When the Canadian Soccer League season kicks off its 2012 campaign at the Invista Sports Centre in the picturesque community of Kingston, just east of Toronto on Saturday, May 5, it will set a new record of 16 teams taking part in the First Division of a league that goes back to 1926.
This, and a host of other details were revealed at a well-attended press conference held at the BMO Field in
It was on March 23, 1926 that the Montreal Gazette ran a headline: New Soccer Body Being Organized and just a few weeks later, the professional National Soccer League kicked off when Windsor Rovers met
In 1993, The National Soccer League was re-branded to be called the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL), then in 1998 changed its name to Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) and in 2006 a new-look Canadian Soccer League (CSL) appeared. The NSL, CNSL and CPSL are considered the forerunner leagues of today’s CSL.
The 16 teams this year include three in the First Division for the first time. They are Kingston FC, Niagara United and SC Waterloo and all three teams are moved up after entering the CSL in the Second Division in 2011. Kingston FC previously as Prospect FC and SC Waterloo Region were known as KW United FC. The name change to SC Waterloo reflects the club’s increasing involvement with youth soccer in the broader region.
One team – Capital City of Ottawa, a city anticipating the launch of a team in the new U.S.-based NASL, failed to return to the CSL for the upcoming season.
Each of the 16 teams will play 22 regular season games, a total of 176 from May 5 to October 7 and this will be followed by the playoffs to involve the top eight teams at the end of the regular season for a one-game quarter final, and a one game semi-final leading to the championship game at the end of October.
The present activity with the CSL clubs is considerable as we move closer to kickoff and various announcements have taken place recently, including the appointment of former national team defender Marco Reda as an assistant coach at SC Toronto. Reda’s career took off in earnest following his time with the USL’s Toronto Lynx in 2002, which followed several years with European clubs before moving to Toronto FC, then Vancouver Whitecaps in 2009.
SC Toronto recently signed Janer Guaza Lucumi from
Recent announcements include the return of Ron Davidson to the CSL as head coach of Brantford Galaxy. Davidson is held in high regard, was the Ontario Soccer League’s coach of the year in 2009 and the CSL coach of the year while with Hamilton Croatia in 2010. The Galaxy’s home opener is away to York Region Shooters on May 6.
Kingston FC will kickoff the season with a home opener against TFC Academy and the home side will have several new signings in the line-up, including local midfielder Jordan Brooks of Angus, Ontario, who twice earned OUA All-Star selection during an impressive career with the Queen’s Golden Gaels. Defenders Jacob O’Connor and Ali Albadry and Julien Edwards (with Capital City FC last year) and forwards Antonios Assaad and Mademba Ba are all under contract.
No less than six
The CSL Second Division of 12 reserve teams, which is primarily for players U-23, will also kickoff on Saturday, May 5. Rules provide for a maximum four players over age 23 on the game-day roster, and one of the maximum four must be the goalkeeper. Games will be played through to the end of October.
One reserve team to be fully prepared is Mississauga Eagles FC B following the announcement by head coach Josef Komlodi that in addition to the season kickoff he is preparing his reserve team for a tournament at
Sat May 5 Invista Centre 7:00 pm Kingston FC vs TFC Academy
Sun May 6 St. Joan of Arc 8:30 pm York Region Shooters B vs Mississauga Eagles FC B
