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Reflecting on media, milestones and memories in 2025

As a largely productive year comes to a close, I reflect on some of the accomplishments attained by ADB Creative Consulting in 2025. My consultancy was fortunate to work with six different clients this past year, most of whom engaged me to create multiple PR campaigns on their behalf. Multi-part campaigns were initiated for Racing Madrid FC, The Borough FC, Milton Magic FC and International FC.

In fact, ADB Creative Consulting developed 15 separate campaigns in 2025, attaining close to 40 earned media opportunities for my clients. The Canadian Press, Soccer 360 magazine, OMNI TV and CHIN Radio/TV were among the media that produced content about my clients on multiple occasions this year, while the US-based Soccer Business newsletter, Toronto Hispano and Spanglish SportsWorld were among the media that engaged with us for the very first time. I’m proud to say that, from April to December, at least one of my clients was featured on a media outlet each month.

2025 also marked a year when ADB Creative Consulting ventured beyond soccer to include representation of other events, including the sport of Kabaddi, which is primed to gain a significant footprint in Canada in 2026.

I expect to renew collaborations with most, if not all, of my current clients next year and I’m very excited to reveal that my consultancy will welcome a new soccer organization as a client in 2026 and is in discussions with several other sporting enterprises as well.

Besides the media campaign initiatives in 2025, my consultancy also collaborated with three other ventures in various capacities. In September, I was invited by the Greek International Film Festival Tour of Canada and the Hungarian Film Festival Toronto to moderate a discussion following their joint screening of the documentary film “Ange and the Boss:Puskas in Australia”, with the film’s director and one of the protagonists.

In November, I was invited by League1 Ontario to moderate several sessions at the first ever League1 Canada Converge conference held in Cambridge, ON. Throughout the year, I also provided live match commentary for League1 Ontario’s YouTube channel.

I want to take a moment to thank all my clients for the trust they placed in me in executing their media campaigns in 2025. It’s a responsibility I take on with great pride and I work diligently on their behalf to achieve tangible results.

Reflecting on the past year, I can say without pause that I have grown both personally and professionally, learning new skills and implementing new strategies and techniques to provide my clients with better service, resulting in greater media attention and broader brand awareness.

If you and your organization are looking for communications and consultation services, I would be delighted to represent you and your enterprise in 2026. Here’s wishing all my colleagues and followers a peaceful and serene holiday season and a very happy and prosperous New Year!

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Converge 2025

It was a privilege to have attended the first ever League1 Canada Converge Conference, this past weekend in Cambridge, ON. The two-day event brought together representatives from the four regional semi-pro soccer leagues across the country in a setting designed to give attendees actionable tools, strategic insights and meaningful connections. The aim of the conference: to foster a collaborative environment that promotes shared learning, growth and the elevation of club standards nationwide.

Converge 2025 featured three distinct programming streams (Marketing & Communications, Team Operations & Game Day Management, Executive & Strategic Leadership) with interactive sessions specific to each of those three streams, as well as panels and presentations designed for participants from all tracks.

I was selected to moderate three impactful sessions on the first day, beginning with a hands-on, resource-building lab on “Financial Leadership & Strategic Club Growth”. In the afternoon, I moderated a combined panel and toolkit lab entitled “The Activation Engine: Sponsorship Fulfillment & Broadcasting on a Budget”. My last session was a workshop and fireside chat on “Municipal Partnerships & Grant Strategy”.

It was a delight to renew acquaintances with many club coaches, executives and administrators that I’ve known for years, some who I’ve worked alongside in the past. And it was a pleasure to have met so many new individuals who are contributing to building the framework and the legacy of League1 and its affiliated clubs.

The networking opportunities between sessions were beneficial in solidifying existing partnerships and developing new working relationships. 

Converge 2025 was a unique opportunity for clubs across Canada to share key insights and best practices with the ultimate objective of advancing Canadian semi-pro soccer.

It was an honour to have played a small part in empowering League1 clubs with tools and resources they can take back and use in their respective board rooms and in their planning strategies.

Thank you to League1 Ontario Operations Manager Chris Keem for the invitation to participate and to the entire League1 Ontario staff for putting on an outstanding conference. 

Looking forward to an eventful 2026 League1 season!

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A Celebration of Football and Film

Sports documentaries are among my favourite film genres, so it was with great pleasure that I accepted the opportunity to help promote a wonderful film about the legendary Hungarian soccer star Ferenc Puskas and his whimsical adventure coaching a predominantly Greek-supported Melbourne soccer club to an Australian national championship some 34 years ago.

“Ange and the Boss: Puskas in Australia” is a lovely narrative that screened last weekend in Toronto as part of both the Hungarian Film Festival Toronto (HUFF) and the Greek International Film Festival Tour of Canada (GIFFT).

The film recounts the tale of the famed Puskas, once a star player with the likes of Real Madrid in the 1950’s and 60’s, and his rag-tag collection of semi-professional players at South Melbourne Hellas who went on to capture the 1991 National Soccer League Grand Final. The film also explores the immigrant experience that shaped the multicultural mosaic that is today’s Australia, which is often compared to the social fabric that defines Canada today.  

After the screening, I had the honour of moderating a brief panel discussion with one of the film’s directors, Cameron Fink, and the author of Puskas’ official biography, Hungarian sports journalist Gyorgy Szollosi, who appears in the film. Both gentlemen offered their unique perspectives on the subject of the documentary and the legacy he left behind in Australia and in other parts of the world.

Many institutions, sporting facilities and commemorative landmarks around the world bear his name. Puskas’ status in soccer history is so revered that FIFA bestowed his name to the annual award for the year’s best goal. 

While ethnic-based rivalries may have defined Australia’s soccer landscape in the early 1990’s, this film unified two communities, both in Australia and here in Canada, in celebration of a legendary figure of the sport that transcended ethnicity and nationality.

If you’re even a modest soccer fan and you love a story of triumph overcoming adversity, I urge you to seek out this film. It will definitely amuse and entertain you but, ultimately, it will uplift your spirit. 

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A Festival Screening of a Special Sports Documentary

Since everyone is caught up with the allure of TIFF this week, I wanted to share that I am very excited to be assisting in the promotion of a wonderful sports documentary film that will premiere later this month in Toronto as part of a joint presentation of both the Hungarian Film Festival Toronto and the Greek International Film Festival Tour of Canada.

“Ange and the Boss: Puskas in Australia” is a funny, quirky and heartwarming film that recounts the story of Hungarian football legend Ferenc Puskas’ managerial experience in the humble surroundings of suburban Melbourne, Australia, coaching ethnic-based club South Melbourne Hellas, during a memorable championship season.

I will also have the honour of moderating a discussion after the film with a distinguished panel, including one of the film’s directors, Cameron Fink, who will be joining us from Australia.

If you’re a movie buff as well as a football fan, this is a can’t miss screening. I had the pleasure of watching an advance copy of the film recently and was enthralled by the man, the myth, and the legend that is Puskas, football’s first true superstar, a member of the mighty and magical Magyars, the Hungarian National Team of the 1950’s, as well as the rollicking Real Madrid side of that era that won multiple European Cups. We discover who Puskas the manager was through the Australian players that formed that 1991 championship team, one of whom, Ange Postecoglou, was just in the news, having signed to lead Nottingham Forest in the EPL, after winning the UEFA Europa League with Tottenham just last season.  

The film is as much a tribute to Puskas as it is a nostalgic look back at the immigrant experience that shaped the Greek-Australian community of Melbourne, something many of us can relate to, having followed similar paths here in Canada.  

I highly recommend coming out to view this outstanding film and staying for the panel discussion afterwards. It will screen at the Imagine Cinemas Carlton in Toronto, on Saturday, September 27th from 2-4pm ET. To purchase tickets, see the link here below. If you already have a ticket to the TFC v Inter Miami game later that afternoon, why not make it a doubleheader and drop by the theatre earlier in the day.

GIFFT and TOHUFF Co-Present | Ange and the Boss Puskás in Australia
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The Evolution of The Borough FC

This is an example of how a soccer club can forge a lasting bond with a community. Free admission to the match. Support local charities and community organizations. A memorable game day atmosphere. A team that demonstrates a fighting spirit.

These are the principles that The Borough FC established when it was formed less than two years ago and, with a second successive promotion within reach, these are the same principles that will guide the club in League1 Ontario’s Premier Division, should it reach that lofty goal at the end of this week.

At the club’s final home match of the season this past Sunday, The Borough FC drew a record attendance to Scarborough’s Birchmount Stadium, its fans eager to watch the team draw a step closer to its stated ambition of reaching the Premier Division.

And although the club could only manage a scoreless draw against its opponent on the day, York United Academy, the fact that automatic promotion is still within its grasp is a credit to President and Founder Andrew Ornoch, his technical staff, and his team of volunteers, who worked tirelessly throughout the past two seasons to set a high bar for the club in its efforts both on and off the pitch.

Anchored by a prominent and very successful youth development program, The Borough FC is committed to creating a player pathway for young athletes from Scarborough and the surrounding region. That commitment, combined with a sustainable business model, are the foundations for the future growth and longevity of the club and its key partners.

As a Scarborough resident, I’m very proud to have played a small part in helping to share The Borough FC’s evolution as a club with the mainstream media over the past two seasons and I’m looking forward to continuing our collaboration in 2026.

For a detailed background story on The Borough FC and its remarkable rise, please read James Grossi’s thoughtful essay in the link below.

https://unattachedfc.substack.com/p/something-special-brewing-in-scarborough

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Brand Building and Media Managing

July was another busy and eventful month for ADB Creative Consulting as we continued to create brand awareness and media buzz for a number of GTA-based soccer organizations.

The month kicked off on July 9 with a visit from Italian World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta, a special guest at the International FC Pro ID Camp, coincidentally on the anniversary of Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory in Germany. A former Juventus defender with a long and storied career, Zambrotta interacted with the IFC camp participants, signing autographs and posing for photos while also obliging local media, including OMNI TV, LPC Media and The Game Plan, who all responded to our invitation to join us at this special event, hosted by IFC.

On July 12, Steve Nijjar and his Racing Madrid FC became national news when Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press published an article on the club’s recent promotion and future ambitions. Steve and I are exploring new media pathways to continue to tell the amazing story of this historic club in Spain that is blazing a trail towards the top of the Spanish football pyramid.  

At the end of the month, ADB Creative Consulting focused its attention on another organization forging Italian ties as Milton Magic FC prepared to host an international Youth Camp with visiting pro coaches from Serie A side SS Lazio and Ternana Women. This week, we were on site at Milton’s Lion’s Sports Park to facilitate media interviews with members of the technical staff from both Italian clubs who are establishing international affiliations to promote not only their brands but also their technical expertise. 

