc37520/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_3.jpg" data-mid="250823816" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/405679363cd233cad5e725dbd3cc2165bd843bd73023eb4d27239f1edbc37520/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_3.jpg" /> <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e515f13da9f0a3ab95d8cc16cf351e2850117eb38318752df713b8411f1c22bd/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_2.jpg" data-mid="250823815" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e515f13da9f0a3ab95d8cc16cf351e2850117eb38318752df713b8411f1c22bd/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_2.jpg" /> What is your earliest memory of supporting the Korean national team? One of my strongest memories from the 2002 World Cup is watching a Korea match with my family at Olympic Park in Seoul. The park was close enough to our home that we could walk there, almost like we were going on a family picnic. Looking back, I feel very lucky to have grown up near such a large public space. Thousands of people gathered there to cheer for Korea, and as an eleven-year-old, I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. I watched all kinds of emotions unfold around me—joy, tension, disappointment and relief. The World Cup wasn’t just a series of football matches. It felt like a shared national experience. It’s funny now, but I was absolutely obsessed with Hong Myung-bo, who was the national team captain. His leadership earned him an enormous amount of respect from Korean football fans, and he was my idol. I even received his autobiography as a birthday gift. Once, I heard he was going to play in an all-star match that started at four in the morning in Korea. I set an alarm and went to sleep with it right next to my ear. My mom found out and took the battery out while I was sleeping, so I missed the match. Back then, it wasn’t easy to find highlights afterwards, and I cried my eyes out. There was also a new restaurant near our home that announced Hong would be holding a signing event. It was an expensive place for us, but my mom still took me there. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/daa573ac934bee6a73102af74c9e8abc67443e71fefcd1129308a71b5a87d8f1/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_4.jpg" data-mid="250823817" border="0" data-scale="86" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/daa573ac934bee6a73102af74c9e8abc67443e71fefcd1129308a71b5a87d8f1/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_4.jpg" /> What does the Korean national team mean to you today? I genuinely support them. Put simply, I want them to make it happen again. To be honest, I don’t want to lose them. I’ve worked in the Korean sports industry since 2017, and I’m also someone who truly loves football. Over the years, Korea has often followed a strange pattern. When things are going well, we sometimes find a way to trip ourselves up. But when we’re facing a real crisis, we’re also capable of coming together and finding a way through it as a team. In the past, people often said football in Korea was something the public only cared about during the World Cup. Over the last five years or so, however, the culture surrounding the game has grown enormously. One thing I still find disappointing is how quickly some supporters cancel Korean football and its culture whenever the team or the system lets them down. I understand why people become exhausted. There are serious issues, including problems within the structure of the game. Despite all of that, I still love and support Korea, Korean football and the national team. Sometimes you have to start the build-up again from the back. Winning feels great, and losing hurts, but either way, they’re still our team—rain or shine. What was it like experiencing Korea’s 2026 World Cup journey from Canada? From the moment I decided to move to Vancouver in February 2025, I believed I would somehow see Korea play at the World Cup in North America. But as both a football supporter and a photographer, I didn’t want to simply watch from the stands. I made it my goal to cover a Korean match at the World Cup, and I spent a lot of time trying to build a realistic path towards that opportunity. Whether I was shooting the match or watching as a fan, I just wanted to experience something while the tournament was here. If Korea had finished second in their group, there was still a possible route for me to see their round-of-32 match in Los Angeles. I had already prepared plans for the flight, hotel and ticket. Unfortunately, that opportunity never came. There was a lot of talk before the tournament about this potentially being the strongest Korean squad ever assembled, so the way the journey ended felt especially empty and disappointing. Still, experiencing a World Cup here in Vancouver gave me a kind of excitement I hadn’t felt in a very long time. I imagine many Canadians experienced something similar to what I felt in Korea in 2002. Hopefully, a new generation of 2026 World Cup kids will come out of it. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f6ffb5e49012a92aa500cd4a991944e0650e88bc9c471f0f16efee372deae050/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_5.jpg" data-mid="250823853" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f6ffb5e49012a92aa500cd4a991944e0650e88bc9c471f0f16efee372deae050/DAR_WITY_Chaehyun_Web_5.jpg" /> If you could photograph any Korean national team player, past or present, who would it be? From the past, I would choose Park Ji-sung. He showed me that you don’t always have to be the loudest or most visible person on the pitch. If you continue doing your job and playing your own game, people will eventually appreciate and love you. Whenever Manchester United were playing, I would check the lineup to see whether Park was starting. If he was, I’d be so excited that I could barely sleep. Whenever he touched the ball, it almost felt like I was the one receiving it. I would have loved to capture, through my own camera lens, the energy around him as he covered every part of the pitch. I’ve already been incredibly fortunate to photograph Son Heung-min in both Los Angeles and Vancouver. If I were choosing from the current team, I’d go with Lee Kang-in and Hwang In-beom. They have very different qualities and styles, and I’ve supported both of them for a long time. I’d love to photograph them producing one of those defining performances on a major stage. Before moving to Canada, what did you expect its football culture to be like? I’d been fascinated by North American sports, including MLS, since I was a teenager, so I was excited to finally experience that culture in person. After arriving, however, I realized Canadian football is about much more than MLS. Leagues like the CPL and NSL are beginning to establish real roots and identities of their own. I haven’t even been in Canada for a year and a half, but I’ve already met so many great players, supporters and friends through the game. When I first arrived in Vancouver in February 2025, I went to a Whitecaps match and met members of the Southsiders. They struck me as an incredibly passionate and welcoming group of supporters. Every Monday, I join sessions with Sunset Beach FC. It’s a place where people from all kinds of backgrounds can connect and share the same energy through football. I’m also preparing to play in the upcoming VMSL season myself. I’d love to spend more time having deeper conversations with people here about the game. To me, football is a language. Photos &amp; Interview: Tagwa Moyo &nbsp; <img width="768" height="226" width_o="768" height_o="226" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/081f0e412dde785417642b262ca4a1322b207f48a3b47913a7bce951000944c0/Group-3.png" data-mid="250822094" border="0" data-scale="80" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/081f0e412dde785417642b262ca4a1322b207f48a3b47913a7bce951000944c0/Group-3.png" /> https://darbymag.com/Danny-What-s-it-to-Ya Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:38:27 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/Danny-What-s-it-to-Ya DANNY WHAT’S IT TO YA? July 29, 2026 <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8f1683917f229941634a39569d75d5431bd27df8aaff2fbfe84703759cd5d999/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_1.jpg" data-mid="250821465" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8f1683917f229941634a39569d75d5431bd27df8aaff2fbfe84703759cd5d999/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_1.jpg" /> Danny Astefan is a Vancouver-based creative and lifelong supporter of the Iraqi national team. Growing up in an Iraqi household, football became more than just a game—it was a connection to his culture, his family and a country he supported from afar. Through his creative work, Danny has found a way to bring together his love of storytelling and the game that has always been a part of his life. We chopped it up about his earliest football memories, watching Iraq compete on the world stage, and what it means to support the Lions of Mesopotamia. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. How were you first introduced to football? Football was the first sport I ever played. I’ve been playing and involved in the game for as long as I can remember. I was a really active kid growing up, and being Iraqi, football is the sport we live and breathe. I also grew up in a low-income household with a single mom, and football had the easiest barrier to entry. Other sports weren’t always affordable, but all you needed to play football was a ball and a patch of grass. You could go kick a ball around on your own or get a couple of homies together and figure it out. It’s an easy sport to fall in love with as a kid, and once I started playing, I never stopped. What is your earliest memory of supporting the Iraqi national team? My earliest memory—although it’s a loose one—would probably be the 2007 Asian Cup, when Iraq won the tournament. That was what made me really care about watching Iraq play. Ever since then, I’ve tried my best to catch every game. It can be difficult in North America because Middle Eastern football isn’t always widely available to stream, but I find ways to watch, and that’s all that matters. