By: Jeremy Magan

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Norway and football run in Sam Roestbakken's blood.

Sam’s father Jack was a semi-professional player in his home country before coming to Australia.

His sibling Karly recently debuted for Norwegian champion LSK Kvinner FK, who have won the last six Toppseriens. 

Sam always knew he would travel to the Land of the Midnight Sun, and he finally did in July 2019.

“I wanted to try playing overseas, to get a European feel to the game," Sam shared. "It was a great experience being in a club (Træff FK) where you train six times a week and fly around Norway for games.

"I came halfway through their season, I trialed for the club, and after one week they signed me.

"It was difficult breaking into the team with only six games left in the season but I was happy coming off the bench, helping where I could and just being in that environment every day.

"Over there, it is just football, football, football. It is their number one sport.”

Back in Canberra, Sam will play his sixth season with the Monaro Panthers, where he started in first grade at age 16.

The team finished sixth last season, despite a good run from May to July which saw them sitting in third place with five games left to play.

“Last year, the team should definitely have been a top four team," Sam confided. "We had some injuries, unfortunately. It was the best team the club has had in the past few years." 

An injury during the first pre-season game in 2020 meant Sam had to watch the Panthers’ solid performances in February-March from the sidelines.

Then came the COVID-19 break. 

“Personally, the suspension of football was actually pretty good because I was injured," Sam said with a smile. “I started training with the light stuff and gradually increased the workload.

"Thankfully Karly was home, so we did quite a lot of boxing, most days, doing what we could to keep fit. 

"Now I am back in the gym and in training 100% so I am good to go again!”

Despite losing their top scorer from last year to Gungahlin United, the team at Riverside remains confident. 

“The starting 11 is made of players playing 100% all the time, the way coach Jimmy Kanaridis wants to play," Sam said. 

"It is good to see Jimmy back this season. He kept the majority of the team together. We all get along very well, there is no negativity, great team morale, and he enforces that.

"He brings that culture and it is working." 

Monaro’s off-season was productive, with the likes Aaron Cashman( from Woden-Weston FC) and Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu (from Holy Cross College, in Indiana, USA) joining the ambitious team. 

“Aaron and Lukman bring experience to our young team," he said. "Last year we aimed for the top four and we fell short.

"We talked about it, and this year we want to win it. That way, if we do not achieve it, making the top four would still be a good season." 

Sam admitted the short season and round-robin format was confusing at first, but in the end, he is just happy to play as much football as possible given the circumstances.

His trip overseas confirmed Sam's love for the game and his desire to take a chance at a bigger career in football. In Europe?

“Maybe after I finish my studies," Sam said. "I would love to play a full season there!”