Tomo Dancetovic believes Brantford and the surrounding Brant County deserve professional soccer.
The increasing player population, with soccer now the sport of choice in the region, as well as the high interest by new Canadians mostly from Europe, all contribute to a need for a high level game to interface with the grass roots level which is here, there and everywhere.
Dancetovic recognized that while the region has been well served by coaches steeped in football and settling in the communities of Oakville, Milton, Burlington and Hamilton, the need for greater skills to be visible on the field of play will accelerate the game locally.
Now head coach and GM of Brantford Galaxy, the former midfielder with London City who brought his passion for soccer from the former Yugoslavia, is determined that second time around for the Galaxy will be permanent.
Brantford Galaxy launched into professional soccer for the first time in 2010, won the Canadian Soccer League championship in the first year when Dancetovic was an assistant coach. But the team went into dormancy in 2012 and applied in 2014 to return as an active member of the CSL in 2015.
“Everything is coming together very well with close to 40 players under contract for our First Division side and reserve team,” said Dancetovic with a little more than a week to go for the opener for both teams on May 10. The reserve team will kickoff first, an 11 am start against SC Waterloo reserves in the 11-game weekend CSL Soccer Fest at the St. Joan of Arc ground at Maple, followed by the First Division encounter against Waterloo at 5.
The Galaxy has already developed relationships with the youth soccer in the region and plans to launch an academy division in September.
The CSL’s complete opening weekend schedule:
CSL Soccer Fest ‘15
Saturday, May 9
10 am Serbian White Eagles B vs Burlington SC B Second Division
12 pm Toronto Atomic FC vs Niagara United First Division
2 pm Toronto Atomic FC B vs Niagara United B Second Division
4 pm London City vs SC Scarborough First Division
6 pm York Region Shooters B vs Toronto Croatia B Second Division
8 pm Milton SC vs Brampton City Utd First Division
Sunday, May 10
11 am SC Waterloo B vs Brantford Galaxy B Second Division
1 pm Serbian White Eagles vs Burlington SC First Division
3 pm Milton SC B vs Brampton City Utd B Second Division
5 pm Brantford Galaxy vs SC Waterloo First Division
7 pm York Region Shooters vs Toronto Croatia First Division