Kayden Pierre - Leo Messi, A Nightmare Debut, and the next Messi at Genk? - E7

Kayden Pierre, Genks young flying American full back joins Jamil Roberts and Dom Okus in the studio this week! They discuss KP's transition from the MLS with Sporting Kansas City to European football, his Jamaican heritage, and the influences that shaped his career. KP shares insights about the differences between MLS and the Belgian Pro League, the impact of the European fans on the game of soccer, compared to that of the MLS. And also his lofty aspirations for the future, including the possibility of playing in the World Cup for the United States. While diving into KP’s career, we take a look at not just the highs, but some lows too, including his first team debut for Sporting Kansas City… Enjoy!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:40 Genk: A New Start In Belgium

03:13 New Chapter

03:45 Influences and Heritage

07:25 Wayne Rooney & Changing Positions

10:03 Jam & KP Link Up 

10:52 Transition to First Team at Sporting Kansas City

14:28 Debut to Forget...

18:40 Should Footballers be more real?

21:10 Growth and Development as a Player

25:11 The Next Big Thing: Konstantinos Karetsas

27:13 Differences Between MLS and Belgian Pro League

30:25 The Unique Belgian League Structure

33:45 Fan Culture: A Comparison of MLS and Belgian Football

35:55 Why Genk & Not Stay in the MLS?

37:37 First Team, USMNT & World Cup Aspirations

41:03 Extra Time:

43:15 Lionel Messi

50:29 Closing Thoughts with KP

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Transcript

Jamil Roberts (00:00)
Hello everyone and welcome to the Back Stick Podcast. I'm Jamil Roberts and I'm joined here as usual by Dom Okus Dom, how are you mate?

Dom Okus (00:08)
good bro I'm good it's the weekend I had an amazing set last night DJing at a place out here in Austin called busy signals had a great time and now I'm looking forward to talking to my guy KP my fellow Jamaican so I'm looking forward to this one man come on my bro yeah man

KP (00:21)
Yes, Rasta man. Yes, I'm glad to be here man. Glad to be chatting with you all. Glad to be here man.

Jamil Roberts (00:24)
Ha!

As you can tell, KP sounds Jamaican as fuck.

Dom Okus (00:36)
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

KP (00:37)
Relax, hey, relax, man, hey, relax,

relax.

Jamil Roberts (00:42)
No, I'm joking mate, I'm joking. Nah, so KP how are you bro, you good?

KP (00:48)
I'm good, man. I'm good, man. You guys?

Jamil Roberts (00:51)
All good on my side mate, just getting used to being back in England man, because it's just so cold out here. We've actually had a mad storm come through, some of the winds that have been in England for the last day or so. It's been crazy, people have been getting blown over in the street and everything.

Dom Okus (00:52)
I couldn't. Yeah, I couldn't.

KP (01:02)
Yeah.

Yeah!

I thought that's typical European weather.

Dom Okus (01:13)
Yeah to be fair.

Jamil Roberts (01:16)
Nah, not that bad.

Dom Okus (01:17)
No my mate was saying it's like 50 miles per hour winds and stuff like it's mad.

Jamil Roberts (01:21)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, mate.

Like I was I was driving home with one of my mates yesterday and the car was shaking on the road and everything It was crazy, mate. Yeah, like people were saying just to stay inside. Hopefully everyone's alright out there and no one got hurt at least some of the listeners and everyone else

KP (01:23)
Mad bro.

Dom Okus (01:28)
Swear

KP (01:35)
Yeah.

Yeah, stay safe out there.

Dom Okus (01:38)
Yeah, 100%.

Jamil Roberts (01:41)
But anyway, just to take us into it, so KP obviously formerly of Sporting Kansas City and you've recently made the move over to Belgium and you're now playing at Genk. We don't have to go into it but let's just say it was a reported one million dollar fee so you know.

he's expensive.

Dom Okus (02:05)
hahahaha

Jamil Roberts (02:07)
But he's given us his time

for free, so we appreciate it. How's the move been so far, mate? Just in general adjusting to life in Belgium.

KP (02:08)
nah man, anytime, anytime.

I

mean, so far it's been good, man. Just like I said, I mean, a lot different, know, I mean, European lifestyle, European team, how people act, the environment, coaches, players, even like the people you see in your daily life. And also just the language barrier, you know, not many people speak English when I'm going to stores or restaurants. So a lot of hand movements, communicating in different ways.

But nah man, it's honestly been good and I enjoyed the challenge. think I like to put myself in like uncomfortable situations. Not trying to copy that LeBron saying, but just trying to put myself in uncomfortable situations. And that's my favorite thing right there, But nah, man. Yes, it was Rashford's quote, man.

Jamil Roberts (03:00)
That's my favorite saying. That's my favorite saying.

Dom Okus (03:02)
Ha

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Jamil Roberts (03:09)
It wasn't that he did that episode of the thing, it was the rashford that was in there with him.

Dom Okus (03:14)
Yeah, Rashford.

KP (03:16)
talking about that guy today because he's kind of a rash fruit, but I like doing that so I think it's been good so far.

Jamil Roberts (03:19)
Hahaha!

Yeah, yeah, well just to touch on that as well obviously my fellow United fan in the building Dom's the old one out here today he's a West Ham fan but I guess we have to thank the Hammers for something because they beat United and it was ten Hag's last game in charge so they have done something for us this year.

KP (03:41)
that.

Dom Okus (03:43)
You're welcome.

Jamil Roberts (03:45)
I guess just to stay on the subject of yourself and obviously moving away, we'll take it back to the beginning and just briefly talk about obviously a young KP as Dom touched on before, Jamaican heritage. So I know that your granddad played for the national team, correct? Yes. So what was it like growing up? Was he sort of a big influence on you to play football or was there any other sort of idols and influences growing up?

KP (04:03)
Yes, that is correct.

And I would say for sure having my dad were the biggest influence of me playing football. I mean, my grandpa had, my mom's grandpa, or mom's dad, guess, four daughters. So when I came out, the first grandson, the first boy, that's the first thing he gave me a ball, because he didn't give them any soccer balls, because women's soccer was a big back then. All my mother and all her sisters did track and field and anything but football.

Jamil Roberts (04:42)
Mm-hmm.

KP (04:43)
So

when I came out, was straight football from the start. And my dad also played in college, so it was always destined for me. And ever since I was maybe like three, four, or five, I actually went up to all my aunts and uncles and I was like, when I become a professional football player, what type of car do you want? I'll get you this car and that car, you know? I acted like I was, this was like when I was super little. But yeah, nah, it was always in the cards for me to.

