Vaughan to field 2 teams in inaugural soccer league

Yorkregion.com
April 10, 2014
By Michael Hayakawa

Two York Region entries hope to kick up a storm when the Ontario Soccer Association launches a semi-professional men’s league next month.

The Academy Vaughan Azzurri and Woodbridge Strikers were among 10 organizations accepted into the association’s League1 Ontario, the OSA announced Wednesday.

The other entries include ANB Futbol, Durham Power FC, Internacional de Toronto, Kingston Cataraqui Clippers, Masters FA, Sigma FC, Toronto FC and the Windsor Stars.

The organizations were chosen through an application process.

By creating this new league, Ron Smale, OSA president said the purpose is to follow the Canadian Soccer Association’s Strategic Plan, which calls for provincial semi-professional leagues across the country.

At the same time, it provides an avenue for highly talented players, Dino Rossi, League1 Ontario chairperson, said.

“To this point, we have not been able to adequately address the needs of our top players once they have exhausted their opportunities at the highest levels of youth soccer. League1 will go a long way to correcting this issue,” he said.

Among the entries, Toronto FC Academy, Vaughan Soccer Club (home of the Azzurri) and Woodbridge Strikers Soccer Club, are members of the Ontario Player Development League which will also launch in 2014.

Durham Power FC is operated by Pickering Soccer Club, which is also a member of the OPDL.

ANB Futbol, Masters FA and Sigma FC are OSA Recognized Non-Club Academies.

“I am very proud that, in our first year, this league will bring together several of the top organizations in the province, which boast some of Ontario’s leading technical professionals,” Rossi added. “There is consensus that League1 will always prioritize the advancement of our top domestic players and that young players will be given ample opportunities to develop and thrive.”

League1 will kick off during the last weekend of May 2014.