AFC Toronto gears up for start of historic 1st season next week

When AFC Toronto steps onto BMO Field next Saturday, they will not only be playing their first home game, but making history as the city's first professional women's soccer club. 

To celebrate the start of the team's inaugural season, the City of Toronto raised the team's flag at city hall on Saturday. 

The support means the world to the team as they prepare to take the pitch for the very first time, said Helena Ruken, AFC Toronto's co-founder and CEO. 

"This marks the beginning of a new movement in women's professional soccer right here in our city," she said. 

Ruken said the moment has been two years in the making, since the team was announced as one of six franchises in the Northern Super League, a Canadian professional women's soccer league.

"We've built something special with incredible players, incredible staff and supporters, and we can't wait to show you all," she said. 

Over the last few months, AFC Toronto has unveiled a steady stream of players on its roster, who came out Saturday to watch their team's flag fly above city hall. 

For Leah Pais, who's from Mississauga, joining the team means getting to play professionally closer to home. She most recently played for Thróttur Reykjavík FC in Iceland.

"To actually go through the whole journey, go from country to country and to now do it at the age of 23 when it wasn't a possibility so many years ago, it's insane," she said. 

"It's such a privilege and it's such an honour, and I'm taking every little piece of joy ... with me along for the ride."

Midfielder Nikayla Small said she hopes the league's first season will inspire young girls to stick with the sport by showing them they have opportunities to make a living at it.

"I think for the younger generation especially, just for them to see us day in, and day out, to want to aspire to be like that is so important for their development," she said. 

"I would love to be somebody that a young girl sees and be like, 'I want to be just like her.' So I hope there's a lot of girls that come to our game and think that."

The team will step on to the pitch for their first-ever home match at BMO Field on April 19, where they'll face off against Montreal Roses FC. 

The inaugural season for the Northern Super League opens April 16 when Calgary's Wild FC visit Vancouver Rise FC at BC Place.

Each team will play 25 matches from April to October with the top four advancing to playoffs.