Jamil Roberts (05:04)
hahahaha

KP (05:11)
Trying to become a professional footballer for sure. Yeah.

Dom Okus (05:15)
Amazing, amazing, amazing. And how much is the Jamaican heritage an influence for you? Because we all know the culture is very strong. We're a very small island, but we've got someone like Bob Marley who's known all over the world. So how much is the heritage a pit-a-factor for you?

KP (05:31)
Well, for me,

this is gonna sound crazy because I mean, my Jamaican heritage is kind of weird, you know, because I'm also like, my mom is technically Asian. So if you saw her, you'd be like, no way she's Jamaican. But my whole family from there is Asian, but they were born in Jamaica. And I still have a bunch of family members who live there. So for me, it really doesn't impact me other than maybe like Bob Marley or the food I eat is Jamaican, you know, but.

I would say for my mom, it impacts her more than obviously grandma and stuff like that. But I need to go back there.

Jamil Roberts (06:06)
Are you

Dom Okus (06:06)
Fair enough.

Jamil Roberts (06:07)
cooking

it up yourself now you moved away or what?

KP (06:10)
I try to man, I try to. Here it's different. It's difficult man, it's difficult. I don't know, they make it, in US if if something you wanna throw in the bin, you just throw it in the bin. There's like trash cans all around here. They take my trash every two weeks. I don't have a garbage disposal and I get a little lazy so every now and then I cook.

Jamil Roberts (06:12)
You

Dom Okus (06:12)
Ha ha ha ha ha!

Jamil Roberts (06:32)
Hehehehehe

Dom Okus (06:35)
Just on the topic then, what would you say is your favourite Jamaican food?

KP (06:41)
Honestly, probably not the healthiest food, but I always get it anytime I can, wherever I see it. It's just a Jamaican beef patties, no? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that with, my God. What's the drink that usually comes with it? It's not like a Fanta, but you know what I'm talking about. I don't know, I'm just.

Dom Okus (06:52)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, That's your thing. That's your thing.

like a

ginger bear or you thinking more like a sorrel? like a ginger bear? yeah yeah yeah there you go, there you go, you know the thing

KP (07:06)
Yes. No, no, it's a ginger beer. Yep. Anytime, anytime, anytime

I can get it. And anytime I go back home to Michigan, my family gets some flown in from Jamaica. So anytime I try to try to eat those. Yeah. Yeah.

Dom Okus (07:20)
There you go. There you go. There you go.

Jamil Roberts (07:22)
Nice.

Nice mate, nice mate. And then just outside of that, obviously, anyone else has sort of influenced you, you know, from watching football when you were a kid. Just anyone that sort of shaped you, I guess, and sort of inspired you to sort of, I mean, at end of the day, was it Gary Neville said, no one wants to be a Gary Neville, right? But you ended up being a right back. So we'll go into it.

KP (07:43)
Yeah

Jamil Roberts (07:49)
So did you look at any right backs? Were you always a right back? Or was that come a little bit later on?

KP (07:54)
Nah man, well to say a player that inspired me growing up was actually Wayne Rooney. I mean that's how I became a United fan. I I was my grandpa's favorite player and it turned into mine so yeah it was a fantastic choice at the time. mean ever since but ever since I started to really understand it and follow United they've been horrible but it'll change. I trust the process. It'll change. But now when I first

Jamil Roberts (08:06)
Great choice, great choice.

There you go.

KP (08:21)
When I first started putting in a real bit, have,

Jamil Roberts (08:22)
In Ruben we trust, man. In Ruben we trust.

KP (08:24)
must trust. must. But at first, I started off as a center back actually, and I played center back.

Jamil Roberts (08:28)
you

KP (08:35)
Center back all the way up to like U17, U19. I would have a couple games where I'd play winger. Yeah, I would play winger. I like to, yeah, this is one of my favorite stories, you know, because I asked my coach to play winger once, you know, because I always play center back. So I have one of the best games I've ever played easily. And I had like two goals and assists. We tied a game, but I was buzzing, right? And we have a game the next day and our center backs were getting cooked. So I had go back there and I had an even better game and I never, I never changed again.

Jamil Roberts (08:40)
Really?

KP (09:05)
We'll

And maybe I regret it because no one likes playing center back. Let's be real. But nah, and then to make my debut actually the SKC2 coach at the time, Paul Nagamura asked me if I wanted to play center back or outside back. And I said outside back because I'm not the biggest guy out there and I think outside back is a lot better. And I played it also in the academy and that's how it stuck.

Jamil Roberts (09:14)
Nah, don't.

Hey

Dom Okus (09:35)
Have you got a bit then? Because how do you go from centre back to wing arm? Get, what do say, two goals and an assist and then just go back to centre back? So what, are tricky, are quick? Like, what's your play style?

KP (09:41)
Yeah.

Quick for sure. Quick

for sure. I wouldn't say too tricky, but direct. say direct. Yeah, direct, quick. So when I would play center back, I would have to cover for other defenders. That's probably why I mostly played CB growing up. Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (09:51)
athlete.

Dom Okus (09:53)
very direct.

Jamil Roberts (10:03)
Nah, mate, I used to enjoy when you played right back and I'd be ahead of you on the wing there. Because I didn't have to do much running down the line because you would just fly past me.

KP (10:08)
You

Hey, half... Hey, Jamil, we're playing those half spaces, half pockets, Inside, inside. good times, Never, never been a turn. Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (10:16)
Those are the days though man, we locked up the right side.

Yeah mate, was... god. Turned up to Kansas City and they thought I could play 10.

Dom Okus (10:29)
Never been to 10 by the way, never.

Jamil Roberts (10:32)
Never. And never again. Now I'm left back.

that's classmate. Yeah. No, but we had a good time though, didn't we? It was, it was what? It was a season, but we had a lot of good times playing on that right side together. But it was really after I left Kansas City that you really sort of made your...

KP (10:47)
Yes.

nah.

Jamil Roberts (11:01)
sort of first steps into the first team, right? Was it 2022, you sort of played a lot more and, you know, what was that transition like going from SKC2 to more of a prominent role in the first team at Sporting?

KP (11:03)
Yeah.

I mean, obviously I was young at the time. I was 19. I would say it was a pretty big jump from USL and MLS. Hey, 19, 21, big difference, big difference, big difference. Nah, though, but obviously playing USL, I think helped me a lot playing against obvious people that are more experienced and older. So I think the transition obviously was like, it's a big jump.

Jamil Roberts (11:20)
He says at the time, by the way, he's 21.

