The Canadian Soccer League has announced the entry of expansion team FC Dynamo Toronto to kickoff the 2023 regular season late May. The club is newly formed on February 15, 2023 and was approved by the CSL board, returning professional soccer to the city of Brampton located north west of Toronto.
Anthony Valentine and Baktage Nekzai were the club principals in the application and discussions and Wais ‘Zili’ Azizi, a FIFA-licenced coach following a strong playing career as an attacking midfielder which included Belgium and France, is appointed head coach.
It’s the second expansion team for the CSL 2023 season following the earlier announcement of Weston United FC on March 20. One more new entry is expected to be introduced later this week.
Azizi expects to be busy during the time leading to kick off with players who are Canadian residents on trial at the Save Max Sports Centre in Brampton. “But we will also be looking for the right players from other countries as we become more established,” he said following the announcement. “Right now, as a club in the GTA soccer community we look forward to playing in the CSL with its long history in Canadian soccer. It is our hope that CSL teams will soon take part in the Canadian championship”.
“We have been impressed by FC Dynamo Toronto’s outlook while launching into semi-professional soccer and welcome the club into the CSL competition,” said league president Dragan Bakoc.
The CSL expects to kickoff its 2023 campaign on May 13 with a special CSL Cup match, followed by a regular season kickoff Sunday, May 28 through to September 16 and the CSL Championship playoffs starting September 23 through to the final on Saturday, October 7.