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4709dfe1fa9334ecc85b50ec11d877772dfd7782076d497f8b2253519b78c285/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_2.jpg" data-mid="250821467" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4709dfe1fa9334ecc85b50ec11d877772dfd7782076d497f8b2253519b78c285/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_2.jpg" /> <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bc651ff66e92c7b0f90124c34a570c3a43c85bd989912e7048f5abfd2682ff5a/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_3.jpg" data-mid="250821469" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bc651ff66e92c7b0f90124c34a570c3a43c85bd989912e7048f5abfd2682ff5a/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_3.jpg" /> What was it like watching Iraq compete at this year’s World Cup? Honestly, the moment we stepped onto the pitch to play Norway in our first game, I felt like we had already won. I said that repeatedly, and you can ask anyone who spoke to me about it. We were placed in the group of death, but that didn’t really matter to me because we had already won our World Cup by qualifying. We played nearly 21 matches just to qualify. To me, that showed the resilience of not only the team but also us as a people. There was nothing stopping us from reaching that World Cup but ourselves. When Aymen Hussein, our main man and striker, scored against Bolivia to send us to the tournament, I genuinely felt like we had won the whole thing. Getting the opportunity to play against Norway, with players like Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, France and the team they have, and Senegal, the AFCON champions, was another reward on top of simply being there. Our people have experienced so much political, cultural and structural turmoil over the past 30 years. Going through that long qualification journey felt like the purest example of the resilience of our people. I was incredibly proud, and I cried every time we sang the national anthem. There was nothing like it. The only thing that could have made it better would have been being there in person. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a9ea03b4713b8e17be584fa9954e45c45c16cf6e50d66856555bcd997d137296/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_4.jpg" data-mid="250821479" border="0" data-scale="83" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a9ea03b4713b8e17be584fa9954e45c45c16cf6e50d66856555bcd997d137296/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_4.jpg" /> If you could photograph any member of the Iraqi national team, past or present, who would it be? There are a couple. Among the current players, it would obviously be Aymen Hussein. He’s our main man, our striker and the player who sent us to the World Cup. Zidane Iqbal would also be incredible to photograph after the tournament he had, regardless of our results. When I think about former players, Younis Mahmoud immediately comes to mind. He captained Iraq to the 2007 Asian Cup title, which is a memory embedded in my brain. His name is etched into Iraqi football history forever because of that trophy and what it meant at the time. Throughout the 2000s, the Iraqi people were going through so much. For the team to bring something like that home amid the war, the U.S. invasion and everything else happening in Iraq made it one of the most meaningful trophies our country could ever win—at least at that moment. Another person who would be particularly meaningful to my family is Ammo Baba. I don’t know as much about him from watching him play because he played in the 1950s before later becoming our coach, but he is a cultural landmark in Iraqi football. He was a renowned striker, and my parents knew who he was. They watched him play and coach. Whenever you ask people from their generation to name someone from Iraqi football, Ammo Baba is one of the first names that comes up. Rest in peace to him. He would have been an incredible person to meet and photograph. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/360048b3039ef17a122389a2ac1a53d5242407522478c0d7c564240f07580d9f/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_5.jpg" data-mid="250821480" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/360048b3039ef17a122389a2ac1a53d5242407522478c0d7c564240f07580d9f/DAR_WITY_Danny_Web_5.jpg" /> What does the Iraqi national team mean to you? It means everything. I’ve always been incredibly proud to be Iraqi. In some ways, that pride felt countercultural when I was growing up. A lot of people tried to hide the fact that they were Middle Eastern because it wasn’t associated with many positive things due to how we were portrayed in the West. For me, being Iraqi is one of the things I will be proudest of forever. When I have children, I hope to pass that same pride, energy and culture on to them. Being Iraqi is the reason I am the way I am today. There are so many cultural nuances in how I grew up that shape how I relate to