Dom Okus (11:22)
So two years

ago.

Jamil Roberts (11:28)
Hahaha

KP (11:43)
but it's not as bad as people made it seem. I think, and especially once you maybe play 15 minutes and then you get 30 minutes and you just get more confidence and more comfortable, I think that's when you start to grow. So I really say, the jump was decently big, but I think that it all worked out. And obviously I had a big group of guys around me on second team and first team. And so it was very easy for me to.

feel welcome, then easily focus on soccer or football.

I don't even know what you want to say anymore, Dan. So that's also a big change here, man. I can't say soccer. Sometimes I get tripped up in that. 100%, man. I can't call it soccer here, but then I'm watching MLS and it's like Major League Soccer. I was watching the final last night, so it's like, yeah, big difference.

Jamil Roberts (12:19)
Ha ha ha!

The lads get on you.

And I guess obviously I know that the locker room was a good group of people at the time at Kansas City and really you came into the team after after Jalen was well not came into the team you stepped up shall we say after Jalen was traded to Charlotte. So just talk us through that did the manager did the gaffer

KP (12:49)
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. Yes.

Jamil Roberts (13:06)
Did Peter say anything to you specifically about like, you know, there was an added responsibility on you or did you kind of just grow into it and earn your opportunity or was that like a challenge that he laid down once they traded Jalen and they said like, KP, like this is your time, like you've got to seize it now.

KP (13:22)
I mean, we did have some chat. I mean, he just expected me obviously to grow as a player. Obviously, Jalen's gone, know, but I think when I first found out they did the move, think that was just a vote of confidence and me obviously saying that. All right, I think they think I was ready to play and help contribute for the first team. So I think that was perfect. And obviously, I had a guy, had a me and Graham Zusi who was an SKC legend.

Honestly a fantastic player and a fantastic guy so I think they knew that he would be able to help me learn and develop as a player and also as a person so But yeah, now I did have a couple chats with Peter so it was good. That's good

Jamil Roberts (14:08)
Yeah, that's good man. I mean, as you mentioned, Zeus there, not a bad player to learn from as well. You know, that's a legend right there.

KP (14:15)
Not a bad player.

That's a sporting game, city legend in the MLS legend, US legend. So yeah, easily one of the best players I could have been brought up under for sure.

Jamil Roberts (14:25)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah, definitely. yeah, go ahead though.

Dom Okus (14:28)
That's right.

I was just gonna say, I feel like we've kind of just jumped into you kind of stepping into that role and becoming a first team player, but stories that always I like to hear about is your debut. That's something that's stick in your mind forever to the day you die, right? So can you just talk us through what it was like making your debut?

KP (14:43)
Mmm.

This

is actually a funny story man because my debut was one to forget but I wouldn't say it in terms of that but like I'll be honest so we were playing against it was like the leagues cup before like the new leagues cup it was like the old I don't know it was a weird but we were playing Leon team from Mexico and I was and I was on I was on the bench right but like

Dom Okus (14:56)
Okay.

KP (15:16)
I played with SKC too most of that year. So I was like, okay, I'm just on the bench because they don't have enough guys, right? And Jalen was still on the team at this time. So actually before the game, horribly, let's just say it like that. Jump to it. was like, I'm about to chill. I'll get front row seats. I'll watch the game. Wasn't treating it like a professional at all. Jaylin goes down in like the first 10 minutes, but like I was thinking, Zeus is on the bench. He'll go in. So I'm okay.

And he's like, you know what, KP, you get ready and go on. And I was like, snap, like, uh-oh. And legit, one of the first plays I'm on, they crossed it into the box, someone shoots it, and it deflects off me and goes in. And I said, wow, this is gonna be a rough night. And we lost 6-1. And then the next day, the next day the gaffer was.

Jamil Roberts (16:10)
Hehehehehe

KP (16:14)
was pissed at me he's like what are you like are you good like is everything okay i was like yeah everything's okay i just had no clue we were gonna i was gonna be playing and from that moment on i take every game serious that i'm suiting up in i'll tell you that it was a learning experience for sure

Jamil Roberts (16:31)
You

Dom Okus (16:32)
baptism

of

KP (16:34)
my god, even even

even the physios are like, you should stretch out and I was like, nah, man, I'm not even going in. I'm not stressed. I'm now, dude. then me and him were laughing after the game. He's like, that's why you roll out before I said you did every time. Now it's not even a question.

Jamil Roberts (16:53)
my days, mate.

KP (16:55)
horrible

Dom Okus (16:55)
So funny so you just sat

on it. You've ate horribly you've not stretched You're not expecting to come on your minds not even the right cities, and then you've gone in and essentially you just got cooked for 90 minutes

KP (17:00)
no. No, no.

Damn there. Yeah, we lost six zero is horrible. We played all the youngsters We were getting we were getting all

Jamil Roberts (17:12)
Bro mate.

KP (17:12)
laid at

our home stadium like it was a nightmare man. I don't think I slept well that night

Jamil Roberts (17:16)
Mate, Dom, I'm not even lying yet. This was, I

think I would have been at the, I wouldn't have been at the club for very long at this point. And I remember watching the game and like, I actually felt sorry for the lads because they put a strong team out and like we just played, we just played the first year, second year pros pretty much. Like Ozzy started that game. Ozzy had like literally just turned like,

KP (17:34)
Yeah, they did. We played... Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (17:44)
15 or something. I didn't even know how young he was at the time.

KP (17:44)
Yeah, yeah, he, we were

starting a bunch of teenagers who couldn't even play well in SKC two games, let alone early on.

Jamil Roberts (17:51)
Yeah mate, there

was players playing in that game, some of them weren't even starting for SKC2 in the USL, like they just went straight to League's Cup playing against Club Leon and yeah, it was a rough night.

KP (17:58)
Yeah.

Yeah.

That was a rude awakening for sure. yeah. Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (18:11)
It's funny,

nine times out of ten people come on here and they talk about their debut being one of the best days of their lives, they talk about this, that and this guy's just gone, nightmare.

KP (18:14)
you

Hell no.

Dude, dude, I was like, I was

thinking, sick man, I'll get the post like, glad to make the debut, but I couldn't even post man, we got battered. I got battered, you know, like, you know, like, proud to make the debut. No debut bros for me, man. On to the next.

Jamil Roberts (18:31)
You

Dom Okus (18:31)
You

Jamil Roberts (18:37)
Nah mate, you gotta do the

generic one, it'll be like, something along the lines of, not the result we, not, yeah!