My play-by-play assignments with League1 Ontario took me to Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre Stadium for two high profile finals over the course of five days. On July 30, I was fortunate to call the Women’s L1 Cup Final featuring North Toronto and Alliance United with the Nitros claiming the trophy with a convincing 5-1 victory. And on August 3rd, I witnessed Woodbridge Strikers complete an unprecedented sweep of titles, by winning the Women’s L2 final with a 4-0 defeat of Waterloo United, a result that capped a sensational weekend that saw Woodbridge capture three consecutive trophies, after conquering both the men’s and women’s U20 divisions the day before.

August will be just as intense for ADB Creative Consulting as we embark on another media campaign with League1 Championship side The Borough FC, help to promote a major cinematic event in late September and explore a new sporting enterprise coming to the GTA next month. Stay tuned!

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Summer’s off to a Hot Start!

June was another very active month for ADB Creative Consulting. My play by play assignment last month took me out to Pickering for a League1 Ontario Championship division contest between Durham Region rivals Pickering FC and Whitby FC. The highly entertaining 2-2 draw demonstrated just how competitive that division, in particular, is this season with just 10 points separating the top 10 teams, as of this writing.

June 12 was a day of significance because it observed one year before the city of Toronto is to host its first ever FIFA World Cup match and the occasion was marked by a special celebration held at Nathan Philips Square and City Hall. A number of local pro soccer clubs, including AFC Toronto and York United, and local soccer celebrities, such as Dwayne De Rosario, were on hand to participate in a festival of soccer that brought thousands of people downtown to experience the vibe and witness the unveiling of the official countdown clock.  

Back to League1 and the end of the month brought about a top-of-the-table clash between Championship division contenders Sudbury Cyclones and The Borough FC from iconic Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough. Working on behalf of The Borough FC founder Andrew Ornoch, ADB Creative Consulting distributed a media release inviting media outlets to profile the emerging community force that The Borough FC is becoming. Having established collaborations with the Scarborough Health Network, Feed Scarborough, the Toronto Zoo and many other community organizations, The Borough FC is hoping to forge a powerful alliance between Scarborough’s vibrant business community and its pro-am representative in League1, which has a broad and stable grassroots component.  

Building on the club’s appearance on Rogers TV Durham in May, ADB Creative Consulting has been coordinating interview opportunities for the club with community-based media outlets like The Bluffs Monitor as well as more prominent services like 680 News Radio Toronto.

And, as we enter July, I’m thrilled to be working alongside International FC Academy once again as we promote a very special event next week – the appearance of a former Italian international soccer star, FIFA World Cup champion Gianluca Zambrotta, who will be guest coach for one day only, July 9th, at IFC’s annual Summer Open Camp. We hope to generate a lot of media attention for this ex-player as he makes a rare appearance in Canada.

As always, if you or your organization or someone you know are seeking consultation and representation in media, DM me. I’m always happy to chat!

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More Multi Media Moments in May

The month of May was another active period for ADB Creative Consulting.  Through my media representation of the Borough FC, the League1 Ontario Championship side, club founder Andrew Ornoch and player Selah Dennis were featured on Rogers Durham TV’s weekly “Sports Report with Scott Dennis” show. Andrew and Selah spoke about the Borough FC’s excellent start to the new L1O season and their efforts in engaging the community with an attractive game day experience both on and off the pitch.

Speaking of League1, I had the pleasure of calling a L1O women’s Premier division match between NDC and Alliance United from Varsity Centre, an iconic venue where I experienced a lot of memorable moments through the early years of my career. My June L1O assignment coming up this weekend will take me to Durham region for a local derby between Pickering FC and Whitby FC in a men’s Championship division clash.

Back on the consulting front, following an initial campaign in March, I executed a second media campaign for Steve Nijjar and his Spanish club Racing Madrid, who earned an historic promotion to the fifth tier of Spanish football in May. Renowned British author Simon Evans’ new Soccer Business Newsletter carried the story this week and an interview was arranged with GTA radio station CMR Diversity FM 101.3. Plus, a comprehensive feature article in the nationally distributed Soccer 360 magazine is expected to be published in the August issue.

I’m also excited to be working behind the scenes with a former colleague on an interesting event that connects soccer with cinema. It’s in the development stage so I can’t reveal too much yet but stay tuned because I’ll be sharing more details in a future post.

Enjoy the start of your summer months and, as always, if you or your organization or someone you know are seeking consultation and representation in media, DM me. I’m always happy to chat!

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New Projects in 2025

April was a very busy month for ADB Creative Consulting. There was plenty of activity on a number of fronts, from play by play to media representation to consultation and event hosting. 

In the opening two weeks of the League 1 Ontario regular season, I was fortunate to call a derby match in both the women’s and men’s competitions for the league’s livestreaming YouTube channel. In women’s L1O Premier division action, Woodbridge Strikers continued their dominance of local rivals Vaughan Azzurri from the previous season, earning a 2-0 victory on the first match day of the 2025 season.

The following week, in a Championship division clash, The Borough FC and local rival Master’s FA battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first ever Scarborough derby, an event that drew a sizeable crowd to Birchmount Stadium despite below seasonal temperatures.

In advance of the match commentary for that Scarborough rivalry, I assisted The Borough FC in drawing some media attention to the club and its players. As of this writing, we had secured interviews with Rogers TV Durham, the GamePlan podcast and the Bluffs Monitor with other notable media also showing interest.

Some months ago, I was recruited by GTA soccer enterprise International FC Academy to help plan their 15th anniversary ceremony which took place on May 1. I also had the honour of hosting the prestigious event which featured a special appearance by Toronto FC GM Jason Hernandez as the Keynote speaker.

In addition, we generated plenty of media attention, including a feature report on the Italian edition of OMNI News, as well as future stories planned for CHIN Radio and LPC Media.

In between all this activity, I managed to find the time to speak to Jon Morgan and Mikael Rougette of Cambridge United, one of the new entries to League1 Ontario, for the league’s weekly YouTube show.

May promises to be just as busy with a second media campaign planned for Racing Madrid’s pending promotion in Spain, another L1O play by play assignment at Varsity Stadium, and further announcements planned with International FC as it launches a fundraising campaign in support of a stadium refurbishment in York Region.  Stay tuned, plenty more ahead! 

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Kicking off the 2025 L1O Season

Happy to be returning for a third season to call League1 Ontario games on the league’s YouTube channel.  My first two assignments this year are derby matches beginning this Saturday with a women’s Premier division game between Vaughan and Woodbridge from North Maple. The following weekend I’ll be at iconic Birchmount Stadium for the battle of Scarborough between men’s Championship division rivals Borough FC and Master’s FA.  

It will be interesting to follow all eight divisions under the L1O umbrella as the league has gradually expanded over the past decade to include four men’s categories and four women’s as well. Promotion and relegation has been instituted and an in-season cup competition returns. There are new franchises with Cambridge United and Railway City, representing the town of St Thomas, entering teams in both men’s and women’s divisions, while York United’s Academy will feature in the men’s Championship category. There are also newly re-branded clubs in Oakville and Whitby. 

L1O and its three provincial allies in BC, Alberta and Quebec, form League1 Canada, and are expected to supply most of the domestic talent that will progress to the Canadian Premier League and the new Northern Super League.  A considerable number of L1O men find their way onto CPL rosters each year and as many as 30 L1O women have made the leap to the NSL this year. 

The exciting thing for play by play commentators like myself will be the chance to discover L1O talent that demonstrates the ability to excel and earn a move to the next level. 

If you have an opportunity to do so this year, come out to your local ground and support the L1O club in your community. You could be watching the future stars and superstars of Canadian soccer.  

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Spring is for Renewals

The spring season means renewal and ADB Creative Consulting has renewed collaborations with a number of key soccer organizations, both here and abroad, as the playing season winds down in certain parts of the world while the competitive season is just beginning here in North America.

Last month, I renewed a collaboration with Steve Nijjar, head of Toronto-based Steve Nijjar Sports & Entertainment, and president of Racing Madrid, the lower division Spanish club that he and his partners revived some three years ago and, today, is on the verge of an historic promotion.

The club sits atop its group in the regional league of the capital city of Madrid and is destined to clinch promotion to the fifth tier of Spanish football within a matter of weeks. It’s a compelling story that has already been chronicled previously with features in the Globe and Mail and the Canadian Press.

But now, with promotion a realistic target, Steve has once again been actively pursued by Canadian media. A nationally-televised interview with OMNI News Punjabi was followed by an interview with The Game Plan across multiple formats. The digital publication South Asian Daily also reached out to Steve for a widely distributed story this month. Once promotion is confirmed, potentially later this month, I will be collaborating with Steve once again on further announcements regarding his club and its domestic and global ambitions.

I also renewed a collaboration this month with The Borough FC, Scarborough’s representative in League1 Ontario which, this season, will compete in the Men’s Championship division. The club, operated by Andrew Ornoch of Dutch Connections FC, kicked off the new season with an activation event this past weekend with its Scarborough-based retail apparel partner, Scarborough Spots. Held at Scarborough’s iconic Eglinton Square Mall, the event was very well attended and featured freestylers, a DJ, skills challenges, giveaways and some limited Borough FC merchandise. The team begins play on the pitch this weekend with a League1 Cup match against Club Roma in St. Catharines.

Beyond that opening match, Andrew and I have devised a three-part communications campaign that will promote a number of the club’s community initiatives in tandem with key home games during the 2025 season. Look for extensive media coverage of this ambitious club as the season progresses.

In addition, I have also renewed my collaboration with League1 Ontario to provide livestreaming play by play on several men’s and women’s designated Game of the Week matches throughout the 2025 season. The new season officially kicks off tonight with League1 Cup action from Waterloo and there are two Games of the Week scheduled this weekend. Consult the league’s website (https://league1ontario.com/) and YouTube channel for the designated Games of the Week this season. I also hope to contribute to the league’s new weekly highlights show, also available on YouTube, which debuts tomorrow.

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A Year of Choices and Challenges

2024 was a challenging year for business development and new business creation. Sport and not for profit organizations have limited budgets to begin with and, forced to contend with an ever-shrinking dollar and a very competitive marketplace, many simply do not have the means to initiate multi-media marketing campaigns.