other people and their experiences. Believe it or not, I’m 100 percent Iraqi. I know I don’t necessarily look like it, but I think there’s beauty in that. When I bring it up in conversation, I can literally watch people’s tension disappear when they realize I’m Middle Eastern. It’s a really interesting experience watching people discover for the first time that I’m Iraqi. The language is beautiful, the culture is beautiful, and the national team is everything to me. I know we aren’t the best, but we work hard. That isn’t only a reflection of us as a footballing country; it reflects who we are as a people. We may not always be the brightest, strongest or best, but we will work hard—there’s no doubt about that. There’s nothing that gives me more pride than being an Iraqi football supporter. Photos &amp; Interview: Tagwa Moyo &nbsp; <img width="768" height="226" width_o="768" height_o="226" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/081f0e412dde785417642b262ca4a1322b207f48a3b47913a7bce951000944c0/Group-3.png" data-mid="250820178" border="0" data-scale="80" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/081f0e412dde785417642b262ca4a1322b207f48a3b47913a7bce951000944c0/Group-3.png" /> https://darbymag.com/Gisoo-What-s-it-to-Ya Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:08:11 +0000 DARBY Magazine https://darbymag.com/Gisoo-What-s-it-to-Ya GISOO WHAT’S IT TO YA? July 28, 2026 <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8bca6a230732476a9bb51b28722b9061ac496589d8dbba13bb2b4e96371d56e4/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_1.jpg" data-mid="250802346" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8bca6a230732476a9bb51b28722b9061ac496589d8dbba13bb2b4e96371d56e4/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_1.jpg" /> Gisoo Kim is the co-owner of Sushi Bar Kim, one of Montreal’s best-known and cherished neighborhood restaurants; a journalist for DARBY Magazine and The Northern Pitch Newsletter; and a true football pilgrim. A beloved figure in the Canadian football scene, his love for the game goes far beyond the final whistle. He’s drawn to football’s unconventional stories, the people behind the performances, and the moments that rarely make the highlight reels. A stylish player in his own right, Gisoo can recall virtually every defining moment in Montreal football history. Simply put: he’s a baller who knows ball. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Before we jump into Montreal/Quebec’s football scene, what’s been the pivotal football moment that’s shaped you into the person you are today? In 2002, Korea and Japan were the first Asian nations to host the World Cup. As a Korean, this was a huge deal for me. It was the first time I watched other Koreans perform at the highest level on an international stage. At that time, there were perhaps fewer than a 1000 Koreans in Montreal, and we were seen as an obscure community. This was a moment where, as Koreans, we felt seen. For my parents, especially my dad, this was a moment of national pride. It was the first time I watched my dad jump for joy and express himself in a way I’ve never seen. I was 10 years old, all I knew was that I wanted to make him celebrate that same way through football. He passed away in 2011, but I know he cherished the fact that I fell in love with football. Korea made it to the semi-finals, and ever since then, I realized that Korea was a legitimate footballing nation. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/83c1ec9d0c33151f4f8c795fdb82519ea70ac7f6e162d7cbbcc425be03ec933d/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_2.jpg" data-mid="250802347" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/83c1ec9d0c33151f4f8c795fdb82519ea70ac7f6e162d7cbbcc425be03ec933d/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_2.jpg" /> <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/068ae88321f240bcd495dff3e5c7f7163aef4bbb15ea6ea9042843823c7c1f91/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_3.jpg" data-mid="250802348" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/068ae88321f240bcd495dff3e5c7f7163aef4bbb15ea6ea9042843823c7c1f91/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_3.jpg" /> You studied religion and culture at Concordia University. How has that shaped your perception of&nbsp; football culture? Comparing sports to religion is a cliché, but there are a lot of similarities. A single religion can look the same in two different countries, but in practice there will be variations that adapt to local cultures. They are often nuanced. In the study of religion, that is called syncretism. For football, it’s the same. How the game is played in Argentina is not the same in neighbouring Brazil. Even the supporters’ culture will vary. You’d find drums being used among French clubs, but in England it’ll be with minimal, if not, no instruments. At the end of the day, it is all the same game but expressed differently. I find that fascinating the same way religions fascinate me. Who is The Soccer Pilgrim, and how was he created? I suppose