KP (18:43)
Like, disappointing with the result, yeah. Disappointing

Dom Okus (18:46)
Hahaha!

KP (18:47)
with the

result. Glad to have made the debut.

Jamil Roberts (18:50)
The generic one.

KP (18:52)
God, I'm not, I can't,

bro, I can't.

Dom Okus (18:55)
Just quickly

on that, do you think players could actually be more real? Could you have posted, made my debut, I was stinking, or something like that? I feel like that would get so much more engagement and it would be real, right? And I feel like James Maddison does some of this stuff on social media, but he's a bit more real with it. But maybe the club's probably telling you how to social media and what to post and not post and all that kind of stuff.

KP (19:08)
Ha.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, nah, nah, mean, low key, low key I

agree with that. I think that would get way more views and like interactions for sure. But I'm the type of guy who like, I don't like posting after a loss, you know, because for me, I mean, I don't even like to go on my phone usually after a loss until like it's way past it, you know, because nobody likes to lose. But nah, I understand that. That's a key point. That's not a bad shout. I was stinkered today, mate.

Dom Okus (19:34)
Yeah.

episode.

Jamil Roberts (19:45)
Yeah

Dom Okus (19:47)
You know what

KP (19:48)
Glad to get the three points but I had a stinker. Up the boys, thanks to the boys. That's

Dom Okus (19:50)
mean? You know what mean? You know what mean? That's real though.

KP (19:57)
actually not a bad idea. I might have to use that one in the future. That's not a bad idea.

Jamil Roberts (19:57)
that's so true. Yeah, but you know what? Like, I think what you do is correct because I'm the same way. Like, I won't post anything after, like, we lose or whatever. But now I'm thinking about, okay, what if I watch United play and I see, like, Bruno Fernandes, who's just had a stink bomb, just be like, yeah, sorry, lads, I had a stinker today. Like, we'll go again next week.

KP (20:19)
Yeah

Jamil Roberts (20:21)
I'd be like, you're f***ing right, you're f***ing, I think I'd have a head loss.

KP (20:21)
Yeah, think honestly though Honestly,

Dom Okus (20:23)
Hahaha!

KP (20:27)
think everyone in the comments would be like you're damn right Maybe not not too good for the confidence, but not I actually would be good man

Jamil Roberts (20:31)
Yeah

KP (20:36)
Not do.

Jamil Roberts (20:36)
you do bring up a good point. Like, there's only so many times any footballer can apologize after a bad result, you know what mean? Like, and get away with it with the fans. You know, at some point you do, like you said Dom, either have to be real with the fans or just shut up, like literally shut up and get on with it. Because there's only so many times that an apology is going to hold weight.

KP (20:43)
Yeah.

Exactly.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Exactly.

Dom Okus (20:58)
literally

Jamil Roberts (21:00)
It's true though. Where were we? We were talking about Kansas City Nightmare debut, that was it. But just... No, but just to kind of wrap up that sort of portion of your career, right? Did you grow into it and you played a lot more obviously the year after, but obviously you took those experiences...

Dom Okus (21:00)
Yeah.

KP (21:05)
Yeah, Hey, hey, real light.

Dom Okus (21:06)
Hahaha!

Jamil Roberts (21:25)
So what kind of changed in the last year? And then obviously this past season, we'll get into the move in a minute, but what kind of changed from that moment on to the end of your time at SKC that you really grew into yourself as a player? Was it just growing up? Was it being around him more often? Was it just being forced to be in that environment more often? Was there anything that you can point to specifically that changed to help you progress as quickly as you did?

KP (21:54)
Well, obviously at first I think it was just the people around me, especially the first year I started to get full minutes from the most minutes I played was my mom was living with me at the time. And I think just having her there, having home cooked meals and having like, I don't know, a family member with you, especially when you're young. I think that played a big part into my first year there. When I, our first year playing, I would say. But second year was obviously rough.

But I think because I injured my hand me twice, so was pretty much out the whole 2023 season. But I think honestly that year made me just grow as a footballer and as a person. I think I'm a better player now because of that, honestly, because I play differently now. I don't have to use my athleticism as much. I see the game better, you know, because when you're sitting out for that long and you're sitting in the stands and you watch the game, you pick up stuff, you know.

And I did a lot of more stuff like this and a lot more scanning, that goody goody stuff. But so I think that helped me into obviously my last year and a half a year with Kansas City. I think that helped me a lot. But I think every year just getting older, getting more comfortable with the guys in the locker room, getting more comfortable with the coaches and just everything around Kansas City. I think that just helps you feel comfortable. when you're comfortable,

Jamil Roberts (23:19)
you

KP (23:20)
Usually you can perform at your best. So let's say those all played big parts for sure

Jamil Roberts (23:27)
Yeah, agreed mate. I think being, just being comfortable, I think it's interesting that you talked about everything around Kansas City because it's not just being comfortable within the changing room and within work. Like you said, your mum come and live with you. You can get the home life right. You feel comfortable in the city. It's not as simple as just going turn up, put your boots on and go play well.

KP (23:42)
Yeah.

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah,

nah, it's not like that.

Jamil Roberts (23:55)
There's so many little,

there's so many factors that go into it. And if you're not happy at home, then you you're not going to be happy on the pitch and you're a young kid. So I'm not surprised that having your, your, at the time, know, having your mum there with you, I'm sure like that was huge because so obviously you're from Michigan. How old were you when you, when you moved away from, from home full time in Michigan?

KP (24:09)
Yeah, of course.

Yeah.

When

I first moved, I was 14, but my mom and little brother, they came when I first moved and then I had a host family for two years and then they came back during COVID because it was a little tricky with the host family. So my mom and little brother came back for my first year that I was signed and then next year and then they went back. But having them there, especially like I thank her so much and she knows this already, but.

Jamil Roberts (24:31)
Ahem.

Dom Okus (24:40)
Ahem.

KP (24:47)
very much helped me in my career and where I am today. And my little brother, shout out to my little brother. He's young, but shout out to him. Yeah, shout out to him.

Jamil Roberts (24:56)
Always,

Dom Okus (24:57)
Shout out to family. Shout out to family.

Jamil Roberts (25:00)
always, that's where it starts. And I guess on the subject of you being away from home, you doing it at young age, as I said before, you're not old yet, mate. You're still young and you've made...

Dom Okus (25:15)
Hehehehe

KP (25:15)
I'll tell you

right now, here I'm old. Some of my teammates, nah man, I'm old here, trust. Got teammates that are 17, 16, 18, and some of these guys honestly are some of the best. We have one player on our team who's 17 and honestly he's top. He'll play for a top, top team. He's class.

