Montreal Impact Inaugurates Brand New Mini-Soccer Pitch
Team Becomes Final City in MLS’ 20 for 20 Initiative to Unveil New Futsal Court
The Montreal Impact and Major League Soccer took another step forward in expanding the growth of soccer in the city.
On Friday afternoon, the Impact unveiled a brand new outdoor futsal court in downtown Montreal.
In association with Soccer Canada, the new asphalt field was part of the 20 for 20 mini-pitch initiative by MLS Works, Major League Soccer’s humanitarian branch.
According to Joey Saputo, owner and president of the Montreal Impact, the initiative will allow children from all districts to play in safe places while encouraging soccer in local communities and progressing the sport in North America.
“As a professional club, I always said that our intentions off the field were as important as our success on the field, especially when it comes to helping kids out ” said Saputo.
Montreal was the 20th and final city to unveil their new mini-pitch, but despite this being an initiative put together by the league, Saputo said the organization wanted to pursue this project to promote the growth of the game across the city, as well as the province.
His hope, Saputo said, is that this will encourage kids to to play more. Building more courts is an initiative the the organization will continue to pursue in the future, he added.
The court is located behind the L’Eglise Du Gesù, one of the most renowned religious buildings in the city. The field is built on top of what was once the garden of Gesù.
“We find ourselves in a magical part of Montreal,” said Richard Bergeron, a former urban planner and current city councillor. “We built this mini-soccer pitch today in this magical area which is, sports aside, visually magnificent.”
Patrick Leduc, a former Montreal Impact player who currently works as a soccer analyst for RDS, believes this will affect the city on a cultural aspect. In a country where hockey dominates in terms of popularity, Leduc said this could attract more attention and interest in the sport.
The Montreal Impact have made significant strides over the past few years in terms of player development, as they have signed more players from their academy to the first team.
The court will not only allow young players around the city to gather and play soccer, it creates the opportunity for players to hone their skills in the tight spaces of the court. According to Leduc, North America isn’t as good at compared to nations like Africa and South America.
“I hope that the Canadian Soccer association takes futsal very seriously,” said Leduc, who feels that there’s tremendous potential for futsal to improve in Canada. “I think we’re a country that has the facilities, and I’m gonna say has the climate to be an excellent futsal nation.”
