Quality Time | Giuseppe Bovalina, presented by GE Appliances

In this edition of "Quality Time" presented by GE Appliances, Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Giuseppe Bovalina shares his stories of adjusting to professional football in MLS after coming from the A-League, as well as discussing his incredible goal against Wrexham A.F.C. in the international friendly between the two clubs in the summer of 2024.

"It's a big league, and especially over the last few years, it's really exploded. But I didn’t know too many people who were here before. Now there are a few Australians in the league, so it's good to keep in contact with them, and when we play against them, it's nice to see their faces"

What's it been like settling into life in MLS?

It's been good. Obviously, it's different from back home, but it helps that all the boys in the change room and the coaching staff are great and make life easy both off the field and on the field too.

Did you watch any MLS before coming here? Did you know of the league? Had you been in contact with any other Australians who may have played in the league?

Yes, I watched the league. It's a big league, and especially over the last few years, it's really exploded. But I didn’t know too many people who were here before. Now there are a few Australians in the league, so it's good to keep in contact with them, and when we play against them, it's nice to see their faces.

You've been here for a while now. Has there been anything in the league that's really amazed you?

Yeah, the first thing is our facilities—they're amazing. The fields are always perfect for training, and the stadiums are all massive. They're top-notch—some of the best in the world. You look at them and think about how good they really are, and the same goes for the facilities. I'm very grateful for all the great things we have to use.

What were your first impressions of the city when you arrived?

The city is beautiful. I love how it's surrounded by water, and the nature is stunning, especially near the training ground. The trees and everything are gorgeous. The weather's hit or miss, but in the summer, it was really nice, and luckily, we got to enjoy a good month or so of it.

What were the first conversations like with the club about coming to Vancouver? How did you learn of the club’s interest in you?

Yeah, I found out they were interested in me earlier this year, and when I heard about it, I wanted to have a look. The coaches went through the plan they had for me and what they want, what I can achieve, and how they can help me reach my goals, like hopefully getting to Europe one day.

What has it been like to play at BC Place in front of the home support?

Yeah, it was crazy. My MLS debut was against Miami, and that was crazy. Obviously, I was disappointed we didn’t get the result, but coming on in that match gave me another level of energy. I wanted to do as much as I could to help the team. The fans have been really good this year, and even in the game against Wrexham, it was amazing to score and see that crowd. The fans are really supportive, and you can really hear them.

What was it like to score against Wrexham? Is that the best goal you’ve scored so far in your career, even though it was in a non-competitive game?

That's true. It was a friendly, but probably the best goal I've scored. It was really exciting. The whole day was memorable, especially because of the grass—we didn’t know how it would play out. But it was great to have that pitch at BC Place, and the fans were amazing. To score was even better.

What's it like to sing ‘Stand By Me’ with the fans after wins at BC Place?

It actually gives me goosebumps. The first time I sang, it was really nice. It’s something we can look forward to every time we win, and it’s something we share with the fans. I think it’s really strong and creates a bond. We all win together.

Do you have a favourite moment in your career so far?

My favorite moment in my career would probably be my home debut in my hometown of Adelaide. That was really special for me. My family was there. Getting the opportunity to play for my national team was also pretty cool. But most recently, scoring at BC Place and playing in those big games is something I’ve always wanted as a kid, and now it's happening. I just want to keep going and see how far we can reach.

You obviously played with Nestory Irankunda at Adelaide United FC and a couple of other big names. We have the FC Bayern Munich connection with Alphonso Davies going there after coming through our system. What was it like playing with Irankunda, and could you really see the talent when you were playing with him?

Yeah, of course. We started playing together when we were maybe in the reserves at Adelaide, U-16, U-17. You could see his explosiveness and power, and then when he translated that into the A-League, it was really good. I was playing on the right side, and he was in front of me. Working together was great. I just wish him all the best, and I hope he's doing well.

What's your favourite TV series?

I really liked Money Heist. I've seen Prison Break as well, and I’ve started to watch it again. So, for TV series, those would be two of my favorites.

What’s your favourite movie?

For a movie, it would probably be Rocky. It’s something I’ve always watched. It used to be a routine of mine to watch it on game day, or Rambo—either of those movies.

Do you have a favourite place to visit in Vancouver?

A few places—restaurants like Acqua or Cioppino’s are really nice. Recently, I went up to Whistler, which was pretty great. We had a couple of days off with my girlfriend. That was really nice. The whole city is beautiful—you can go to Stanley Park, take a walk around the sea, and it’s very clean. It’s a beautiful place, and the people are lovely.

Do you have a favourite type of food?

My mom makes the best lasagna. It’s really nice, so probably any pasta really. I love it—I could eat pasta for the rest of my life.

What’s your football pet peeve?

Maybe when somebody has dirty boots—it gets to me sometimes.