Dom Okus (25:27)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (25:27)
Hahaha

What's

his name?

KP (25:47)
He's from Greece, that's all you need to know. I would try to say his name, but I call him Kos, Kos, you know, I call him Kos, because I can't say his full name. He wears number 20 on our team, but he's top for me, honestly. Yeah, have a look. He just turned 17, crazy. He plays, he plays, yeah, no, he's good, He'll play for a big team for sure, man.

Jamil Roberts (25:50)
You

Dom Okus (25:50)
You

Jamil Roberts (25:54)
Okay.

Let's have a look, let's have a look. Yeah.

What, does he play? Yeah.

Yeah, well, here

we go. That's a Backstik podcast exclusive. That's you calling it. He's a big one.

KP (26:15)
Yeah, yeah, right there. Yeah, yeah. for sure, man.

Dom Okus (26:16)
There we go.

KP (26:19)
for sure. But yeah, I don't he plays 10 as well. Like a proper, like a proper 10. He reminds me of like, Guler, to be honest. Plays like this. Yeah, he reminds me of how they play, yeah. Yeah, nah, he's good, man. You guys should, yeah. Yeah. Hopefully, it pans out, but I think it will, yeah.

Dom Okus (26:20)
What position did play?

Jamil Roberts (26:23)
Okay.

Dom Okus (26:30)
Okay, Arder Guler? Okay.

Jamil Roberts (26:30)
Oof.

a good not not a bad comparison for the boy. Let's have a look.

all right hang on a minute we've Konstantinos

Dom Okus (26:44)
Let's see, Jam, go on, give it a go.

KP (26:46)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (26:51)
Karetsas

KP (26:53)
The first name wasn't bad, the last, don't think you say it like that. I don't think so, but then again, I haven't even tried to say it. But when I hear it, I don't know if that's how you say it. But I don't know. But that's not a bad shout.

Dom Okus (26:53)
Sounds about right.

Jamil Roberts (27:05)
Hey,

Konstantinos, the next big thing, you've heard it here first straight from Kayden Pierre. love it. But here you go. So we're already talking about the changing room. Going back. The big move. You've made the move. Genk Belgian Pro League. How has it been? Four year deal. You've committed to the club for a while.

Dom Okus (27:10)
There we go. There we go. There we go.

KP (27:11)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (27:32)
How's it been since you started and let's just, I guess, start off by asking what do you think are the main differences between the MLS and or the MLS environment, shall we say, and being around a first team, a big club in the first team in the first division in Belgium. Couldn't get that one out for some reason.

KP (27:47)
Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, no, you're good.

Well, first off, would say obviously grateful for the move. I was so happy that I could finally move to a club like this. I think it's perfect for the next step in my development. And I would say at first, obviously, it's a lot different. I would say to go on the main difference, MLS is more, there's no relegation. You lose a game, it's okay. You win a game,

It's good, you tie, it's all right, you know, but like, there's no sense of urgency. So it's okay. Like it's all right if you don't make the playoffs, nothing happens to you. These are our guaranteed deals. They're not going to bring in too many more players. So it's all right. You're like comfortable. But here, even though right now we're first in the league, when we lose a game, it's, it's not good. Or if we don't play well, it's not good. Like it's serious, you know, cause we're trying to win titles here. And not only that, but we're trying to.

Jamil Roberts (28:33)
Ahem.

KP (28:52)
play well and because we're a selling club, know, so we want to improve players here as well, develop players to sell them off to bigger clubs. So I would say those are the two biggest difference. But when it comes to playing, you know, it's just for me at the moment right now, it just feels like it's just way more technical, way more faster, way more intense over here than in the MLS, I would say, because and especially the conditions here.

Jamil Roberts (29:02)
you

KP (29:20)
They're not always ideal like in the MLAs, you're playing on these nice fields. You got teams that are digging up their field, making sure it's hard to play on and stuff like this. So I would just say it's a lot more and the games are just a lot more intense and quicker and the short little actions and just even the duels, you know, it's just a lot different, a lot different. When I first watched the game, when I came here, I was like, wow, this is just...

You see it on TV and you think one thing, you're like, it's not that much different. But when you see a live comparison MLS game, you can just feel the difference. And then just the fans as well, it's just, they actually know what they're talking about. So they actually have some proper chants No disrespect to any MLS teams, but they have some proper chants and the fans all really back the team. And even the smaller clubs here, they might not have 20,000 fans in their stadium, but they have.

5,000 in there chanting the whole game and they're waving flags and they're flaring up the stadium. So I mean, that's also just another bonus, I would say.

Dom Okus (30:26)
And I think for me as well something that's unique about the Belgian league is that It goes all the way to the end of the season So you have like the regular season kind of thing and then you have to play off after where they basically Divide the points by two and then you're in the table with like the top eight and you're really playing to the end and like every game matters I don't know you want to explain it a little bit how it works I don't know if I've explained it the best and jam. I'm not sure if you're familiar but

KP (30:35)
Yeah. Yeah.

No, I mean, you've done it right.

Well, I'm not even 100 % sure, but I'm pretty sure it's top six, top six, all their points get cut in half, and then everyone plays each other twice. So you play home and away each team. And then that determines the winner. Then the winner gets Champions League, and then there's a Europa League spot. And then the teams that are seven through, maybe seven through 14.

Dom Okus (30:54)
Yes.

KP (31:17)
Play for Conference League. And then the bottom is for relegation. But yeah, everyone's points just get chopped in half come March, I'm pretty sure. So that'll be exciting.

Dom Okus (31:23)
application.

Jamil Roberts (31:28)
I'm mad, I had no

idea about any of this.

Dom Okus (31:30)
Yeah,

madness bro. I didn't know until I went to watch Virgy. Crazy.

KP (31:32)
Now I only...

Jamil Roberts (31:34)
Yeah.

KP (31:36)
I only knew it when this was actually a couple years ago. I don't know, like they were playing on Deadline Day. What do you call the last day? What do you call the last day in the prem? Is there a certain for match week at 38? I don't know. But it was the last day, you know? And all the teams are playing like top four and all of them could win. And actually, Genk lost in the last second because Antwerp like tied a goal or something.

Jamil Roberts (31:50)
I don't know.

Dom Okus (31:54)
Yeah, yeah.

KP (32:05)
And it just flipped like that and they won the title on the last day. It was like an Aguero moment, to be honest.

Jamil Roberts (32:10)
That's really, really cool.

