Montreal has a new professional soccer team. FC Supra du Québec kicks off its first season in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) on Saturday. “It’s an exciting league,” said David Choinière, team captain and four-time CPL champion, ahead of the team’s first game. “It’s a fast league where young talent can showcase their skills at a professional level.” FC Supra is the eighth team to join the CPL, and does so with a unique philosophy. “To be on this team, you have to be born and raised in Quebec or played in our youth system,” said Rocco Placentino, the club’s president and co-founder. The idea is to give local players a pathway to the professional level — an opportunity that didn’t exist when Placentino was growing up. A former Montreal Impact player, he spent years playing abroad before returning home. “When I was younger, the only opportunity we had was to go abroad,” said Placentino, who played for several Italian clubs before returning to the Impact. “Playing the game for 12 years as a pro and then stepping into the amateur world in St-Laurent for 13 years led me to believe that there’s too much talent in this province, and a lot of missed opportunities for young players.” As the new team puts the final touches on preseason, there is excitement among the players and staff. “All of us have played on these fields, all over Quebec,” said Alessandro Biello, a 19-year-old midfielder. “That unites us and it makes it mean a little bit more.” The same is true for head coach Nicholas Razzaghi, who worked his way up through the youth system before coaching at the college, semi-professional, and now professional levels. “It’s something that means a lot to us,” he said. “It’s pretty cool because some of us are on this journey together, especially in the later stages.” The players may be new, but the name and uniforms pay homage to the Montreal Supra, a professional team that played four seasons in the Canadian Soccer League from 1988 to 1992. “It all started with the Supra and to bring that name back is extremely special,” said Nick de Santis, a former Montreal Supra player who now serves as executive advisor for FC Supra du Québec. Like the current version of the team, the original Supra was meant to serve as a platform for local talent. De Santis went on to play for and coach the Montreal Impact, and is once again helping pave the way for the next generation. “This first game, I hope the fans will be there to support it because it is local talent and they need that support,” he said. For its first season, FC Supra will play home games at Stade Boréal in Laval, CEPSUM Stadium at the Université de Montréal, Stade Telus at the Université Laval in Quebec City, and at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex in Ahuntsic. “We are FC Supra du Québec,” Placentino said. “We want to show the people of Montreal, Greater Montreal and Quebec City who we are.” FC Supra opens its season on the road Saturday, April 11 at 6 p.m. Fans will get their first chance to see the team live on Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m. at CEPSUM Stadium.
