Women seek electricity at home debut
ECFC hosts 2021 finalist Oakville’s Blue Devils FC at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Fleming College
The Electric City FC men made a historic League1 Ontario debut last week and it’s the women’s turn Saturday.
A league record 1,565 spectators took in the electric atmosphere, pun intended, of the men’s 3-0 home opener win against Windsor TFC on May 7.
The women hope to recreate the same environment when they make their debut at 3 p.m. at the Fleming Sports Complex against 2021 L1O finalist Blue Devils FC of Oakville.
Angelika Mihalopulos loved the atmosphere at the men’s opener and hopes the women will get the same treatment.
“When I walked in, I thought ‘I’m so jealous right now. I know we’re going to play in a week, but it was so incredible from start to finish,’ ” she said. “It’s League1 and you don’t typically get all that in a League1 game.”
ECFC’s mission has been to bring a professional approach to a semiprofessional league with ambitions of eventually landing a Canadian Premier League team.
Mihalopulos played one year of pro soccer in Greece and three years for L1O’s FC London and she says ECFC is delivering on its promise. “I came from another club and other girls have come from clubs and it’s just a completely different ball game over here. It’s setting that professional standard,” she said.
That’s the goal for ECFC president Rob Jenkins, who hopes to be on the cutting edge of the development of a professional women’s soccer league in Canada.
“We are a pro-am team and there is no pro league in Canada right now,” Jenkins said.
“This is the highest level of female soccer in the country. We have some really strong players who have played professionally in other countries and have come back here to be a part of this in hopes we can push that professional envelope.”
Jenkins said it’s ECFC’s goal to treat the women equal to the men. “We want to make sure the community really gets behind these girls,” he said.
“We’re doing something different overall in terms of what this league has had before. We think it’s a great group of girls we’ve put together and a special squad. We’re going to do a very similar game day set up almost identical except it’s an afternoon game so come on out and enjoy the sun.”
ECFC women’s head coach Randy Ribeiro has been in L1O for six years as a player and coach and he says he’s never experienced anything like the atmosphere last Saturday, which included music, food trucks, a beer garden, VIP tents, a supporter’s cheering section that never stopped chanting or singing, smoke bombs, fireworks and fans right on top of the action.
“That was a memorable night for me and a night I was very happy to be a part of with this organization,” Ribeiro said. “It was fantastic. it was above and beyond all the standards and expectations I’ve seen across League1.
“The players and staff are fortunate to have a team behind the scenes that looks to raise the bar and set the standard very high, not only on the pitch but off the pitch. I hope the city is proud of it and happy with it and it has them coming back for more,” Ribeiro added.
“That’s what we want to create. here. To have the game day experience for both teams built into the routine for families and supporters,” he said.
Notes Electric City FC men’s player Zach Ellis-Hayden has been summoned by the Barbados national team for the Nations League Tournament, which takes place over the next four weeks. ECFC president Rob Jenkins said there is also a good chance keeper Quillan Roberts will be summoned by the Guyana national team to participate in the same tournament. The men visit Unionville Milliken on Saturday and return home May 21 against ProStars FC at 3 p.m.