I was, however, fortunate to establish a collaboration, through my consultancy, ADB Creative Consulting, with three new partners this year. At the beginning of the year, working alongside the talented visual artists at Creatica Studios™ | A Creative Agency That Digs Strategy, Content and Execution | Toronto, I was elated to have been chosen to supervise the production of the 2024 Dragon Ball, on behalf of the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation, televised on OMNI TV. The spectacular entertainment, along with the glitz and glamour of the annual event, provided the backdrop for the 60-minute production that featured captivating performances, behind the scenes clips, and interviews with notable politicians and personalities. I was very proud to have worked on this project for the first time and I look forward to continuing my collaboration with the event’s organizing committee in 2025 and beyond.

In the spring, I began another new collaboration with Andrew Ornoch and his Scarborough-based League1 Ontario expansion pro-am soccer club, Borough FC.  As a long-time Scarborough resident, I was excited to help Andrew establish the new club’s brand identity and create some media awareness for the fledgling organization, which has pledged a commitment to excellence, community engagement and a passion for the beautiful game. Our efforts produced several media appearances over the span of a couple of weeks, at the start of the club’s inaugural season in May, including interviews with Rogers TV Durham, 680 NewsRadio Toronto and The GamePlan podcast.

Later, in July, I had the opportunity to represent the newly-rebranded Milton Magic FC (Milton Youth Soccer Club) and its international summer camp with guest coach Alberto Bollini, a European Championship-winning manager with the Italian National Youth Team. In a span of eight days, we generated six separate media interviews with the coach, in both English and Italian, with the likes of OMNI TV, Footy Prime The Podcast, The Next Pod and CHIN Radio. This was an encouraging response for a brand new initiative.

ADB Creative Consulting also renewed collaborations with several other organizations this past year, including Steve Nijjar Sports & Entertainment, League1 Ontario, League1 Canada, OneSoccer, and also established a relationship with Collegiate Prospects International, a new entity in the university scholarship player identification system.

Looking ahead to 2025, I’m excited to reveal that I will be introducing a new program designed specifically for sport and not for profit organizations, a learning module accompanied by a booklet. I’ll have more details and specifics early in the New Year but I’ve spent the better part of the past six months building out this project and I’m looking forward to testing it and sharing it with the sports community.

In the meantime, I’d like to thank the many LinkedIn connections that reached out with comments, questions or just a note of encouragement this past year. I am truly grateful for all your support. I wish everyone a safe and pleasant holiday season and I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with some of you in 2025.

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Educate, Inspire, Elevate

It was an absolute pleasure to have moderated an insightful and informative communications/PR/marketing strategies session at the League1 Ontario Summit last weekend in Hamilton attended by dozens of members from L1O organizations across the province.

I was joined by three exceptional panelists including: David Zbar, Chief Marketing Officer, Simcoe County Rovers & President, My Left Foot; Duncan Stewart, Strategic Advisor, Plus.Fan; and Laura Armstrong, Senior Director of Communications, Canadian Premier League. 

During the 90-minute session we discussed an array of relevant topics from strategies for building a strong and loyal fan base to practical advice for establishing media relationships.  In between sessions, I had a chance to re-connect with some old friends in new places and also met a number of young team executives who are re-invigorating established clubs. 

I want to thank Chris Keem and Dino Rossi from League1 Ontario for inviting me to play a small part at the weekend summit.  Hopefully we were able to provide L1O member clubs with shared experiences and key learnings they can implement as they look ahead to the 2025 season. 

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League 1 Canada Women’s Interprovincial Championships

I was very proud to have contributed play by play commentary on two games at the third annual League 1 Canada women’s interprovincial championships for OneSoccer at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton last weekend. This competition was launched in 2022 and features representative club teams from four provincial Division III Pro-Am leagues: Ligue 1 Quebec, League 1 Ontario, League 1 BC and League 1 Alberta. This event offers the opportunity for top tier female clubs within the League 1 Canada alliance to compete on a national stage for the first time.


I was involved with a semifinal match as well as an outstanding gold medal match between defending champions Vancouver Whitecaps FC of BC & a newcomer to the competition, CS Mont Royal Outremont from Quebec, in a thrilling final that was decided on a dramatic penalty shootout. Working alongside a League 1 Ontario legend like Jade Kovacevic made the experience even more memorable.

Congratulations to Whitecaps FC who, as a result of their victory, have secured a berth to the 2025-26 Concacaf W Champions Cup, a prestigious international club competition featuring the top women’s teams from across North and Central America and the Caribbean. Having already qualified for the continental competition after winning the same national title in 2023, Whitecaps FC will represent Canada at this year’s edition of the Concacaf W Champions Cup, when they visit Alianza Women FC of El Salvador in a preliminary round match this Thursday. Best of luck to Head Coach Katie Collar and the entire Whitecaps FC coaching and playing staff!

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Multi-tasking in July

I’ve always been committed to promoting soccer at every level from grassroots to professional. Over the past month, I’ve been involved in several activities, with the promotion of the game in mind, from creating social media content to being a media liaison to sliding behind the microphone for another play by play gig.  Here’s just some of what I’ve been up to in the past month: 

Capturing memories as six Toronto Blizzard academy graduates embark on their university/ college careers stateside;

Drawing local media attention to Milton Magic’s development camp featuring Italian national youth team head coach Alberto Bollini;

Calling the action between League 1 Ontario Premier division rivals Woodbridge Strikers & Burlington SC at a newly refurbished Vaughan Grove Stadium.

And the month isn’t over yet! I have one more play by play gig to cap it off with the League 1 Ontario Women’s Cup Final set for the evening of July 31 at the Ontario Soccer Centre. I’ll see you there!

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Introducing The Borough FC

I am very proud to be assisting The Borough FC, the newest League 1 Ontario soccer club, in promoting its brand and identity to the media, as a representative of the city of Scarborough, in its inaugural season.

Playing home games at iconic Birchmount Stadium, The Borough FC is a community focused club with key partnerships already established with the Scarborough Health Network and Feed Scarborough, a local food bank.

Club owner and Head Coach Andrew Ornoch has carefully nurtured a foundation with his Dutch Connections FC academy program that serves as the grassroots development system for The Borough FC.

As an expansion team, The Borough FC has entered the provincial competitive pyramid at the bottom, in the newly-created third tier, League 2 Ontario, alongside fellow newcomers Sudbury Cyclones, and a host of 2nd teams belonging to established L1O franchises like Sigma FC, Woodbridge Strikers and North Toronto Nitros.

Ornoch’s aim is to climb the ladder all the way to the top of the pyramid, to the L1O Premier Division, in a patient and purposeful manner, all the while creating a community bond and a vibrant, game day atmosphere at Birchmount Stadium.

Only a month since it first kicked a ball, The Borough FC has already been featured on 680 News Radio Toronto, Rogers TV Durham Region and OneSoccer, with several more media interviews and appearances scheduled in the days and weeks ahead.

As a life long Scarborough resident, it is an absolute pleasure for me to act as a liaison between the club and the local and regional sports media to help establish The Borough FC’s presence in the community. I look forward to lending my expertise to the club as it expands its reach across Scarborough and the Greater Toronto Area.

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Canadian latest celebrity owner to steer European soccer club towards promotion

Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny have set the bar for celebrity soccer ownership as Wrexham AFC earned a double promotion over the past two years to rise from the fifth-tier National League to play in the third-tier English League One next season.

TV personalities Mark Consuelos and his wife, Kelly Ripa, have tasted success with their own Italian club, Campobasso, who also earned a double promotion over two seasons, moving from the fifth division to Serie C, Italy’s third tier of professional football, where they will begin play next season.

Now, Canadian entrepreneur Steve Nijjar, a former athlete and film actor himself, is on the verge of guiding his Spanish team, Racing Madrid FC, to a promotion or, at the very least, qualification to the prestigious Copa del Rey, Spain’s national cup competition, open to both professional and amateur clubs.

Nijjar acquired the assets of the once-dormant Spanish club in August of 2022. Founded in 1914, the club has a rich history, having competed with traditional city rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in its earliest years. But the club became insolvent and ceased operations in 1974. That is, until Nijjar revived the club almost two years ago.

Racing Madrid FC competes in Group 2 of the Preferente Madrid, the regional league of the city of Madrid, the sixth level overall, five notches below La Liga, the top tier of Spanish football. The club currently occupies fifth place in the standings as regular season play winds down this season. A fifth place finish or higher would see Racing Madrid earn a berth to next season’s Copa del Rey. A top two finish would mean automatic promotion to the Tercera Federación, the fifth tier of Spanish professional football.

Last year, in his first season in charge, Nijjar, CEO & Founder of Steve Nijjar Sports & Entertainment (SNSE), guided the club to an eighth place finish in the 18-team regional league. This season, promotion to the next level was the club’s primary objective. Nijjar brought in several established domestic players and a new coaching staff.  When the club faltered in the early stages of the season, Nijjar made a coaching change and, almost immediately, Racing Madrid FC found its legs and began a steady rise to the top half of the league, crafting a 14-match unbeaten streak along the way.

“That unbeaten run speaks volumes of the new coaching staff,” stated Nijjar. “The players bought into the system and the team is playing a style that’s been my vision all along. It’s a delight to watch the progress Racing Madrid has made in just our second season of operation.

As is commonplace with other celebrity club ownership structures, Nijjar recently added a notable partner, Canadian comedian Russell Peters. The two men have been acquaintances for several years and they found a common interest in Racing Madrid.

“We’ve always had mutual respect for each other,” Nijjar told The Game Plan in a recent interview. “We understand the struggles we’ve had. We just know what we both went through to get to where we’re at. We’re both proud of one another. He’s a Canadian icon as far as I’m concerned.”

“My ambition is to rise up to the top echelon of Spanish football. So I hope Ryan Reynolds takes notice because we’re on track to achieve our own promotion”, Nijjar continued with a friendly nod to the Canadian actor/entrepreneur who has transformed Wrexham AFC since his takeover of that Welsh club in 2021.                   

In addition to operating the Spanish club under the SNSE banner, Nijjar is also being recognized here at home for his past achievements in Canadian soccer. He is part of the 2024 class of inductees to the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame. Nijjar, who previously owned and coached the Brampton Hitmen to a Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) championship, will be inducted this month, in the builder’s category, alongside five other local sports achievers, including Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe.

Along with his operation of the Spanish pro club, Nijjar continues to nurture young athletes toward professional soccer careers through his ownership stake in Titan Sportsplex Niagara, an indoor sports facility in the Niagara Region.

