Coach Saleh, left, with members of the Scarborough Simbas. © Babour Zainullah
Under the fading evening sun in Terraview Park, you’ll often find Saleh Al Osman pacing the sidelines, cheering on kids with a whistle around his neck and a quiet confidence in his voice. For Saleh, the soccer field isn’t just a place to play—it’s where communities are built, friendships are formed, and futures are shaped.
By Zeba Tasci in Ottawa, Canada
Saleh is a coach with the Scarborough Simbas, a community-led soccer program designed to support newcomer and refugee youth through sport. It’s a role he takes seriously, not just because he loves the game, but because he’s seen what it can do.
“I see the kids really loving it, really enjoying the game,” he says. “They become friends. They support each other. It’s amazing to see how something as simple as soccer brings people together.”
For Saleh, soccer has always been more than a hobby. It’s been a powerful force for inclusion, especially for young people who might otherwise feel isolated or disconnected. His coaching goes beyond drills and tactics—he focuses on building confidence, creating connections, and helping kids find joy in something familiar, even when everything else feels new.
The impact is clear. Saleh has seen players come out of their shell, find their voice, and form lifelong friendships on the pitch. “Even if a kid doesn’t play soccer at home, they start loving it because of the team, because of the environment,” he says. “They feel like they belong.”
Saleh didn’t start out as a coach. In fact, he was once one of the kids stepping nervously onto the field for the first time.
Originally from Idlib, Syria, Saleh arrived in Canada after fleeing the country’s ongoing conflict. His family spent time in Lebanon before finally resettling in Toronto, a journey filled with uncertainty, culture shock, and loss.
Saleh as a young boy in Syria, before his family was displaced. © Saleh Al Osman
“At first, it was quite tough,” he recalls. “New language, new culture… not a lot of friends. You feel the pain of being a newcomer.”
That began to change when he moved to Victoria Park and met Karen Scott, a local community leader who would go on to start the Scarborough Simbas.
“Karen was amazing,” Saleh says. “She wasn’t just starting a soccer program. She was visiting families, helping them find jobs, listening to their stories.”
When she launched the Simbas, Saleh was one of the first to join.
“I was so excited,” he says. “I’ve played soccer since I was a kid. In Syria it’s very common to play street soccer. I used to spend hours outside playing, I would come home exhausted and exhilarated.”
Saleh played with the Simbas for a year, then returned to the field—this time as a coach. He now mentors a new generation of players, many of whom share his story as newcomers navigating a new life in Canada.
Outside of coaching, Saleh is currently in his second year at Ontario Tech University, studying Biomedical Sciences. His leadership on and off the field has been a constant theme—he played as a striker for the semi-professional North Toronto Nitros for a year after getting support from the Simbas, and back in high school at G.L. Roberts, he was named captain of the soccer team in Grade 12 due to his strong leadership qualities.
“Soccer really changed my life,” he reflects. “When I was a teenager, it kept me away from the wrong crowd. It gave me a space to focus, to grow, and to stay grounded. I want to give that same opportunity to these kids.”
“The Scarborough Simbas isn’t just a soccer program. It’s a community hub. It offers young people a safe, inclusive environment to build friendships, develop confidence, and learn valuable life skills.” Saleh believes programs like these are essential—not just in Scarborough, but across Canada. “It doesn’t have to be soccer,” he says. “It could be basketball, baseball, really anything that gives kids structure and connection. These programs help them become the best version of themselves.”
Saleh Al Osman, second from left, stands with other Scarborough Simbas coaches. © Saleh Al Osman
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to take place partly in Canada, Saleh is especially excited about the potential it has to inspire young players and bring communities together. “The World Cup is a big community event,” he says. “People from all over the world—Syria, Africa, Europe—are going to come together. I hope it motivates kids here to dream big and see what’s possible through soccer.”
From player to coach, from newcomer to mentor, Saleh’s journey has always centered around one thing: the power of sport to unite, uplift, and transform.
“I can’t wait to see where soccer takes these kids,” he says. “Because for me, it led to something more than just the game. It led me to a community. It helped me feel home.”
