AFC Toronto’s head coach Marko Milanovic mentioned that the team took a break following their defeat in the Northern Super League final against Vancouver Rise. Milanovic humorously shared that they had a couple of days for relaxation, highlighting his positive outlook despite the loss.
The team is now gearing up for the World Sevens Football tournament in Florida, where they will face strong competition from clubs like Club America, Tigres Femenil, Kansas City Current, and others. This seven-a-side tournament offers a unique format with shorter games and rule variations, including no offsides and unlimited substitutions.
Milanovic, recognized as the NSL coach of the year, likened the tournament to indoor soccer played outdoors, emphasizing the challenge of adjusting to the absence of offsides. Despite the initial disappointment from the NSL final loss, Milanovic believes that the team has moved past it and is focused on performing well in the upcoming tournament.
The World Sevens Football event will take place at Beyond Bancard Field in Davie, Florida, alongside other soccer events like the MLS Cup final. AFC Toronto will kick off their Group 1 matches against Tigres before facing Flamengo and Kansas City. The team’s strong performance in the NSL regular season and playoffs has set high expectations for their performance in the upcoming tournament.
The tournament format, similar to the one where Bayern Munich women emerged victorious, requires clubs to share prize money with their staff and players. Milanovic expressed his readiness to bring all available players to compete in the World Sevens Football tournament, showcasing Canada’s roster for the event.