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Behind the Scenes of the 35th Annual Dragon Ball Gala

It was an absolute pleasure and delight to return to television production this past week, helping to capture some of the memorable moments from the 35th Annual Dragon Ball Gala, presented by the Yee Hong Wellness Foundation, marking the start of the Lunar New Year. After contributing as a Segment Producer for their livestream presentation in 2022, during the Covid-impacted years, it was nice to attend the event in person at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and also to assume the role of Associate Producer for the 2024 edition of the Gala TV special that will air on OMNI TV.

Our crew hit the ground running mid-afternoon as we began the production by speaking to the Convention Centre Sous Chef who gave us a sneak peek at the four course meal that was being prepared for the Gala. We then recorded show openings and closings with our very talented hosts Winston Sih and Caitlin Wong. As the Gala got underway, we spoke to some of the evening’s performers and vendors, as well as notable VIP guests such as Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie. We captured some of the vibrant and colourful decor as well as the energy and excitement evident in the room throughout the evening.

My thanks go out to Cathy Zhou and Esther Cho from the Yee Hong Foundation who worked very hard to line up the interviewees and provided the logistical support that ensured the production flowed smoothly throughout the evening. And thanks also to the Creatica Studios team of Shahid Shafiq and Daud (David) Ahmadi, who creatively and artistically captured all the key events on the day and provided the post production facilities to complete the production, which is scheduled to be broadcast on OMNI TV on Saturday, February 24.

My consulting services have expanded over recent years to include communications and marketing strategies, media relations and social media content creation, but my first opportunity and first passion in the media industry was television production and I’m always happy to return to my roots and put my stamp on an entertaining television program that is culturally significant and widely accessible for the enjoyment of a national audience.

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360 Soccer Centre Buzzing with Holiday Activity

As the renovation and refurbishment continues behind the scenes at the 360 Soccer Centre, the new home of the Toronto Blizzard Development Academy, there are plenty of events planned this month at the new sports venue in Vaughan. From a goalkeepers’ clinic to a 7v7 tournament to a Junior Blizzard youth day camp, there is no shortage of activity as we approach the Christmas holiday period.

The Centre will be a hub of soccer action during the Christmas break as parents and kids take advantage of the many programs available at the new facility. And the early part of 2024 promises even more events and attractions as well as a significant new addition to the space. More to come on that in the New Year!

In my role as a communications consultant for 360 Soccer Centre and the Blizzard Academy, I’ve been busy developing strategies, coordinating projects and creating content, including interviews, web blogs and a newsletter. One of the stories I’m most excited about is my feature on Rebecca Bartosh. After graduating from Kansas State University, the Toronto Blizzard alumnus signed to play professionally in Italy this season and, this month, is representing the island of Guam, her birth nation, in the East Asian Football Federation Championship, a preliminary qualifying round to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Read about her unique soccer journey in the link: https://torontoblizzard.com/spotlight-blizzard-graduate-rebecca-bartosh/. 

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A New Venture with a New Sports Complex

I am very excited to share that I have taken on a consulting role with the “360 Soccer Centre”, a new high performance athletic complex in Vaughan.  The 50-thousand square foot facility is the new permanent home of the Toronto Blizzard soccer academy and features two indoor turf fields, multiple change rooms, a weight room and a sprint track. The venue will also host “Top Ballers”, a new high tech installation designed specifically for soccer players to improve their skill development. Former Canadian Olympic gold medalist Mark McKoy will also move his strength, conditioning and fitness program to the new facility.

I’ll be assisting with all internal and external communications, including content creation for web and social media, newsletters, publications, as well as community and media relations.

This facility will be a game changer for student athletes who aspire to play elite level soccer at American or Canadian universities and colleges or who have ambitions of playing professionally. The venue can provide all the amenities required for players to reach their potential. 

I am thankful to Blizzard Academy Director and Head Coach Joe Parolini for offering me this opportunity to help build a comprehensive communications strategy for this new facility.

If you would like to learn more about this new venue or are interested in a collaboration, please contact me at alfdeblasis@gmail.com.

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My website is 30 (months, that is)!

Thirty months ago, in March of 2021, I launched my website, alfdeblasis.ca, with the hope of initiating a new direction in my career and establishing a reputation as a trusted and reliable consultant for groups and organizations seeking to enhance their media presence and increase their brand awareness.

Since then, I have worked with as many as 15 different organizations and written over 50 blogs on my website, describing my services, collaborations, achievements and personal anecdotes. My main ambition is to ensure my clients see a tangible return on their investment, whether it is from local or national media coverage, or from an uptick in community acknowledgment of their services and participation in their activities.

I’m excited for my clients when we achieve national media attention. That was the case most recently with Steve Nijjar, of Steve Nijjar Sports & Entertainment (SNSE), when his investment in Spanish soccer club Racing Madrid FC was the subject of nationally distributed feature articles in the Canadian Press as well as the Globe & Mail.

That was also the case with International FC (IFC) Academy, whose Pro ID player combine was featured recently in TLN TV Network’s halftime segments during national telecasts of Serie A Italian League soccer.

Having established a large network of mainstream and multilingual contacts in the media industry over my career, I’m confident I can deliver results for my clients through effective and persuasive media campaigns. Through my professional connections, I am able to tap into a wide spectrum of media outlets, from TV to radio to podcasts to print.

In addition to my regular blogs, my website also outlines some of the professional services I provide and offers examples and links to some of the projects I’ve collaborated on with my clients. If your company or service organization is starting a new initiative or considering a new venture and would like to share your story with a wider, more engaged audience, please contact me through my website. I will put my resources and all my years of experience at your disposal so we can achieve great results together!

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Back in the Booth

It was good to be back in the OneSoccer commentary booth this past weekend, calling a Canadian Premier League game after a long absence. It was great to collaborate with ex-CANMNT defender and TFC captain Jimmy Brennan again as we watched a spirited affair between last year’s playoff finalists, Atletico Ottawa and Forge FC, that ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

No goals to call but plenty of scoring chances as the CPL regular season nears its conclusion with, incredibly, only 4 points separating 1st from 5th. So the league championship, and the resulting berth in the new Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024, is anyone’s for the taking. And all five teams will be jockeying for position in the newly-expanded playoffs for the North Star Shield.

If you haven’t already, check out the action on OneSoccer or the Fubo tv app. The next round of matches includes four games over three days this Labour Day weekend, beginning with a Saturday doubleheader featuring Pacific v Valour and Atletico v Cavalry. Hope to be on another call again soon!

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Media Consultant, at your service

In the past year, in my role as a media consultant, I’ve helped several sports & entertainment enterprises achieve important objectives in terms of organizational profile, brand awareness and local and national media attention and coverage.

  • May-Sept. 2022 – Toronto Blizzard – helped promote the establishment of a new international grassroots partnership between the GTA scholarship program and German powerhouse club FC Bayern Munich (BayernBlizzard)
  • May-June 2023 – Steve Nijjar Sports & Entertainment – helped promote the Canadian entrepreneur’s acquisition and re-launch of a Spanish football club (Racing Madrid FC)
  • July-August 2023 – International FC – helped promote an organizational initiative (Summer Pro ID Camp) and helped to augment the academy’s profile and brand awareness

Combined, these three events reached dozens of media outlets across the Greater Toronto Area and the rest of Canada. I delivered a comprehensive multicultural media mix to all my clients, with coverage ranging from Toronto’s CityNews 680 to The National Post, from TLN TV to the Globe and Mail and many more media outlets in between.

I have built a vast network of media contacts over my 40-year career in the communications industry. I engage with them through media releases and advisories and I follow up with key individuals on a personal basis to determine their level of interest in pursuing a story. I commit the requisite time and effort to each one of my projects and I deliver results for my clients. 

If you’re looking to expose your organization to a greater audience and gain media awareness and attention through a mix of print, digital, electronic and social media, contact me at alfdeblasis@gmail.com. I am always open for new business!

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Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team…Then & Now

As the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to begin in Australia/New Zealand, my mind ventured back to the 1999 edition of the tournament in the USA, an event I was fortunate enough to have covered for the publication I was editing at the time, Inside Soccer Magazine.

Travelling across the Eastern Seaboard, I managed to watch six games in three cities in six days, following the progress of both the Canadian and US National Teams in the group stage.

The two nations went on divergent paths, with Canada tumbling out of the tournament, earning a single point from their three games, and outscored 12-3, while the Americans went on to capture the trophy in the final match vs China at a sold out Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, in the famous Brandi Chastain “sports bra game”.

Ironically, as I reviewed some of the articles I wrote at the time, many of the same issues impacting the Canadian team then are still present today, 24 years later. Poor preparation, a lack of continuity, underfunding, minimal resources. All of these themes were circulating within the Canadian camp at the time and, lo and behold, many of the same issues have been dogging the current Canadian squad in the run-up to this World Cup.

I remember being downcast and disappointed for the Canadian women as they walked off the field, many in tears, following their final group stage game at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, a 4-1 loss to Russia. That overall feeling of dejection among the players was quickly followed by a moment of controversy as star player Charmaine Hooper, in a media scrum after the match, ripped into the Canada Soccer administration for a lack of support and general indifference towards the women’s program.

That tirade led to significant change within the structure of the women’s game in Canada and laid the groundwork for a new era that spawned the likes of Christine Sinclair, Diana Matheson and Rhian Wilkinson, a new generation of Canadian heroines with mass appeal that achieved a fourth place finish at the next WWC in 2003. 

While the program suffered another dip in form almost a decade later, at the 2011 WWC, results since then, including the Olympic gold medal captured in Tokyo two years ago, have propelled Canada on an upward trajectory in women’s world football. 

Pre-tournament polls, however, don’t have Canada listed as one of the leading contenders to compete for the trophy this summer, which many of our women have used as a motivator in their preparation for this event.

I’m looking forward to watching Canada compete in this World Cup from afar as intently as I did when I was on the ground in the US in 1999. In spite of the off field distractions and the injuries that have affected the team, this is a Canadian side that I think can achieve great things at this tournament, and I’m excited to watch them perform once again on a global stage.

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Media Consultation and Client Representation

One of the more rewarding aspects of working as a media consultant is having the ability to deliver multiple media exposures for clients and their respective businesses or projects. Last month, my client, a Canadian businessman, former soccer player and team owner, asked me to create a media campaign for his newly acquired lower tier Spanish football club, Racing Madrid, designed to attract awareness to the team, its brand and identity, as he sets a path to guide the club on an ascent towards the upper reaches of the Spanish football pyramid.  

Tapping into my network of media contacts, I was able to connect my client with several prominent Canadian sports journalists who were drawn to his story and took the time to conduct an interview with him. One such journalist was Neil Davidson, a veteran Canadian Press writer who contributes frequently on football. Neil’s article, published just last week, appeared in dozens of publications across Canada, including the National Post.