Dom Okus (32:14)
Yeah,

I remember actually, think it was Toby Aldewild, I can't even pronounce his name, Toby Aldewild, yeah, he scored, yeah, he scored, and like the last day he scored a screamer. Yeah, I'm absolutely butchering his name, but Toby that used to play for Spurs, everyone knows who I'm talking about. He scored an absolute screamer and won them the title, it was crazy.

KP (32:16)
Yes, hit that screamer.

Jamil Roberts (32:19)
on a borrowed.

Sorry you butchered his name.

KP (32:28)
Toby, Toby!

Yes.

Yes, that's

exactly what I'm referring to. That's what I like first saw a couple years back.

Jamil Roberts (32:42)
That's so entertaining. I bet that's like that's mad for fans

KP (32:44)
Nah,

Dom Okus (32:44)
yet.

KP (32:47)
it's mad for fans, but I don't know. me, it's kind of indifferent because like imagine if you're 10 points ahead in the league, it gets cut in half to five now and you have to play all the top six teams again. like it makes it so anyone can win, you

Jamil Roberts (33:05)
Yeah,

yeah, I mean it's definitely there for the spectator. So I can understand why as a player you would play how many games on the season. I'm sure you would want where you finish after the league to be where it is. But, never say never, but I doubt I'll ever play in the Belgian Pro League. So...

KP (33:10)
Yes. Yeah.

Dom Okus (33:11)
100%.

KP (33:18)
Yeah. Exactly. Yeah.

Never say never. say never.

Jamil Roberts (33:33)
I'm a free agent if anyone wants to call me.

Dom Okus (33:35)
Hahaha!

Jamil Roberts (33:39)
But I bet that is so entertaining to watch as a fan. So, then I want to touch on as well, you obviously mentioned the fans there. obviously, circle back, no disrespect to any fan base in the US or in the MLS specifically. However, it is different, right?

KP (33:43)
100 % I has

Jamil Roberts (34:01)
The and you've experienced it now, myself and Dom have grown up with it, not necessarily playing in front of those numbers. However, just experiencing it growing up in European football and around it and going to games, the culture and everything is just so driven towards it over here that that is one thing that the MLS definitely is just so far behind on is that like fan interaction, that general knowledge of the game, but also, you know, the things that make

a football atmosphere like what it is, like the chance, like the, I guess everyone just being sort of in the know, like sort of know how it is. You know, if you went to an NFL game, I'd say, you know, 60 to 80 people in the stadium know exactly what's going on at each moment in the game. Whereas I think if you were to take an MLS stadium, you could probably confidently say 20 to 30 % of people actually know fully what's going on in

KP (34:39)
Yeah.

Yes.

Yes.

Jamil Roberts (34:59)
to some level of detail. So, you know, that must be massive. What are your fans like? Are they loud?

KP (35:06)
man, they're loud. I mean, the way our club is built, I was told, is like, we're like a hard working club, you know, we're a bunch of miners and we're also one of the only clubs without an owner. So it just shows that like really, like the fans really have like a lot of passion. I mean, when I first came here, like people recognized me right away and I didn't even get that much in Kansas City, but when I first came in, they're like, now you play for Gank.

The people here love it. I mean, it's what they look forward to on the weekends, you know? So it's part of the lifestyle here, honestly. That's why it's just so much different.

Yeah, no, it's so nice.

Jamil Roberts (35:49)
to be loved like that is definitely what we strive for.

KP (35:51)
And

that's what everyone wants.

Dom Okus (35:55)
Yeah, I wanted to ask though, why Genk? Like, did you have interest from a lot of European clubs? Did you have maybe interest from other MLS teams? Like, how did you end up going to Genk?

KP (36:06)
Well,

I probably, maybe one of the main reasons is because I used to have a coach in Kansas City who was actually from Gank and now he's back at Gank. But he was like our technical coach for maybe three, four years when I was growing up in Academy. So that's partially why I came here. But I'm not too sure on any other European entrance. I know some other MLS teams are interested, but.

It was kind of hard because it was middle of season. was kind of like in my last year deal, but I also had an option, so I had no clue what was going on there. But honestly, it came at a perfect time, and I couldn't have been any more happier.

Dom Okus (36:44)
Dope, dope, dope, dope, dope. And I think that's something that people don't really know about football is that the people you can grow up with that are maybe your under 19, under 20 coaches, they stay in football. And if they like you as a player and you have that good connection and you're well-liked, they will take you with them. So if you think about stupid example, but like Harry Redknapp and Peter Crouch or Jermaine Defoe, he just takes them wherever he goes. Do you know I mean?

KP (37:03)
100%.

Yeah, yeah.

Jamil Roberts (37:09)
Yep.

If it's not broke, don't

fix it.

KP (37:15)
Coaches do like to take guys they like with them anywhere they go, know, of course. And I had a really good relationship with them. So, I talked to them even when I started playing for Kansas City and getting Minnesota, I always talked to them. So, had a super great relationship with them. But yes, this is true.

Jamil Roberts (37:32)
and just to kind of round off obviously the early impressions of Genk and all the rest of it. But the other thing I wanted to ask was you signed for four years. So what, if you could map it out, right? Four years with the club and everything, you know, what, are the sort of your aspirations for your first, I guess, the next 12 months and beyond, you know, what does that look like in a perfect world for KP?

KP (37:58)
well, I would say we'll go one month to start with. Right now I'm playing with, under 23 just to get used to playing style, playing in battle gym differently, getting used to all that. So do that, develop, train. But I would, my goal for next season would obviously become a starter at Genk and then hopefully try to push to make World Cup. You never know what can happen.

injuries there for anything so obviously try to play in that because that would be amazing and then hopefully before or by the time my four years are up hopefully move to a top five league in Europe that's the that's the main goal

Jamil Roberts (38:43)
lovely. Yeah that's sick mate and obviously myself and Dom at the back stick we share that goal of being involved in the World Cup as well.

KP (38:44)
Yeah.

Dom Okus (38:53)
Exactly, We

KP (38:53)
You

Dom Okus (38:56)
might not be able to put a pair of boots on and get out there but hopefully we can be involved in another capacity. So if you're involved in the World Cup and you're watching this, you know what to do. You know what to do. You know what to do.

KP (38:56)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Yep, you know what to do. You know what to do.

Jamil Roberts (39:06)
DMs, add the backstick pod.

No, I love that mate though and I think that's really important. I think it's good that you've got clarity on that, but you're aiming high as well, do you know? And listen, if you're playing week in, week out for a team as big as you are, then there's no reason why the right eyes aren't gonna be on you, kind of 26. So you know that we wish you all the best. And obviously...