I’m the pilgrim, but really it is anyone who is devoted to travelling to places and meeting people that is related to their passion. I came up with Soccer Pilgrim initially as a podcast during COVID. If I couldn’t physically visit places, let me visit ideas and people via the podcast. I became interested in stories and people’s personal journeys with football. It became much more than going to visit iconic stadiums and historic DARBY matches, but exploring stories that make football special. Why is Quebec so important to Canadian football from a grassroots and national level? Players from Quebec make up about a third or a quarter of both the CanMNT and CanWNT. There are so many Québécois talents that are playing in the CPL, NSL and in the MLS. We have produced a lot of talent that have not taken the typical path towards professionalism. Moise Bombito is the prime example, and L1 Quebec clubs like CS Saint-Laurent is another example of showcasing local talents that are not pro. Saint-Laurent always has a strong performance at the CanChamps and displays what Quebecois football has to offer. Now with clubs like FC Supra du Quebec and Roses de Montreal, players now have a clear path to professionalism within Quebec. <img width="1400" height="1000" width_o="1400" height_o="1000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b0dd7286ea2a55c2504eddfb411f6fc7e219d2d63a80c33a646a7e6557cc1e19/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_4.jpg" data-mid="250802351" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b0dd7286ea2a55c2504eddfb411f6fc7e219d2d63a80c33a646a7e6557cc1e19/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_4.jpg" /> How do you compare the football scene in Quebec/Montreal to the rest of Canada? There’s a different expectation on how people like to play in Montreal. There’s an appreciation for one's technical ability on the ball. The majority of Quebecois players spend half the year playing futsal during the winter, 11-aside in the summers and 7-aside all year round. As a result, well rounded players emerge from this province. Moreover, playing pick-up soccer throughout Montreal in various parks is very accessible. The memories of my youth were playing pick-up soccer in various boroughs and neighbourhoods such as Verdun, Côte-des-Neiges, le Plateau and Quartier Sainte-Marie. Also, recreational leagues are often affordable and can last 3-4 months. There’s a lot of football being played in Montreal and most players are informed on how the game is played in France, Italy and Spain. In BC, it feels like there’s a greater focus on 11-aside over any other style. Club football feels very refined, structured and disciplined in BC. In Ontario, it feels like it is greatly influenced from the British style of play. There’s a lot of physicality, grit and hard-work. But now it’s interesting because each immigrant group is adding their own spices into the soup. It’s ever-evolving. I could be wrong, and I’d like to one day further explore the nuances of how the game is played from province to province. If I can, to both play and watch on each province’s philosophy and approach to the game. One day, I’d like to properly explain each style of Canadian football from province to province. Either as a TV show or as a book. What made you fall in love with the Montreal Impact (now CF Montréal)? What moments best capture your experience as a lifelong supporter? I started supporting the Impact when I realized that, despite my love for Liverpool, I do not have any cultural connection with that club. I see how scousers cherish and have a profound love for Liverpool, and I wanted the same. My support for the Montreal Impact is really an expression of my love for the city and the game. That club represents that for me. As for the top three moments, the 2015 Concacaf Champions League final against Club America at the Stade Olympique was an incredible moment. We were the first Canadian club to have made it that far in the competition. This is not a single moment, but the Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti era was riveting to watch. That was magic. Especially Piatti, he’s one of my favourite players of all time. The Wilfried Nancy era was something I’ll never forget. Nancy played a style of football that was exciting and fielded a lot of Canadian talents that now currently feature or have featured for the CanMNT. Alistair Johnston, Kamal Miller, Joel Waterman, Samuel Piette, Ismaël Koné, Mathieu Choinière and James Pantemis, to name a few. That was an incredible team. A real lightning-in-a-bottle moment. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7e713403c460051e25430b143c244998bb1c217fc986136c8077d12eb9738c53/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_6.jpg" data-mid="250802353" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7e713403c460051e25430b143c244998bb1c217fc986136c8077d12eb9738c53/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_6.jpg" /> <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1d9d42142b034d4d46296e4b40772c3ec69d672321e5c6886f97e80d0a324bbc/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_5.jpg" data-mid="250802423" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1d9d42142b034d4d46296e4b40772c3ec69d672321e5c6886f97e80d0a324bbc/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_5.jpg" /> Is CF Montréal’s current situation unique, or does it reflect a larger challenge facing Canadian teams in MLS? CF Montreal’s issue is oddly the same problem as Toronto FC’s: being stuck in their ways. The former doesn’t spend enough on talent and the other spends too much. However, it looks like both clubs are adapting and changing their recruitment method. Montreal seems to be a little more savvy in their transfers and tries to find a middle ground between talent and value. So far, on paper, this is a good squad, but there are two things I’d like to see: a charismatic, big-name player that can change a game on a dime. Someone like Drogba and Pitatti. Also, a local lad that the supporters can rally behind. Mathieu Choiniere and Nathan Saliba were those guys for us. However, the club is clearly focused on producing and selling talent for profit. If this is the sole focus, I’m afraid the odds of winning MLS will continue to diminish. Selling is easy but winning is hard. Anyone who loves sports, understands that winning is everything. At the end of the day, I’m an optimist, I think things could be headed in the right direction, but we shall see. Another problem: rumours of the Saputos wanting to sell the franchise never seem to dissipate. This makes everyone uncomfortable, and that needs to be effectively addressed through action. When I mean action, I mean winning games and keeping coaches longer than two seasons. Also making marquee signings to show intent and that the ownership is still interested in investing into the club’s future. Post World Cup, where do you see the national programs going for both the men’s and women’s teams? Only up. There’s too much momentum and attention towards both teams. With more money coming into grassroots, Premier League Canada, CPL and NSL, we will see an increase in talented players coming through the ranks. Above all, the footballing standard will increase, and new players will meet those criteria. We have to be diligent and keep this going. <img width="1200" height="1500" width_o="1200" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6ca1c088f693ba81bf1f6f9cc9f55ad01c860207fcc5e0b8530e73f3f41dc4b4/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_7.jpg" data-mid="250802422" border="0" data-scale="89" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6ca1c088f693ba81bf1f6f9cc9f55ad01c860207fcc5e0b8530e73f3f41dc4b4/DAR_WITY_Gisoo_Web_7.jpg" /> What do you think is the biggest gap in Canadian football culture today? Before the World Cup, I would’ve said investment. Now, I would say time and patience. We have to treat Canadian football culture as a garden. It takes time. Let it grow and flourish and find its own voice. Don’t give up on it, think long-term, and I believe every generation will add something special to the culture. Also, give greater voice to those within the culture. This is why DARBY Magazine is important. We need to be that voice. Others have also contributed. I love what Panenka Football, Box2Box, Rabona TV, and On S’en Foot are doing on YouTube and Social media. They’re all Canadian creators, based in Montreal, who have a deep love for the game. They are also the voice of the community. Of all the matches you’ve attended, which one stands above the rest—and why? That’s a tough one. To this date, CS Saint-Laurent vs Toronto FC at Claude Robillard will forever be my favourite footballing experience. There was something pure that night. It felt like a genuine cultural movement where everyone who attended cared about both CS Saint-Laurent and the Montreal footballing community. Those boys represented us that day, and we felt seen across Canada. If you want a big European game, I watched Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen during Oktoberfest (I hope you understand what that entails), Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo in Zidane’s first game back as manager in 2019. Canada vs Bosnia at Toronto for the 2026 World Cup was special, especially earning our first point at the WC was incredible. This one is a little out of the ordinary. In 2013, I was in Chad with a mission group from my church, and we participated in a local tournament in a small rural village. Hundreds of people came to watch, mainly to watch three Korean dudes play with them. Some wore cleats, others were barefoot. The pitch was mostly dirt but the football was incredible. Photos &amp; Interview:&nbsp;Ararsa Kitaba &nbsp; <img width="768" height="226" width_o="768" height_o="226" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/081f0e412dde785417642b262ca4a1322b207f48a3b47913a7bce951000944c0/Group-3.png" data-mid="250802337" border="0" data-scale="80" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/081f0e412dde785417642b262ca4a1322b207f48a3b47913a7bce951000944c0/Group-3.png" />