A variety of other media outlets, from radio station CHRY (Vibe 105) to Soccer 360 magazine, have shown interest in his story and plan to produce content in the days and weeks ahead.

It is certainly fulfilling and rewarding to be able to implement and execute a media campaign that provides your client with the type of media exposure that not only meets, but also exceeds their expectations. These outcomes stem from years of networking, researching, developing relationships and cultivating a level of trust and faith among my peers.

I‘m looking forward to continuing my relationship with the Racing Madrid brand and exploring new horizons as the club embarks on this journey within the Spanish football ecosystem and expands its footprint across Spain, the rest of Europe and the globe.

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An Emerging New Leader of Canada’s National Women’s Soccer Team

I am absolutely thrilled and honoured that my article on Canada’s National Women’s Soccer Team star Julia Grosso has been selected as the cover story for the upcoming Summer 2023 issue of Panoram Italia magazine. This is my third contribution to the trilingual, nationally distributed, lifestyle magazine and the second to be chosen as a cover feature. 

I’d like to thank Associate Editor Pal Di Iulio and Managing Editor Gabriel Riel-Salvatore for once again entrusting me with an important assignment. Julia was the heroine of Canada’s Olympic victory two years ago in Tokyo and is one of the emerging new leaders of the team that will look to contend for the Women’s World Cup in Australia & New Zealand next month.

I spoke to Julia in early spring from her home in Torino, Italy, where she plays her club football for Juventus. She was an enjoyable subject to interview. She has a wonderfully positive disposition. She’s very thoughtful with her answers and embraces her part Italian origins wholeheartedly. Her talents as a footballer were rewarded this week when she was named the Serie A midfielder of the 2022/23 season in just her first full campaign. I’d like to extend a thank you to the Juventus Press Relations team, in particular Sara Ganapini, for coordinating the interview over zoom. 

As a sports broadcaster and journalist, I take a great deal of pride in assignments like this one and I try to provide the reader with unique insight and perspective on what shapes an athlete’s life both inside and outside of their sporting careers.

I hope you have an opportunity to read the article, whether in print or in its digital form, and I invite you to share your thoughts with me.

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OneSoccer Offers an Action Packed Month of Canadian Soccer in April

The CANMNT’s Concacaf Nations League window that concluded Tuesday with Canada’s 4-1 defeat of Honduras at BMO Field unofficially kicked off the 2023 Canadian professional soccer season. On the heels of that 2-game set, OneSoccer will usher in an extremely busy month of April, with coverage of four separate competitions throughout the first full month of spring.

The non-stop action kicks off next Wednesday, April 5, with live coverage of the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League tie between Vancouver Whitecaps and LAFC.  OneSoccer will provide 21 live events throughout the month, including 12 Canadian Premier League games, 6 Canadian Championship matches and a friendly between CANWNT and France. 

Women’s International Friendly 18 May 2019 – Toronto, ON, CAN Canada Soccer by Martin Bayzl Joana Robles v Julia Grosso

That international match, a warm-up ahead of Canada’s trip to WWC ‘23 in Australia and New Zealand this summer, will share the spotlight with the 2nd leg of the VWFC-LAFC tie as both games are scheduled to be televised Tuesday, April 11.

Just four days later, the CPL returns for its fifth season on OneSoccer with a rare tripleheader, culminating with the first ever BC derby featuring Pacific FC playing host to the expansion club, Vancouver FC.

Then on April 18, the newly expanded Canadian Championship begins with six preliminary round games scheduled across three nights. I’m happy to announce that I’ll be making my season debut on OneSoccer that night, calling the match between the defending CPL champions Forge FC and PLSQ (Quebec provincial) titleholders FC Laval from Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton.

Vying for your attention that same evening is another tantalizing cup tie as  League 1 Ontario champions Vaughan Azzurri visit MLS opponent CF Montreal at Stade Saputo.

The Voyageurs’ Cup competition culminates on Thursday, April 20 with an all-CPL contest between western rivals Pacific FC and Cavalry FC.

Just two days later, on Saturday, April 22, the CPL resumes with Matchday 2 featuring another tripleheader. The month of activity concludes the following weekend with Matchday 3 in the CPL featuring four games split evenly across the two days. 

Most of those games will feature pre-game, halftime and post-game studio coverage with a talented cast of regular on air contributors, led by award-winning host Andi Petrillo.

All that live game coverage will be enhanced by special events such as the Gold Cup Draw on April 14 and regular weekly programming like OneSoccer Today and the newly launched video podcast OneNation.

So if you’re a Canadian footy fan, and if you haven’t already done so, you’ll want to download the OneSoccer app to access all these games and live events. You simply can’t afford to miss a single match!

Check the website, onesoccer.ca, for exact dates and times of all the April events. 

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Canadian Premier League to Open Fifth Season with New, Old Rivalries

For soccer fans around the world, the release of a fixture list, regardless of the league, sets off a chain reaction of interesting debates, speculation and travel itineraries as we all look ahead to a new season of competition.

Well, in just over two months’ time, the Canadian Premier League will kick off its fifth season with an enticing opening weekend of games that will feature an established rivalry between perennial CPL title contenders and a new clash of west coast teams featuring the expansion Vancouver FC club, based in Langley, BC.

The league today announced the four-game slate of matches that will kick off its 2023 season, to be played on the weekend of April 14-16, beginning with Vancouver FC’s visit to Vancouver Island to face Pacific FC on Friday, Apr. 14 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC.

The following day will feature a doubleheader, beginning with a clash between 2022 regular season champions Atletico Ottawa and a new-look Halifax Wanderers side from TD Place Stadium in the nation’s capital.

Still in Ontario, the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 15, brings together two longstanding rivals as three-time North Star Shield champions Forge FC play host to Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s Cavalry FC at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton.

The weekend wraps up on Sunday, Apr. 16 with the third Ontario team, York United FC, welcoming Valour FC to York Lions Stadium in Toronto.

The CPL anticipated the announcement of the opening weekend of matches by revealing on Thursday a new anniversary logo that will commemorate the fifth season. On Monday, Jan. 30, the league will reveal the full 2023 schedule while on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the draw for the 2023 Canadian Championship will take place.

As has been the case since the league’s inception in 2019, all CPL and Canadian Championship games will be shown on OneSoccer, the dedicated channel operated by Mediapro Canada. I hope to have the honour of calling one of those four matches on opening weekend, as I look forward to collaborating with OneSoccer/Mediapro for a third consecutive year.

As the top tier of domestic football in Canada, the Canadian Premier League has carved out an important niche in this country as teams and players are gaining international attention. Several clubs have distinguished themselves with admirable performances in extra competitions like the Canadian Championship and the Concacaf League. Over the course of the first four seasons, many of its players have ascended to upper echelon leagues including Major League Soccer, the Scottish Premiership and the Swedish Allsvenskan (top division).

I’ll be counting down the hours until the full CPL schedule is revealed on Monday and I can’t wait to get started on describing all the action throughout the 2023 CPL season. Hope you’re along with me for the ride!

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First 2023 Dates for Canadian Soccer Competition Revealed

I was excited to learn that the first competition of the 2023 Canadian domestic soccer calendar has been set as Canada Soccer today revealed dates for the 2023 Canadian Championship, featuring an unprecedented 14 clubs. The first round of the Voyageurs’ Cup competition involving 12 teams begins April 18. Last year’s champions Vancouver Whitecaps and runners up Toronto FC each earned a bye to the quarterfinals, which will be played in early May, followed by the semifinal phase later in the month. The final will be scheduled for some time in June. The winner moves on to represent Canada at a newly expanded CONCACAF Champions League in 2024.

As with all domestic competitions, the Canadian Championship will be broadcast live on Mediapro Canada’s streaming service OneSoccer, which begins its fifth season as the exclusive provider of Canadian domestic soccer action. In the previous four years, OneSoccer has covered over 530 games involving Canadian teams. In 2022, its YouTube channel drew over 8.8 million views, up 40% from 2021, while its Twitter page recorded nearly 40 million impressions, up a whopping 267% over 2021.

I’m very proud to be associated with Mediapro/OneSoccer and look forward to calling more Canadian Premier League and Canadian Championship matches in 2023, alongside some of the best soccer commentators and analysts in the business. We now look forward to the release of the 2023 CPL schedule in the days ahead.

#canada #soccer #championship #competition #dates #streaming

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TBL Mid Season Podcast

Just released on YouTube: “The Blue Line Mid Season Podcast” with Mark Fera and myself as we break down the first half of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 22/23 season. We cover a lot of ground over the 30 minutes, starting with the surprisingly efficient goaltending tandem of Samsonov and Murray, the rock solid defence that has had to overcome a slew of injuries, and the exceptional play of the Core Four forwards.

We also discuss our favourite first year player (Hint: he’s a Swede) and why we think Sheldon Keefe is a frontrunner for coach of the year.  We also consider the Leafs’ best game to date and look ahead to possible moves at the trade deadline. We wrap it all up with a lively Matthews-McDavid debate and talk a little Conor Bedard too!

It’s all on the latest TBL video out now as a full-length podcast on YouTube. View it here and check our other socials for bite-size clips. Much more content coming between now and the end of the NHL season. Hit like and subscribe so you don’t miss a single video!

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The Blue Line

One of the projects that I’ve been contributing to behind the scenes the past few months will become a little more front and centre in 2023. Back in May of last year as the Toronto Maple Leafs were wrapping up their best regular season ever, I joined a group of collaborators on “The Blue Line”, a multi format project aimed at hard core Leaf fans that is meant to provide fresh new content with some interesting new perspectives on the team and the organization. Alongside Mark Fera, also known on social media as “TorontoMapleLeafGuy”, I’ve been producing short video clips with my observations and opinions on the Leafs. With today’s NHL Winter Classic in mind, here’s my latest contribution – an appeal for an annual outdoor game to be hosted by the Leafs at BMO Field. I think it’s an idea that’s well worth exploring. Give it a look on YouTube or TikTok and let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Give us a follow on all socials and subscribe to get more brand new Leafs content! https://lnkd.in/gwCYBGsJ
#thebluelineofficial #torontomapleleafs #hockey #nhlhockey #leafsforever #winterclassic  #outdoorhockey

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Reflections on Canada’s Group Stage Games at the FIFA World Cup

Canada opened its account in Qatar with a memorable performance against group favourites Belgium, a match marred by two costly errors, a missed penalty and a goal conceded in transition, denying John Herdman’s men a better fate, which most observers agreed they deserved.

