The Kia Toronto FC Academy wrapped up it’s second annual three-day Fall Invitational Tournament this past Sunday at the Kia Training Grounds.

The tournament was created by the Kia TFC Academy as a way to provide MLS academies and local clubs at the U-11 and U-12 ages an opportunity to play in pre and post season competition, as well as a way for coaches to assess the quality and potential of the talent pool in those age categories.

Also important for Toronto FC is developing relationships with other MLS academies and local clubs to help support the continuing production of top talent in North American soccer and this is one way to help develop those relationships.

“This is something that we, that Toronto FC and [General Manager] Tim Bezbatchenko and everyone supports. It’s important for us at Toronto FC to support youth soccer,” said Gianni Cimini, Head Coach of the TFC Academy U-12’s, following the conclusion of the tournament.

“I think this is one of the ways we can support youth soccer, not only locally, but also throughout the MLS and North America,” he added.

Teams that participated include the academies of MLS clubs Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire, local clubs in Vaughan Soccer Club and Aurora Youth Soccer Club, and from the nation’s capital the Ottawa South United Force Academy.

Marco Casalinuovo, Head Coach of the TFC Academy U-11’s, was quite happy with the outcome of the tournament.

“The level of competition was good and that’s why we’re doing these tournaments, to seek good competition around North America,” he mentioned.

Cimini echoed Casalinuovo’s comments: “Every chance you get to get games like these against Houston, Chicago, Vaughan, OSU, Aurora is great. They all provided great competition [this weekend].”

Other clubs that participated shared the same sentiment as Cimini and Casalinuovo.

“It’s fantastic for us to have an opportunity to play teams of this opposition. It’s good for us to come out and compare ourselves to them and challenge our kids,” said Russell Shaw of the OSU Force Academy.

“I think they [these tournaments] are excellent because the MLS academies are playing against themselves and other local top clubs. The players will hopefully only get better and these kinds of experiences will be very beneficial for them,” stated Alan Cuevas of the Houston Dynamo Academy.

With the success of the three-day tournament this past weekend, the Kia Toronto FC Academy will look to continue to host this significant annual event.

Scores & Highlights From the Tournament:

Day 3 - //www.torontofc.ca/news/2015/10/recap-final-day-kia-tfc-academy-invitational
Day 2 - //www.torontofc.ca/news/2015/10/recap-day-2-kia-tfc-academy-invitational
Day 1 - //www.torontofc.ca/news/2015/10/recap-day-1-kia-tfc-academy-invitational