FC LONDON and London TFC have stepped it up a notch in 2018 with solid starts across the board – right from U8 all the way to League1.
Players such as Kaila Novak, Dante Carraro, and Emaly Martin have taken the next steps in their soccer careers and are catching the eyes of coaches across the country.
“With the recent announcement about Canada hosting the World Cup in 2026, everyone is buzzing with excitement about what this could mean for some of our academy players,” says FC LONDON founder Ian Campbell. “These players have a good shot at playing against the best in the world.”
A recent addition to the men’s team is Ethan Gopaul, an 18-year-old Londoner who has spent the last few years playing with the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy. He made an immediate impact in his first outing, helping set up two goals.
“Ethan is quick,” says Michael Marcoccia, FC LONDON’s Men’s head coach. “Combine that with his ability to shoot and cross with both feet and we’re looking forward to his talent on the field and to helping him achieve his football goals.”
Youth team programs run by London TFC Academy got off to a great start, with 18 boys and girls teams competing across the province.
“Having coached in Portugal and Brazil, it’s great to see the talent and enthusiasm in this country, and especially in London,” says Youth Technical Director Paulo Sousa. “I think there must be something in the water here, as we continue to show the big teams in Toronto some beautiful football.”
The FC LONDON Women’s team started their 2018 championship run with an undefeated streak … a record they’d like to carry on until the end of the year.
“Our U21 program from last year has already shown its value with several women stepping up this year into starting roles,” says Marcoccia. “Jade [Kovacevic] is back to her scoring ways, showing why she is a rare talent in the Canadian game.”
“With the World Cup underway,” says Campbell, “fans are in for a great summer of soccer – both on and off the field.”
Submitted by FC LONDON