But in restrospect, that opening match may have left us all with a false hope, given the results that followed for Canada and the fact that Belgium, the world’s second ranked nation, crashed out of the group stage.

While we can point to a lot of positives in Canada’s performances across the three matches, from the individual versatility of many of the players to the team’s flexibility in shifting and adapting formations, there were a number of negatives that ultimately spelled the squad’s downfall.

One of the key flaws was Herdman’s inability to define Alphonso Davies’ best role. Over the course of the tournament, Davies started each of the three games in a different position. At his club, Bayern Munich, Davies has become recognized as one of the best left sided wingbacks in world football. That’s where he played in Canada’s opening match against Belgium.

In the second round match against Croatia, however, he started on the front line and, despite scoring Canada’s first ever World Cup goal in the opening 68 seconds, his effectiveness thereafter was nullified by an attentive Croatian backline.

In match number three against Morocco, Davies was deployed as a right wingback, a position he’s largely unfamiliar with and it showed in his subpar performance. I understand Herdman’s desire to give his best player something of a free role, particularly when the team is in possession, but the result was Davies never really established himself as the type of attacking threat he often displays at club level.

Another critical mistake was Canada’s tendency to play a high defensive line, a posture that led directly to the lone Belgian goal and Morocco’s second and, eventual, game winning tally. While Canada’s central defensive tandem is undoubtedly athletic and well-conditioned, lack of pace was clearly an issue in those circumstances. At the World Cup level, the margin for error is fine and the risks of deploying aggressive defensive tactics, while commendable, are high.

As much as we will analyze the team’s shortcomings at this World Cup, there were a number of individual performances that deserve to be highlighted. For one, Alistair Johnston proved on this stage he can be a top level central or right sided defender. His play throughout the tournament was rock solid and consistent, he tracked back on many occasions to win balls and intervened often with strong but well-timed tackles. And on the offensive side, his crossing ability is world class. It’s no surprise then that we learned about Celtic’s interest in the player and I have no doubt he can perform and thrive at the Scottish Premiership level.

While he was limited to only two appearances, Stephen Eustaquio showed his quality and reliability as a deep lying midfielder, displaying the calmness and intelligence he is known for. His absence during the Morocco game was notable in that his opposite number, Amrabat, was such an influential figure in the play of the North Africans.

In post game interviews after the final match, many of the Canadian players cited a common theme – a lack of consistency across the three group stage games. During the qualifying campaign, consistency was Canada’s most noteworthy characteristic. In the Octagonal phase in particular, they were a solid team for 90 minutes, game in and game out, with few lapses. That consistency was less evident in Qatar, with Canada playing well across 60 minutes against Belgium, only the first 30 minutes vs Croatia and certainly the last 30 minutes vs Morocco.

John Herdman spoke of lessons, or “learnings” in his parlance, the team can take from this experience in Qatar and, no doubt, those learnings will be applied to the process as the men’s program looks ahead to an exciting new quadrennial that will culminate with Canada returning to the world stage as co-hosts in 2026.

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Canada at the FIFA World Cup

GAME 1: VS BELGIUM

*From a purely tactical perspective, Canada’s opening match at the FIFA World Cup did not disappoint. Herdman’s squad started on the front foot and played positive, direct football from the outset. Belgium had difficulty breaking Canada’s effective high press, something even Kevin de Bruyne admitted to in post game remarks.

*Though Canada was a bit too loose at times, giving the ball away cheaply on occasion, the team made up for it with some tenacious defending, winning key tackles in the defensive half, intercepting passes and blocking shots.

*I don’t think anyone would have expected the 20+ attempted shots generated at the Belgian goal but the team as a whole did lack the clinical finishing they demonstrated throughout CONCACAF qualifying.

*If we look back at individual moments, in hindsight, I think most of us would have preferred to have someone like Jonathan David take the penalty but, at the moment it was awarded, no one would have begrudged Alphonso Davies the right to strike from the spot. It was a missed opportunity and I suspect the next penalty taker, should the chance arise again, will be different.

*There were times when a Canadian player was perhaps too selfish in taking a low percentage shot rather than passing off to a teammate in a more favourable position, but I won’t be critical of a player displaying the confidence to at least attempt a strike at goal.  

*Cyle Larin’s entrance gave Canada a proper focal point in attack. He has the ability to occupy defenders and poses a threat every time he is near the ball.  In the 30-odd minutes he played, he was a key figure in Canada’s offensive manoeuvres and may have won himself a starting job next time out.  

*I suspect Canada won’t enjoy as much possession against Croatia as they did against the Belgians but the high Canadian press could prove disruptive as the Croatians prefer to play out of the back.

*After a 36-year absence, Canada marked its return to the World Cup with an outstanding performance against Belgium but the expectation now is to not only match that level of performance but to also secure a result in one or both of the two remaining group stage games.

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Presidential Projections

It’s not often that members of the media have an opportunity to engage with an official in Canadian soccer, let alone the top official, but last Wednesday, November 9, I was allowed the opportunity by the National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada (NSCAC) to speak to Dr Nick Bontis, the President of Canada Soccer, who took part in a 90-minute “Behind the Bench” webinar with myself and NSCAC Directors John de Benedictis and Tony La Ferrara.

Keeping in mind that the majority of webinar participants were Canadian coaches, we explored a number of issues pertinent to coaching development and education in Canada but Nick was open to discussing many hot button issues including the ongoing negotiations with the Canadian men’s national team over the distribution of bonus money from the upcoming FIFA World Cup.  

Nick also shared his opinions on pay equity for the Canadian national women’s team as well as the evolution of the Canadian Premier League and the prospects for a national domestic women’s professional league.

As a university professor and renowned professional speaker, it’s not surprising that Nick was very enthusiastic and engaging during the question and answer session and shared many of Canada Soccer’s policies and objectives in the coming years under a four-year strategic plan he helped shape earlier this year.  

The webinar drew the attention of Canadian sports journalists and it was refreshing to see colleague Neil Davidson credit the session in his article that was reprinted on various platforms across the country on Thursday.

My thanks to the NSCAC for the invitation to participate and to Nick for being as honest and transparent as ever in addressing issues and topics that would make many other national governing body top officials uncomfortable to discuss in a public forum.

One of Canada Soccer’s goals expressed in that strategic plan is for the organization to eventually become the most recognizable sports property in the country. A lofty ambition but one that I think Canada Soccer, under Nick’s leadership, can achieve given his personality and vast network of connections in the sporting and business worlds.

The full NSCAC webinar with Nick Bontis will be available very soon for members at nscac.ca.

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Managing the Media: The Path from Message Delivery to Mass Appeal

As a media consultant, I take great pride in the knowledge that my work will reach a number of media members who, firstly, take the time to respond to a communique’ and, secondly, take a genuine interest in the subject matter and seek out more information.

To cite a recent example, in September I issued a media release announcing a new collaboration between a client I represent, the Toronto Blizzard Soccer Academy, and FC Emery, an established, community-based, North Toronto youth organization. Often, an announcement like this would simply fly under the radar, ignored by the majority of sports media who, at the time, were probably tackling a host of pressing stories like the start of Leafs’ pre-season training camp or the Blue Jays’ path to the post-season.

But every once in awhile, someone does take the time to inquire and investigate and the result is an engaging and candid conversation.

In an interview for the Fired Up Network, sports journalist Giancarlo Aulino spoke to FC Emery Founder, President and Club Director, Angel Granja, about the genesis of the collaboration with the Toronto Blizzard and the benefits to both organizations. Angel had some interesting observations and a unique outlook on player development that challenged long-standing principles and theories. For someone like me who has been around the game of soccer for decades, it revealed some interesting new concepts and was both informative and educational.

I’d like to thank Giancarlo for pursuing the opportunity to ask about this new collaboration, then recording an excellent interview, and I must also thank Angel for his eloquence in expressing the reciprocal benefits of this new Canadian soccer venture.

Knowing the track record of both organizations, I’m certain that, within a very short time span, the Blizzard-FC Emery collaboration will become one of the most significant youth player pipelines in the Greater Toronto Area.

For those interested in listening to the entire interview, please click on this link…https://soundcloud.com/firedupnetwork/monday-october-17-firedup-extra-interview-with-angel-granja-fc-emery

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My Cover Story for Panoram Italia

I’m delighted to reveal that my article, featuring former members of Canada’s national men’s soccer teams sharing their thoughts on the current World Cup-bound squad, was selected as the cover story for the Fall 2022 issue of Panoram Italia, the nationally distributed, trilingual, lifestyle magazine. The playful cover photo features former Canada and long time Montreal Impact player Nick De Santis, along with his two children sporting Canadian team jerseys and holding a Canadian flag, as they anticipate Canada’s return to the World Cup after a 36-year absence. I was pleasantly surprised and overjoyed when a sneak peak of the cover was revealed to me shortly before the issue was released across Canada late last week.

I have to thank Nick and the other ex-Canadian internationals of Italian origin – Enzo Concina, and long time friends and colleagues Bob Iarusci and Carmine Marcantonio – who were quoted in the story.  It was a pleasure to re-connect with these men, who represented our country admirably in past generations, and be able to document their shared enthusiasm and excitement for the current group of players under head coach John Herdman’s direction.

This was my second feature story for Panoram Italia after my profile of three aspiring Italian Canadian Olympic athletes that was published in the Summer 2021 edition of the magazine. My thanks go to Associate Editor Pal Di Iulio for encouraging me to write the story and to Managing Editor Gabriel Riel-Salvatore for polishing the final version. The article is also available in Italian for those who prefer to read it in their first language or for those who would like to brush up on their Italian.    

I have always enjoyed writing and, in particular, writing about sports. Throughout my career, I have contributed freelance articles to a variety of newspapers, magazines, websites and blogs. At different stages of my career, I’ve also been a magazine columnist and editor and really enjoyed exercising those skills.

I hope you have an opportunity to pick up a copy of the current issue of the magazine at your local newsstand or community centre or consider taking out a subscription. The next issue will commemorate the magazine’s 20th anniversary, an important milestone for a publication still thriving in a challenging media landscape. Congratulations Panoram Italia!

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Proud to be Part of OneSoccer’s Commitment to the Game in Canada

It was a pleasure to have contributed play-by-play commentary on Canadian Premier League (CPL) and Canadian Championship matches for OneSoccer once again during the 2022 season.  The CPL continues to be an entertaining product and provides opportunities for Canadian players, coaches and officials to be showcased in a top domestic league. As evidenced by the big crowds that attended playoff semifinal matches in Hamilton and Ottawa this past weekend, the league continues to attract new fans and, with the entry of an expansion team in the Greater Vancouver area in 2023, a new untapped fan base will join the eight markets already established in the league.

