Griffins bolster defensive midfielder positions with top prospects Martinez, El Khallaa and Feulefack
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Needing more depth at the defensive midfielder positions, Griffins men's soccer head coach Adam Loga added three players in his 2025 recruiting class who can slide seamlessly into the formation in those roles when the situation calls for it.
Marcus Martinez, Azar El Khallaa and Luther Feulefack will all come in to support starting defensive holding midfielder Jakob Sievert, and help provide a replacement to the work that veteran Abass 'Tobie' Ajibade did in his years with the program (2019-24).
Sievert, who regularly played huge minutes for the Griffins in 2024, missed two games due to suspensions from receiving cards, while Ajibade – an intense defensive-minded player himself – was missed after leaving the team four games into 2024 for a remote career opportunity up north.
"It's a position where if you're doing the job right you're going to pick up cautions," said Loga of the aggressive style needed to effectively shut down the middle of the field. "We just need depth there because we did struggle a bit when (Jakob) was off the field in that spine. So, hopefully, these players can add some depth there, for sure."
Martinez, who has also played centre back in his youth, comes to the Griffins out of Edmonton Juventus and the St. Albert Impact 06 boys team, where he played with current Griffin Liam Van Laar. He was also named as a 2025 Edmonton Metro Div. 1 all-star with his Jasper Place high school squad.
"He's technically sound, which is nice," said Loga. "That will be handy on any spot on the field. He's gritty, he brings a bit of fire to him, and a certain intensity, both in training and in the run of play.
"He's currently playing League One with Scottish so he's getting some good timely minutes before entering this fall."
El Khallaa comes to MacEwan from Winnipeg via Morocco and is a product of AK Soccer Academy.
"He's class," said Loga. "He's got quite a bit of experience for a younger lad. He's been overseas a bit, he's been on trial with the Whitecaps residency program. As well, he's currently training with Valour – the first team in the CPL.
"He's more defensive, but he has the ability to progress forward, make people miss and spray passes, for sure. We'd really like him to solidify where Jakob is."
Feulefack is a midfielder out of Leduc and a product of Edmonton Scottish United. He reminds Loga of Ajibade in his intense style of play.
"He's a ball winner, aggressive, strong," said Loga. "Maybe needs to clean up some of his distribution, but in terms of his ability and willingness to get in and tackle that's what stood out to us and the staff."
All three have a chance to make contributions in 2025 for the Griffins.
"I think when Tobie took his job that first weekend of the season, we missed out on his last year, but it was huge for him and his family," said Loga. "We missed that depth in the six role for Jakob. But hopefully these guys are in form to lend some minutes so Jakob's not playing 180 a weekend."
