After AFC Toronto’s defeat in the Northern Super League final on November 15 against the Vancouver Rise, head coach Marko Milanovic felt the team needed some downtime. Milanovic jokingly mentioned that they took a break by having a couple of days of relaxation. Despite the loss in the NSL championship, Milanovic’s sense of humor remained intact, reflecting the team’s positive spirit.
The team is now gearing up for the World Sevens Football tournament in Florida. AFC Toronto, as the NSL regular-season leader, will compete against teams like Mexico’s Club America and Tigres Femenil, the NWSL’s Kansas City Current and San Diego Wave, Brazil’s Flamengo, Colombia’s Deportivo Cali, and Uruguay’s Nacional. The tournament offers a total prize money of $5 million US, with each game lasting 30 minutes on a smaller pitch compared to a standard field. Unique rules include unlimited rolling substitutions and no offsides, allowing teams to dress 16 players per game.
Milanovic, honored as the NSL coach of the year, described the tournament as resembling indoor soccer played outdoors. He highlighted the challenge of adjusting to the absence of offsides, a rule his backline was accustomed to relying on. Despite this adjustment, Milanovic emphasized the team’s readiness to embrace the new rules and tactics required for the tournament.
The upcoming tournament will take place at Beyond Bancard Field at NSU in Davie, Fla., which was previously the training camp site for the Miami Dolphins and now hosts Fort Lauderdale United FC. AFC Toronto will kick off their Group 1 matches against Tigres before facing Flamengo and Kansas City. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on Sunday.
Reflecting on the championship loss, Milanovic acknowledged the initial disappointment but noted that the team has overcome the rough patch. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance in the final and credited their preparation despite the outcome. Looking ahead, Milanovic is optimistic about AFC Toronto’s prospects in the World Sevens Football tournament.
The inaugural World Sevens Football was won by Bayern Munich women, defeating Manchester United in the final. The tournament featured teams from across Europe and included standout performances from players like Simi Awujo of Manchester United. The event, co-founded by Jennifer Mackesy, promotes fair distribution of prize money among clubs, ensuring that staff and players receive their share.
Milanovic confirmed that all available players will be included in AFC Toronto’s roster for the upcoming World Sevens tournament. The team is setting its sights on a strong performance and aims to make a mark on the North American edition of the prestigious competition.