Chronicling the many storylines that play out on the pitches every week, the OneSoccer streaming service is now established as the primary source of soccer news and information in Canada with live game coverage, pre- and post-game studio analysis and twice weekly discussions on football in Canada and around the world, as well as regular features, profiles and player interviews. I’m fortunate to work alongside a team of respected Canadian soccer broadcasters like Andi Petrillo, Gareth Wheeler, Oliver Platt and Adam Jenkins, with regular contributions from notable personalities like Kristian Jack, Jimmy Brennan, Terry Dunfield and Iain Hume. 

With Jimmy Brennan
Iain Hume

I’m positive the investment that Mediapro Canada has made in the sport will continue to reap benefits as more and more people are drawn to the CPL and, by extension, the Canadian Championship and the Concacaf Champions League. As new technologies and innovations are introduced into the broadcasts, soccer viewing in Canada will become as engaging and immersive as in many other parts of the world.

Having watched and covered Canadian soccer as a broadcast journalist for over 35 years, it’s rewarding to finally see the many milestones our Canadian men’s and women’s teams have achieved in the sport on a national and international level.

Once the CPL season winds down with the Championship final this weekend, attention will immediately turn to our Canadian National Men’s Team and their appearance at the World Cup next month. The simple fact that we’ll be competing on a stage with the 32 top nations in the world is reason enough to celebrate but, those of us who have been following the sport closely know Canada, as regional champions, will give a good account of itself in Qatar.

Hopefully that experience will create momentum in our sport that will carry over into widespread interest in domestic competitions in 2023 and beyond. 

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A Celebration of Sport on Film

I was very honoured to have participated in one of the much-anticipated Toronto screenings during the 2022 edition of the Greek International Film Festival Tour of Canada earlier this month. The documentary film “King Otto”, produced and directed by Christopher Andre Marks, recounts the unlikely triumph of the Greek National Soccer Team at Euro 2004.

I had the pleasure of co-hosting, alongside Greek radio personality Dora Konomi,  an entertaining question and answer session after the film, with special guests Dr. Nick Bontis, the President of Canada Soccer, and Giorgos Karagounis, one of the star players of that Greek side that shocked tournament hosts Portugal to win it all in 2004.

I’m a film buff that enjoys uplifting narratives and, especially, well produced sports documentaries, and this was one of the finest I had seen. Which is not at all surprising because Marks has produced acclaimed documentaries for entertainment icons such as HBO Sports as well as ESPN’s “30 for 30” series. 

If you’re a cinema lover like me and enjoy a captivating and inspiring underdog story, check out “King Otto” https://www.kingottodocumentary.com/

It’s a film that transcends sport and celebrates cross cultural harmony and the human spirit.

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A Conversation with Canadian Soccer Heroes

It was a privilege and an absolute thrill to host a recent online Webinar for the National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada (NSCAC) featuring special guests like former Canadian National Men’s Soccer Team players David Edgar and Issey Nakajima-Farran, along with former assistant coach Antonio Floro. During the 70-minute webinar, we reminisced about the three-year period (2013-2016) when the #CANMNT was under the direction of Spanish manager Benito Floro.

The players shared some of their personal highlights during that era, including Edgar’s stunning volley against Jamaica in a friendly in Toronto, and low points as Canada eventually failed to reach the Hexagonal in their path towards the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Nakajima-Farran’s tale about the team’s harrowing journey to reach a game on a remote Caribbean island on a fishing boat (!) is absolutely priceless.

Antonio Floro spoke about the emergence of some of Canada’s younger players, under his tutelage with the U23 program, who now form part of the core of the current, World Cup-bound CANMNT.

It was a wide-ranging discussion that once again brought to the forefront the commitment and resiliency demonstrated by Canadian players who would come from all corners of the world several times a year to represent the maple leaf at regional tournaments, in friendlies or simply for training camps. 

It’s not every day as sports journalists we have an opportunity to interact with former athletes in a lively, free flowing conversation where they take us behind the scenes and reveal some of their personal and collective aspirations and trepidations.

Here is a brief excerpt from the Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUMng19cTWQ

The full Webinar will be available soon for NSCAC members at nscac.ca.

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CAFE: A Return to Hosting Live Events!

For over two years the pandemic restricted event promoters from staging live in-person events. As a result, event hosts or emcees like myself were not required or were limited to hosting only virtual events. 

That has changed in the summer of 2022 as many established live events have resumed after a forced hiatus and new events have been created. One such event was the Canadian Artistic Food Expo (CAFÉ), which held its first-ever in-person gathering at West Zwick’s Park in the city of Belleville, Ontario, in lovely Prince Edward County, on August 6th. 

Chef Massimo Capra

I was delighted to be asked to host this new initiative, which showcased many well-known celebrity chefs including Chef Massimo Capra, Chef Luciano Schipano and Chef David Wolfman. The event featured food demonstrations, food vendors, food trucks and entertainment that attracted several hundred visitors from across the province including local dignitaries.

Many thanks to the event promoters, Saffron Hub and the Artists and Artisans Development and Network, both of whom promote and support artists and entrepreneurs in showcasing their work through community activities like the Canadian Artistic Food Expo.

It was an honour to share the stage with so many established and accomplished culinary experts who shared their passion for creating wonderfully unique and delicious recipes.

Chef David Wolfman

Two weeks after the in-person gathering, on August 20th, CAFÉ returned as a virtual event, showcasing even more Canadian chefs and culinary businesses in a 2-hour livestream on both the event promoters’ Facebook and YouTube platforms. I was fortunate to be asked to host this virtual event as well, which attracted viewers from across the country.

As someone with a love and passion for Italian cooking in particular, and international cuisine in general, I will always make myself available for initiatives that support and promote culinary endeavours.

CAFE Virtual Livestream

Thank you to Shirin Mandani and her volunteer team, including my good friend Tony La Ferrara, who provided me with the scripts and made me feel welcome. I was happy to contribute my small part to the overall success of the event. Hope to see everyone again in 2023!

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Setting Goals with a World-Renowned Brand

It’s not often in your professional life you are given the opportunity to collaborate with a respected and reputable worldwide brand, a name that is shared and repeated hundreds, maybe thousands, of times a day on traditional and social media, an icon of world football. The brand?  FC Bayern Munich. 

That was the opportunity I was awarded some 10 weeks ago when I was asked to help promote the launch of “BayernBlizzard”, a new project, born from an international grassroots partnership agreed between Toronto Blizzard, a local soccer academy, and the record-breaking Bundesliga soccer champions.    

What followed since that announcement has been truly rewarding. I have been privileged to have collaborated with the FC Bayern public relations team in the US and Germany. I’ve had the opportunity to meet members of the Bayern International program, who conducted youth soccer camps earlier this month in the Greater Toronto Area. I’ve had a chance to learn about the development models and principles of play promoted by the club. And I’ve had an opportunity to be involved in a series of exciting launch activities that have piqued the interest of both local and national media.

Photo Credit: Veronica Jouaneh

“BayernBlizzard” is a 365-day program that incorporates player identification and summer camps as well as technical visits and assessments that offer young Canadian soccer players new pathways to a professional career.

The collaboration has been very rewarding for me both personally and professionally. In my capacity as Media & Communications Liaison for Canada, I have engaged in a variety of activities including drafting and distributing media releases, coordinating media interviews, arranging special events, conducting interviews, posting on social media, contributing photography and videography, providing web support, and many more tasks.

As we begin to transition from summer activities to fall and winter programs, I’m excited to see what the future of this “BayernBlizzard” collaboration holds and what impact this program will have on the long-term development of Canadian male and female soccer players in the future.

Photo Credit: Veronica Jouaneh

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An Update to the Groundbreaking “BayernBlizzard” Project

Just over a month ago, German soccer powerhouse FC Bayern Munich and local soccer academy Toronto Blizzard jointly announced a significant sporting partnership that could dramatically enhance professional playing opportunities for Canadian youth. The two organizations agreed to a comprehensive grassroots program with the aim to provide young soccer players the chance to learn and develop as an FC Bayern player and open new pathways for Canadian athletes.

Awarded the role of media relations director for this new “BayernBlizzard” project, I was assigned with the important task of creating awareness of this new partnership within the soccer and sports media community in Ontario. In collaboration with the FC Bayern public relations team in Germany and in the US, a joint media release was issued on May 19, which included a video featuring Canada’s own superstar Alphonso Davies and some of his FC Bayern teammates. Within a matter of hours, I had already begun to arrange media interviews with Toronto Blizzard Technical Director Joe Parolini, who is the principle spokesperson for the partnership.

Since that date, the news of this exciting new program has appeared on a number of soccer-specific and general sports media, including the Footy Prime Podcast, one of the top-rated soccer shows in Canada, CityNews 680, Vibe 105, Soccer 360 Magazine, LPC Media and Torstar Metroland community weeklies. I have also been supplementing coverage in local and regional broadcast and digital media with regular updates across the Blizzard’s own social media platforms.

The next phase of the launch of this new program will be the lead-up to a series of one-week camps in July, which will feature members of the FC Bayern technical staff and will take place at venues across the Greater Toronto Area.  Information on which German coaches will be attending these camps should be released in the coming days. 

This has been a very rewarding experience for me as I have been able to execute a comprehensive media plan, which has produced results for the “BayernBlizzard” project, generating a significant amount of media coverage. I am very proud to have been selected to help lead the communications efforts for this project and I look forward to working closely with the FC Bayern PR team on many more future initiatives. 

Here are just some of the links to the news coverage of the “BayernBlizzard” project: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/news-such-canmnt-crush-cura%C3%A7ao-bayern-munich-have-their/id1482039221?i=1000565998220

https://soccer360magazine.com/the-bayern-way/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apn1CVMv0K8

http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran/toronto-blizzard-partners-with-fc-bayern-munich-to-improve-grassroots-soccer-for-boys-and-girls/

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Service: Podcasting

While most of my career has been spent in television, my very first job in the media industry after graduation was in radio. It was short lived as I quickly transitioned to the visual medium but I have always enjoyed appearing on and contributing to radio programs throughout my career.

That’s why I was thrilled when, in late 2019, an old colleague of mine asked me to join a new streaming service called Itoc Media to develop and host original Canadian content for digital audio.