KP (39:17)
Yeah, have to.

Thank you.

Jamil Roberts (39:34)
From now to the end of season, I hope to see you out there with the first team and breaking in, but I'm sure it won't be long. Just keep your head down and work your arse off, mate. But anyway, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know you, mate, don't worry.

KP (39:40)
Yeah, of course. You know me.

Dom Okus (39:44)
Yeah. And with Gank being

top of the league as well, obviously, if you kind of do well in the playoffing and you make it to the Champions League, that gives you a big shot, right? If you are able to play in the Champions League, you're knocking on the door of the national team at that point. If you're playing weekend, work out. So, God willing, that comes to fruition for you, Yeah, no worries, man.

KP (39:53)
my god.

Yeah, not 100%.

Yes, no thank you brother. Yeah,

I wanna hear that anthem.

Jamil Roberts (40:09)
There we go.

Dom Okus (40:12)
Yeah man...

Jamil Roberts (40:12)
Yeah, so do I.

KP (40:19)
I never

know that

Jamil Roberts (40:22)
mate, just know if you get united away I'm getting tickets. crazy man, crazy.

KP (40:25)
I hope I get United away so bad that would be on I'll be something that would be something I Might be flooding they

Dom Okus (40:29)
That would be amazing. Imagine, playing out on traffic.

KP (40:36)
might not have the roofing done yet, but hopefully I'll be buzzing apply there. Hey, we fixed by that

Jamil Roberts (40:38)
Hahaha

Dom Okus (40:38)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (40:44)
Like we said mate, aim high, aim high, you never know what could happen. Love it mate. Well, I think it's about that time in show where I pass over to Dom to take us through the last segment of the show. So Mr. Ocus, you take KP for extra time.

KP (40:46)
Got to got to

Dom Okus (41:04)
Let's do it, let's do it. So our regular fixture here is called Extra Time. I am your host for the most, they're calling me Steve Harvey with a skin fade these days. I don't know who gave me that title, but that's what they're calling me. So listen, we're gonna take you through four questions that I ask all my guests.

Jamil Roberts (41:18)
You

He's dead. He's dead!

HEEH!

Dom Okus (41:29)
I'm telling you that's what the streets are saying Steve Harvey with a skin fade that's what they're but listen but listen but listen first up my first question is who is the best player you've played with

KP (41:32)
This kid made his crazy work mine, my god.

Best player I've played with.

That's a good question.

Dom Okus (42:00)
And if you can tell us why as well, what about them makes them the best? And it could be training, it could be in a game.

KP (42:01)
Yeah.

Yeah, no, no, no.

Honestly, I would say Johnny Russell. Yeah, I mean, obviously, yeah, JFR, Johnny F Russell. But yeah, I mean, I played on the right, he played right winger. I played on the right side with him. But when I first broke into the team and he was younger and bagging it all these goals, I would go up against him every day training. just was like, yeah, this guy's a proper.

Dom Okus (42:12)
Okay. Okay.

Jamil Roberts (42:13)
JFR.

Dom Okus (42:18)
Hehehehe

KP (42:35)
proper football and he's just a great bloke as well so that just adds on top of him. One of the funniest guys I've ever met. But I would say have a magic left foot like Jamil.

Jamil Roberts (42:46)
Listen, I'm not claiming to have Johnny's but mine's alright.

Dom Okus (42:47)
hahahaha

KP (42:52)
man, man, I'll never forget

Dom Okus (42:52)
Hahaha

KP (42:55)
that Louisville Banger, man. One of the happiest moments of my life.

Jamil Roberts (42:57)
Lose

KP (43:01)
The playground for Ownby Brian Ownby Swope Park, was his playground. Golly. Nightmares, nightmares. yeah.

Dom Okus (43:00)
Hehehehe

Jamil Roberts (43:08)
man, OMB man,

yeah. Ownby what a player, what a player.

Dom Okus (43:15)
Sick, sick. question two. Who is the best player you've played against?

KP (43:27)
to the good life.

So like played against, is it someone that like I've directly gotten like one of you won against or they were just on the pigs or anything,

Dom Okus (43:37)
Either one, either one. You might want to recall maybe like your debut against Leon.

Jamil Roberts (43:38)
Evil one, yeah. Someone who could have ripped you on the day, ripped the

team up on the day, you know.

KP (43:45)
Well, you know what? I didn't even play this game, but I would say it has to be messi I mean, I was on the bench, I was coming back from injury, but just watching him play honestly was one of the best things I've ever watched. mean, this guy was walking around the pitch for 15 minutes straight and all of us were like, what is this guy even doing? know, the first ball he gets was an assist and it was a crazy through ball. I mean, nothing's going to top that for me at least. Yeah.

Dom Okus (44:13)
ridiculous player, ridiculous

Jamil Roberts (44:14)
I don't think anyone can top that to be honest.

Dom Okus (44:14)
player and the fact that you've... yeah, I think that's gonna be it. Unless someone's maybe got over and out playing against Ronaldo, I think that's gonna top the list for us.

KP (44:16)
Yeah

Yeah, nah, that's gonna have

to be tough.

Dom Okus (44:26)
All right, the first question is if you could pick three teammates past or present to go on a night out with, who would they be?

KP (44:36)
Wow,

now this is a damn good question. Wow! Wow! Only three!

Dom Okus (44:39)
Only free

only free

KP (44:47)
my god.

Jamil Roberts (44:49)
You're gonna upset a few people here.

KP (44:51)
Yeah, no, that's not good. Only three, man. Wow! This is not good, Wow, I'm gonna have to pick and choose the rules, you know? Some guys, like a false nine, I've gotta think, huh? I gotta play the rules now.

Jamil Roberts (44:57)
You

Dom Okus (44:57)
Yeah bro,

gotta be selective bro, gotta be selective.

Yeah, man.

KP (45:13)
I would say my ex-roommate and teammate Jake Davis for sure.

Wow, Interesting, no, man. That's my God on a night out, man. That's my, that's our duo. We're like duo. Wow, no. Hey, hey, hey.

Jamil Roberts (45:19)
interesting.

Dom Okus (45:27)
Okay, I like it.

Jamil Roberts (45:27)
Alright, alright, alright. I was gonna

say, I never knew Jake outside the apartment.

Dom Okus (45:33)
Yeah

KP (45:34)
I

dragged him out a couple of times. I got him going. got him going. Wow, two more.

Jamil Roberts (45:37)
Nah,

Jake's my guy, Jake's my guy.

KP (45:43)
Man!

