02-05-2025
AFC Toronto's first match at home stadium shows what new NSL team is trying to build
AFC Toronto is not just trying to build a soccer team, but a community. While the quality on the field must be exciting, so too must the atmosphere in and around the home stadium. The hope is that fans will enjoy the experience and want to return.
Despite heavy rain coming down in the hours leading up to the first Northern Super League match played at York Lions Stadium on Thursday evening, it was exactly that kind of environment.
The queues outside the 4,000-seat stadium that is also home to York United of the Canadian Premier League started to form hours before gates were open.
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From kickoff to the final whistle, fans were kept on their toes as an exciting game had them on edge in the 2-1 Toronto victory. But even off the field, there was plenty to be excited about.
The beat from a group of drummers reverberated around the stadium. The vibrant music from the team's DJ lifted the mood on a rainy day. And an in-game announcer kept the crowd of about 2,200 fans engaged throughout.
Many families braved less-than-ideal weather conditions to be in the stands and cheer for a team that needed every ounce of crowd support as it battled for its first NSL victory.
Fans brave the weather and line up to buy merchandise at AFC Toronto's first match at York Lions Stadium.
Gilbert Ngabo/ Toronto Star
Fay Marzuq was among the early birds to arrive, but she didn't have any say in the matter. Her nine-year-old daughter, Zara McLeod, had been chosen among a dozen kids from the North Toronto Soccer Club to take part in some on-field activities throughout the match, and the risk of being late was absolutely out of question.
'She has been more excited about this opportunity than anything else I can remember,' said Marzuq. Her daughter has been in soccer for a few years and aspires to become a professional player in the future.
The family had to scramble arranging for babysitting duties for McLeod's two younger sisters. Not only was Thursday a chance to represent her youth club in front of other soccer fans, it was also a major source of inspiration for her and hundreds of other young girls with long-term playing ambitions in the sport.
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'They don't always get to see other girls playing professionally,' said Marzuq. 'My daughter loves (Lionel) Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo but watching these girls on a regular basis means so much more to her.'
Under heavy rain before the match started, fans lined up to grab team merchandise, eager to represent the AFC Toronto colours.
Several food and drink vendors had already set up shop at the stadium's south end, another one of the team's initiatives to provide a family-friendly setting.
'We're here to give fans a good time while supporting the team at the same time,' said Kadeem Bashy of Bashy Patties, who were selling three beef patties for $10.
Tony Bradshaw, left, and Kadeem Bashy of Bashy Patties were selling discounted patties to fans at York Lions Staidum.
Gilbert Ngabo/ Toronto Star
It's the early days of a long season, but the significance of having a professional women's league in Canada can already be felt.
Kimiya Fani is a York University student who grew up dreaming of playing soccer professionally but has since moved into coaching at her former high school in Thornhill. Had there been a professional women's league when she was younger, she has no doubt her playing career would have flourished.
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Kimiya Fani attended AFC Toronto's first game at York Lions Stadium, where she was able to create her own player card.
Gilbert Ngabo/ Toronto Star
'I had to come here and witness this milestone,' Fani said. She was holding a player card of herself that was printed at a booth set up by Desjardins, the team's official partner.
'This is exciting not only for the growth of women's soccer in Canada but also for community integration in general. Soccer is really a language that everyone speaks.'
The unwavering support from fans, rain or shine, in AFC Toronto's first game at its new home, didn't go unnoticed by the team.
'It feels good to be home,' said forward Nikayla Small. 'I feel like going forward we're going to be really confident here.'
