Image credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea

By Marty Hastings

ON THE PITCH

Kamloops’ Rinaldi, Comita recap professional European soccer campaigns, look ahead to next season

Jun 12, 2025 | 4:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — Jonathan Rinaldi and Alesandro Comita reached the pinnacle of U Sports soccer in 2022, winning the national title on home turf with the TRU WolfPack.

News of their glory did not reach Europe.

“I was a nobody coming from Canada,” said Comita, who recently completed his second season of European soccer. “It was quite tough. But working my way into the lineup in Slovenia with ND Gorica and making a name for myself has felt pretty awesome and I never could have thought it, a kid from Kamloops.”

Comita and his ND Gorica toiled in the Slovenian second division last season, posting 17 wins, eight draws and five losses to place third in league standings.

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The club sputtered down the stretch to finish four points shy of promotion.

“That was a bit unfortunate, but overall I enjoyed it,” said Comita, who registered one goal and one assist in 29 appearances last season, along with seven yellow cards.

“At the start of the season, I was working my way into the lineup and not playing as much and then eventually as the season went on I grew into the lineup.”

Meanwhile, Rinaldi toiled in the Portuguese fifth division for Atlética de Avanca, which scratched and clawed to avoid relegation, placing 15th among 18 teams with a record of 10-5-19.

“We had a game where we were losing, but we came back and I got a couple of assists,” said Rinaldi, who had three assists in 16 league games. “And I just felt like that’s when they started to accept me — ‘Okay, this guy can play.’ They had no idea who I was before, so it was a good moment for me to show what I could really do and help get a win.”

Rinaldi said Avanca wants him to return next season, but he has not ruled out pursuing options to play for teams in the Portuguese fourth division.

Comita has long desired to play in Italy, but is entertaining options elsewhere for now.

He said agents are working on opportunities in the Austrian second division and Spanish third division and noted ND Gorica has asked him to return.

Both players said they will continue to relish living European soccer dreams no matter where they land.

“It’s intense,” said Rinaldi, noting the language barrier took some navigating on and off the field. “They live, eat and breathe it. Sometimes, if you lose a game, you’re getting yelled at by your own fans. It’s something I wasn’t used to, but when you win it feels great because they love it so much. It’s their life, their pride, their town. When you win, you feel like you’re on top of the world.”