Honestly, I'll put Johnny in there because the first time I ever went out was with him and it was it was a night to remember until it wasn't a night to remember it got flipped very quick, you know like very quick Yeah, I'll say him Jake Johnny and then I would say a teammate I had this year Danny Flores Would have said Jamil but I've never been out with him so we'll have to be a link up in the future

Dom Okus (45:56)
hahahaha

Jamil Roberts (45:59)
makes sense.

True, never happened.

Yeah, yeah.

KP (46:13)
too young,

it'll be a crazy link up in the future.

Jamil Roberts (46:17)
Yeah, yeah, Brussels coming soon.

Dom Okus (46:18)
love that. I love that. There we go. I love it. I love it. And...

KP (46:19)
Brussels be ready.

Dom Okus (46:26)
And to close...

Jamil Roberts (46:26)
mate, that's

the second time Johnny Russell's been in the top three on the Back Stick podcast.

Dom Okus (46:31)
Yeah,

yeah man, yeah man, sounds like a good guy and you know, hopefully one day in the future maybe we'll be able to get out of him. I haven't had the experience man, but everyone's talking it up so.

KP (46:32)
Yeah.

You're like a night out with

him, He brings a good vibe.

Dom Okus (46:47)
Sick, sick. All right, well, so our last question is, what is your biggest achievement on the pitch so far in your career? Obviously, you're early in your career, but you've achieved a lot. So what would you say is your biggest achievement?

KP (47:00)
question.

I would say...

I would stick between two. I would say either my debut in MLS. Like that didn't go so horribly, not the Leon game. My debut in MLS. Yeah, MLS, MLS, no, MLS first start, MLS first start against Red Bull. was a horrible game to watch, it was a good game. I would either say that or actually playing U-20 Brazil. And I think we got absolutely destroyed.

Jamil Roberts (47:20)
The MLS debut, not the league's cup.

KP (47:38)
But I'll never forget how they played and it was honestly an honor to play for my country and it just felt good to be out there. But they had some proper ballers on that team. I think I some big clubs. I think I'm not 100 % sure about you. Remember Victor Roth, the striker? Yeah, I'm pretty sure he was there and he was he was cooking us. We were getting cooked. They were playing proper Joga Bonito like

Jamil Roberts (47:49)
Like who?

what about that?

Dom Okus (48:02)
Hahaha!

Jamil Roberts (48:02)
You

KP (48:07)
juggling it in midfield to each other. I was like, wow. They thought they were, yeah, different, different. It was different.

Dom Okus (48:07)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (48:07)
you

Dom Okus (48:13)
different.

You

Jamil Roberts (48:17)
God, yeah, I can only imagine me. Do you know what? saw a funny enough on the subject I saw a video and I can't think it was somewhere in England but the Brazil like under 14 sent like a five aside team to play like a futsal tournament and These guys were taking Libby's out of

KP (48:36)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (48:42)
the other teams. Like it was ridiculous. It was like a trailer for FIFA Street and these kids are just rolling like literally steamrolling through every single team but like taking the piss whilst they're doing it. It's crazy how good the Brazilians are.

KP (48:53)
Nah, bruh. Hey, don't do-

Dom Okus (48:54)
Bulls.

KP (48:57)
The

Brazilians are just born with it, I swear. Born with it. Different.

Dom Okus (49:01)
boom with it.

Jamil Roberts (49:02)
And what

about in that, in your US team? there any lads that are in that side with you that are playing regularly anywhere or? Yeah, yeah.

KP (49:09)
yeah, nah, there's a

lot of them. mean, well, got Paxton Aronson, plays at, signed for Frankfurt, plays for Utrecht in Holland. Jack McGlynn was there, plays for Philly. Quincellvin plays for Philly. My boy Rokas Putskas, I used to play with him in the academy. He plays for Hydra Split, Croatia. Nah, there's a bunch of them.

Could list all of them, but my memory's a little bit jogged. nah, there's a lot of them. Most of the players on the team got on to do good things. Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (49:41)
Mm-hmm.

Dom Okus (49:48)
you

Jamil Roberts (49:49)
surprising you're in good company.

KP (49:52)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (49:56)
That about wraps this up, doesn't it actually? On the pod? No, not the pod, sorry, on extra time, extra time. Yeah, yeah. So I dunno. Yeah, yeah, no, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I'll let you do it, we'll edit that out. I just like, I had to like remind myself. Go on, I've queued you up, go on, we'll edit this out.

Dom Okus (49:59)
Yeah, you kind of stole my thunder there Jam, but yeah, that's extra time wrapped up and I'm like... Yeah, so that wraps

up on extra time and I'll it back to my boy Jam to close us out.

Jamil Roberts (50:22)
Cheers mate, cheers mate. And we'll never cut you off ever again, I'm sorry.

Dom Okus (50:26)
hahahaha

Jamil Roberts (50:29)
No mate, KP, I've enjoyed that. I've enjoyed that and I think it's really good for not only the European listeners to sort of get a few more insights into the Belgian system but I think there'll be a lot of American fans listening to this certainly that maybe will get a different or a deeper insight into what it is for when, you know, because there's so many...

talented youngsters from the US making

move early to Europe. So obviously it's probably very insightful to know that it's not just a smooth process, you know. But I'm happy that yours has gone well and it's going well and I'm sure that it's going to continue to thrive in the future, But in terms of the episode, in terms of the pod, that about wraps us up. I think we've covered everything that we wanted to today and we've covered it in great detail.

KP (51:09)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (51:26)
So, without further ado, that wraps us up. Again, I'm struggling to get this done today. I don't know why my brain's going blank here. I'm going round in circles. I'm sorry, guys. I'll get you out here in a minute. anyway, now, please go and like and subscribe. Leave a comment.

Dom Okus (51:34)
So good job, it's a good job.

KP (51:37)
Yeah,

you're good, you're good,

Dom Okus (51:42)
It's good.

KP (51:44)
You're a man.

Jamil Roberts (51:51)
Get us in the DMs, let us know who you wanna hear from next. You can follow us on all the socials at the Backstik pod. We're live, we're ready, we're going Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, the lot. Go and follow us, go get involved and never miss anything to do with the podcast. But anyway, from me, from Dom, KP, thanks ever so much for coming on, mate.

KP (52:15)
It was a pleasure to talk with you guys anytime, Anytime, on and off the pod, of course.

Dom Okus (52:19)
Appreciate you,

Yeah, man.

Jamil Roberts (52:23)
and from all three of us. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next time.

Dom Okus (52:29)
Peace.