The soccer community has high expectations of Toronto Falcons, a new entry in the Canadian Soccer League about to kickoff its inaugural season on Sunday, May 29 at Centennial Stadium in Toronto.
Samad Kadirov, the former GM with FC Vorkuta (now named FC Continentals) who left a trail of achievements with that club since Vorkuta entered the CSL in 2017, is the major reason for the anticipated success. Kadirov, who also coached at times, accumulated an outstanding 10 championship or league titles in the five seasons the club’s first team and reserve side have been in the CSL.
Other principals in the new club are Zhane Gendunov, previously with a trophy- winning FC TFT team in Toronto, and recently signed head coach Willy Giummarra with a high level background as a goal scorer sometimes midfielder, he appeared in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), played also in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL), and the A-League, also based in the United States. Giummarra won the MVP award in the 2000 season with York Region Shooters in the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) the forerunner league of the CSL, and also had a stint with Darlington FC in England.
Kadirov is placing greater emphasis on local talent to launch Toronto Falcons in the semi-professional CSL, including an early signing of Giummarra’s son, Antonio Giummarra, also Rinat Kasymgereeve with experience in several league’s in the Toronto area, Aubrey Mpla, a speedy winger and Oleksandr Novikov, who has been named team captain in a growing list of impressive players from throughout the region.
Toronto Falcons will open its season against BGHC 1, the team formed by Brantford Galaxy and Hamilton City 1 during the COVID 19 pandemic restrictions, on Sunday, May 29 when all six teams will be in action.
Sunday May 29 – Centennial Stadium – Toronto
2 PM – Scarborough vs York Region Shooters
4 PM – Toronto Falcons vs BGHC 1
6 PM – Serbian White Eagles vs Continentals FC
Six teams will play a 10-game schedule leading to the playoffs for the CSL Championship, followed at the end of August by the Enio Perruzza Memorial Trophy through to the final game at the end of October.
PLAYOFFS – Centennial Stadium
Saturday August 13(Quarter finals) 2 PM and 4 PM
Saturday August 20 (Semi finals) 5 PM and 7 PM
Saturday August 27 CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 8 PM
Stan Adamson