It took a year longer than some would have liked, but League1 Ontario is launching a women’s division.
The regional semi-pro set-up had a successful launch on the men’s side in 2014 with nine teams completing the first season. It wasn’t perfect – 10 teams started – but it did shut-up the naysayers that had long said the semi-final level was not sustainable in Canada.
At least not without compromising things that can’t be compromised.
Many are saying the same thing on the women’s side now. However, the league hopes to push aside those doubters and build upon a modest start.
Six teams will start 2015 on the women’s side.
Those teams are:
As with the men’s side the women’s league is mostly (well, entirely in women’s case) in the Greater Toronto Area. However, league commissioner Dino Rossi told CSN earlier this year that he was far more interested in making sure that teams meet professional standards than the geography of those teams.
Others in the community agreed this was the right time to launch on the women’s side.
“I think it was the perfect time for the OSA to launch this league. I believe in Canada we have the ability to launch one of the best female leagues in the world, as we have the talent pool of players, coaches and leaders,” said Josef Komlodi, Academy Technical Director of Pro Stars FC.
“I believe this league to be the ideal platform for young Canadian talent to grow and turn our game into a world class performance. At Pro Stars, we have recruited some of the best coaches in the female game, we have a very good product for the field, and I think our fans will enjoy the quality of play.”
Vaughan Soccer Club and Durham United FC – operated by the Pickering Soccer Club – are also members of the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL).
“We continue to be in active conversation with other organizations that wish to join the League1 Ontario women's division in 2015,” Rossi added. “We hope to have more good news to add soon.”
The League1 women's division will kick off on May 31, 2015. The location for the inaugural match and the teams that will take part are to be announced.
-- With files from Ontario Soccer Association