Boost of red
K-W United FC partner up with TFC
KITCHENER — K-W United FC’s black and blue crew will see a boost of red this season.
The Premier Development League squad has reached an agreement with Toronto FC that will see the Major League Soccer club make its university aged prospects available to United’s roster beginning this season.
The deal was hashed out earlier this year with a twoyear trial window that has an indefinite rolling arrangement to follow, according to United president Barry MacLean.
“It’s a great relationship to have,” he said. “It’s good for our recruiting pool, and it’s good for them to have access to our players. There is no way to lose on this, really.”
The pact will see United get first crack at TFC prospects currently playing for universities and colleges in the United States and Canada for the PDL season, which runs May to early August.
United still plans to recruit its own talent, but now those players will have a more direct pipeline to the MLS ranks.
TFC used to enter its academy team into the PDL but the squad, which is made up of high school aged players, had a tough time competing against older foes and has since withdrawn from the league.
“They have their academy system but there is a little bit of a void for the kids that go off to the NCAA or CIS (U Sports),” said MacLean. “There really isn’t a program that fits their needs.”
United and TFC have a long history as three former players have gone on to sign with last year’s MLS finalists in defender Oyvind Alseth and midfielders Sergio Camargo and Jay Chapman.
Former skipper Chris Pozniak, who led United to a PDL championship in 2015, is also an assistant coach with TFC II in the United Soccer League.
United finished two points back of defending PDL champs the Michigan Bucks with a record of 11-1-2 in the Great Lakes Division last season.
Martin Painter returns for his second season as coach, and the team expects to have about seven or eight players back. The rest of the lineup will be complemented with new talent and TFC prospects.
The black and blue kick off the season on the road against the Bucks on May 13. The team hosts the West Virginia Chaos in its home opener May 28 at University Stadium.