I had several projects in mind and a couple that I originally intended to develop for video but, with the pandemic disrupting production schedules and travel, I pivoted, as we all did, and began producing that content for digital audio. 

From March 2020 to June 2021, I originated and hosted three distinct sports talk podcasts, over 50 episodes in all, as well as an hour-long sports documentary. 

I had dabbled in podcasting previously but had never had an opportunity to create audio content on a regular basis for a national streaming service. I was proud of the three programs I produced, particularly the 10-part interview series “Podium”, which allowed me the opportunity to speak to many emerging, young Canadian athletes, most of whom were accomplished or aspiring Olympians. 

Here is a link to the full catalogue of my digital audio productions for Itoc Media: https://italian.itoc.ca/podcastfilter/alf-de-blasis-podcast/

Podcasting is an effective way to promote and build awareness for your business or organization through regular presentations or discussions concerning the type of specialized services or product you offer consumers. If you are considering expanding into podcasting as a promotional tool for your business, reach out to me by e-mail at: alfdeblasis@gmail.com.

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Service: Voice Over Artist

Throughout my professional career, my voice has been one of my most praised assets. Since my earliest days in broadcasting, I have lent my voice to a number of diverse projects, from documentaries to commercials, from sports play by play to corporate videos.

In addition to voicing hundreds of soccer matches and game highlights for both OMNI TV and TLN TV, I was also the bilingual (English & Italian) network TV voice for Telelatino’s station ID’s and program promotions for over a decade. During that time, I was also a regular contributor to dual-language original programming as well as commercial voice-overs.

Over my career, I have also lent my voice to multi media advertising campaigns for several corporate Canadian name brands such as Canadian Tire and Holt Renfrew, as well as prestigious Canadian arts institutions like Luminato and Mirvish Productions.

Besides my work with multilingual broadcasters, my voice has also been heard on a number of conventional broadcasters including CBC Sports, TSN Radio, Sportsnet’s The Fan 590 and currently, OneSoccer, the Canadian sports streaming service, for which I provide play by play commentary on Canadian Premier League and Canadian Championship soccer matches: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZJLMSX3PzcVZsdS5rDXhRVwBhn9yRyYA.

While the majority of my career has been spent in television, I have always enjoyed contributing to other media as well and, recently, I had the opportunity to express myself through my voice on digital audio, developing and hosting three distinctly Canadian sports talk shows, in addition to contributing to special programs, exclusively for the Itoc Radio streaming service: http://italian.itoc.ca/podcastfilter/alf-de-blasis-podcast/.

If your organization is developing content and looking for an experienced, professional, and authoritative voice-over artist, with a level of fluency in up to four languages, reach out to me by email at: alfdeblasis@gmail.com.

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Service: Media Consultation

One of the areas in which I can assist your organization is in the development and distribution of customized communications to local and national media. If your group has created a new product, established a new program, or introduced an innovative new strategy you would like to share with your immediate community, or even with a national audience, I can help you achieve that.

Recently, I began collaborating with Toronto Blizzard, one of the most iconic brands in Canadian and North American soccer. The organization, now a youth academy devoted to setting a path for young women to enter Canadian or American University programs, just announced a comprehensive new grassroots partnership with another iconic brand, FC Bayern Munich, the record-breaking German soccer powerhouse.

In the past month, I have been working with the Bayern media team in Germany and the United States, to help launch this new partnership in Canada. I’ve been responsible for contributing to a media release that outlined the details of the new agreement and distributing graphic and video links that featured one of the most recognized Canadian athletes, superstar Alphonso Davies (link).

I have also coordinated a series of media interviews across several TV, radio and podcast outlets, including CityNews and Vibe 105 (link), as well as print and digital publications, such as The Auroran and the Caledon Citizen (link). I’m also responsible for contributing to the organization’s newly rebranded website and social media accounts.

If you would like your message to achieve the same level of circulation and have the same impact in your community, let ADB Creative Consulting help you develop a professional communications strategy. Reach out to me by email at: alfdeblasis@gmail.com.

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Service: Moderator/Keynote Speaker

Among the many specialized services I can provide your organization, in the context of personal and professional development, is the role of a moderator or keynote speaker. I have several years’ experience as a speaker, host and master of ceremonies, at various functions ranging from cultural festivals to sports events to panel discussions. I have the ability to inform and entertain audiences, all the while maintaining structure within a pre-determined format.

In 2021, I had the opportunity to present a live Zoom webinar to 100 members of Cambridge Youth Soccer. Based on a previous webinar I presented to the National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada (NSCAC) earlier in the year, I shaped the presentation to address the ever changing digital and technological distribution of the game of soccer and also explore the advantages of a prospective career in media.

I engaged the group with an online power point presentation highlighting the evolution of televised soccer from my personal experiences as a sports TV producer early in my career to the widespread digital diffusion of the game across various platforms in the present day. At the conclusion of the presentation, I welcomed questions from the group interested in both the future of televised sports and the prospect of pursuing a career in the media industry.

Through stimulating dialogue and topical conversation, in a virtual or live setting, I have the ability to keep audiences engaged, informed and entertained. If you are an organization that promotes a range of activities focused on core educational themes, from personal and professional enrichment to career opportunities in sports and media, then I can assist you. Reach out to me by email at: alfdeblasis@gmail.com.

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The Birth of BayernBlizzard

I’m thrilled to announce that I have been retained as a media consultant for “BayernBlizzard”, the new international partnership, just announced, that brings together one of the world’s most decorated soccer clubs, FC Bayern Munich, and Toronto Blizzard, one of Canada’s legendary soccer franchises and currently Ontario’s premier high performance soccer academy.

On behalf of the new venture, I’m coordinating media relations with various sport media outlets across Ontario and also contributing to social media posts, which feature one of Canada’s most recognizable athletes, Alphonso Davies.

Our first initiatives are summer academy camps which will operate in York Region and Peel-Halton in July and will feature members of the FC Bayern Munich technical staff.

This is one of those unique opportunities that inspires and offers both professional and personal satisfaction because it promotes the development of our youth within sport and soccer, in particular, something I have always been passionate about.

Thank you to Toronto Blizzard Head Coach and Director Joe Parolini, a long time acquaintance, for entrusting me with this important role. Here’s to a long and fruitful relationship between these two storied soccer clubs and brands.

#Canada #soccer #youth #development #media #consulting #socialmedia #BayernBlizzard

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Service: Web Design & Content Development

One area of digital media which I’ve embraced and a space in which I’m continuously learning is in website layout, design and content development. Over the past several years, I have been frequently engaged in designing and developing a web presence for various organizations, including http://nscac.ca, the web home of the National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada.

Writing original content, uploading photo and video files and overseeing the sale and placement of advertising, working within the expansive Wix platform, were among the many tasks I was asked to perform for the NSCAC, a national non-profit organization.

I have also built, entirely on my own, two of my personal websites, my sports business site, sportstrategies.ca and, more recently, this very website on which you’re reading this blog, using the comprehensive WordPress platform. Accessing the extensive catalogue of templates and customizing them to suit one’s personal tastes allows for a unique, distinct and multi-layered display. I have also had the opportunity to develop content on the DigitalShift platform. 

All of these recent experiences have helped me become more digitally literate and confident in the knowledge that I have the capability to create, enhance or fine tune a website for any organization that uses its web presence to attract, engage and inform its client base.

If you are looking for an experienced creative designer and content developer for your website, reach out to me by email at: alfdeblasis@gmail.com.

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Service: Event Host

Drawing on my 30+ years of experience as a television, radio and podcast host, I have a natural ability to engage with audiences across many media platforms and live settings, from television and radio studios to large conference rooms to smaller, more intimate venues. Over the years, I have hosted dozens of milestone events from awards festivities to media conferences to product unveilings.

In April 2021, I was fortunate to host the opening day of the first ever edition of the Toronto Artistic Food Expo, a celebration of the culinary arts and hospitality industries, featuring food demonstrations, cooking and baking tips, cultural specialty foods, and performances. I worked with the non-profit organizations Saffron Hub and the Artists and Artisans Development and Network to bring a unique, culturally diverse, virtual event to viewers on Facebook and YouTube.

The Toronto Artistic Food Expo featured established Canadian and international chefs like Roberto Marotta, Marianna Romano, and Nuit Regular, as well as special appearances by MasterChef Canada judges Michael Bonacini and Claudio Aprile. The event was organized to support local restaurants and small businesses in the food industry during Covid and allow chefs and culinary creators an opportunity to showcase their talents.

Here is a link to the virtual event: https://www.facebook.com/artistsandartisansnetwork/videos/1185759991854207

If your company or organization is in need of a host for your live, virtual or on-location event, I can assist you. Reach out to me by e-mail at: alfdeblasis@gmail.com.

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Service: Creative Writing & Editing

I started my career as a broadcast journalist and I have written extensively for television and radio news and sports productions. But, over the years, I’ve also written scripts for various program interstitials, miniseries, promotions and commercials.

I also have the advantage of being able to write in another language and, for many years, as a producer within the multilingual broadcast community, I was tasked with contributing translations of English text to Italian and vice versa.

I’ve also expanded beyond the scope of broadcast media and demonstrated my writing skills for a variety of print and online publications as well as my own soccer blog and sports business website. I’ve also been a feature writer, columnist and magazine editor for nationally distributed publications.

In 2017, as Director of Marketing & Communications for the non-profit National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada (NSCAC), I was asked to create a biannual Journal exclusively for the organization’s members. With the help of layout artists, graphic designers, and contributors all across Canada, I oversaw the completion of two editions of the “Journal for Soccer Coaches”, the official publication of the NSCAC, which was distributed to thousands of soccer coaches and technical directors across Canada and the United States.

The Journal contained original features, guest editorials, training tips, and articles on coaching methodology. As the managing editor, it was my responsibility to collect the dozens of contributions that were submitted, edit them for length and clarity, and organize them in a meaningful fashion across the pages of the Journal, all while working towards a fixed deadline for printing. The end product was very satisfying and rewarding and drew extremely positive feedback.

Here is a link to the second issue of the NSCAC’s “Journal for Soccer Coaches” released in fall of 2017: https://www.nscac.ca/_files/ugd/d67de7_bf394d9e29674b89a06a96444f346d8c.pdf

As a multi media creative writer, with knowledge of and experience working with a variety of publishing tools, I am able to contribute my skills to a broad range of media outlets from broadcast media to print and web-based publications to social media platforms.

If your organization is looking for an experienced creative writer or editor for an existing publication, or if you’re looking to develop a new web-based digital platform, I can assist you. Reach out to me at: alfdeblasis@gmail.com.