Week 1 of the Northern Super League is done, to positive reviews. Now hard work really begins.
The high profile opening games at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and BMO Field de Toronto announced multitudes of 14,018 and 14,518.
Vancouver Rise FC raised the curtain in the six team league with a 1-0 victory over Calgary Wild FC on Wednesday, thanks to a Quinn penalty. And Montreal Roses FC stayed for a 1-0 victory over AFC Toronto on Saturday after Tanya Boychuk turned a defensive error into a second minute winner.
Kevin Blue, CEO and general soccer secretary of Canada, believes that the new league will have a lasting effect.
“I think certainly [it will] Applying and continues to accelerate Canada as a world leader in women’s football, “journalists told Toronto game time.
Look | Rise the FC Quinn writes the 1st goal in the history of NSL:
Vancouver Rise FC defeats Calgary Wild FC 1-0 when midfielder Quinn obtains a penalty in the 22nd minute for the first goal in NSL’s history.
Blue, who was also in Vancouver’s first game, paid tribute to the co -founder of the Diana Matheson League.
“It is surprising what Diana has been able to build here and I think it is important that everyone recognizes it,” he said. “Perseverance, determination, knowledge, commercial skills, the entrepreneurial spirit. It is only an extraordinary achievement. And it is such a surprising contribution to the growth of women’s football in Canada.”
The future was on display on Saturday, from the front Kaylee Hunter of 17 years of Toronto, and the 22 -year -old midfielder Nikki Small to the outstanding 23 -year -old goalkeeper of Montreal, Anna Karpenko.
While football in both opening games was a bit heartbreaking, as could be expected that the teams took their first steps, there was a lot to admire.
“Women in Quebec, women in Canada, deserve this,” said Montreal coach Robert Rositoiu. “And I really hope that, as a league, we will continue to show what we show today, what we show on Wednesday. A good show, to convince more young girls they can dream of. It is underway.”
Vancouver and Toronto will play the rest of their house schedules in smaller stages with Vancouver at the Swangard and Toronto stadium at the York Lions Stadium.
The six teams are in action next week with Calgary visiting Halifax Tides FC on Saturday at Wanderers Ground. Sunday is Toronto at Ottawa Rapid FC on TD Place and Montreal in Vancouver.
Canada’s women’s coach Casey Stoney, who played in the Women’s Super League in England when he started in 2011, says that the new league has to find its own path, which includes the right places.
“It’s about playing where it is appropriate at the right time,” he said. “The game needs to continue growing. And I think that while it grows, you put it in an adequate stadium. And then you try to market it. And as it continues to grow, it may end here [at BMO Field]. In England, we started on a very small scale. And look where it is now.
“You have to be patient. You have to give you time to grow. And we have to put money and investment [in] To make sure it grows in the right direction, at the right speed. “
Look | Tanya Boychuk lifts Montreal Roses FC on AFC Toronto:
Tanya Boychuk’s goal in the second minute elevates Montreal Roses FC to a 1-0 victory over AFC Toronto against an exhausted crowd in BMO Field when the historic first week of the Northern Super League comes to an end.
Matheson, the league growth director and owner in part of the Ottawa franchise, has said that the goal is to add two expansion teams by 2027. Finding places with adequate places could be complicated.
Comparable countries such as Denmark and Australia have a medium -sized stadium per half million people, Matheson said. In Canada, it is one for every eight million.
“We have a massive gap [in infrastructure] In this country and the growth of this league hurts, “he said in an interview.” Because even if we have the first or second higher average assistance in the world for women’s professional football, if we are in the wrong stadium, you do not get the atmosphere. And if we are second or third tenants, we do not get the transmission times or game times. We do not control the income in the stadium, so even if we are selling all these tickets, we are not seeing all the income for it.
“Then, when we are looking at the expansion markets, you are already with your eye to go to the cities and provinces that will help us fill this void. And it will help support the growth of our league, but also, of course, other sports in the city, other community and cultural events. Because there are not enough of this type of buildings in Canada.”
Matheson becomes particular of the independence of the NSL, noting that many leagues and teams of women around the world are owned by male leagues or franchises.
“And women’s football is still, incredibly, the second decision they make,” he said. “And it is a great strength for us worldwide that we have a league that is independent, that every dollar will build women’s football in this country.”
Look | NSL players in what a professional women’s league means in Canada:
2020 football medalist Desiree Scott, and other NSL players talk about what a professional women’s league means in Canada.
Whitecaps, Greg Kerfoot, is part of the Vancouver franchise of the NSL, but is a separate entity from the MLS team.
It does not depend on fans to show support for the new league, buying a ticket or a shirt.
“We have been working quite hard behind the scene for two and a half years to get to this point,” Matheson said. “And now is the point where it is a little label team: ‘You are in fans. Now is the time you help us build this too and build the atmosphere in the stadiums and show us how it looks for your fan base and your market.”
