Club officially introduces first group of players, coaching and performance staff selected for its Academy program

TORONTO, ON (August 30, 2026) – AFC Toronto has announced the inaugural group of players selected for the AFC Toronto Academy, taking a major step in its commitment to developing the next generation of talent in Southern Ontario.

The inaugural Academy cohort includes players aged 14–18, who were identified by the club. They will now have the opportunity to develop within a professional club environment alongside the Academy’s coaching staff led by Academy Director Marc Maunder and Head Coach Joey Lombardi, and supported by Assistant Coaches Melanie Jimenez and Melissa Bigg, along with Goal Keeping coach Matthew Zaikos, and an expanded coaching and performance team.

The fully funded program provides players with access to a full-time training and development program within a professional, high-performance environment. The Academy is designed to create a pathway for talented young players to develop within the AFC Toronto environment and ultimately move into the professional game with AFC Toronto’s First Team. 

“This inaugural cohort represents a major milestone for AFC Toronto and for player development in our city,” said Marc Maunder, Academy Director, AFC Toronto. “We are excited to support these players in a high-performance environment designed to challenge, develop, and prepare them for the next level of the game.”

The Academy’s inaugural players:

*National Development Centre

Additional Academy Staff
The inaugural Academy cohort will also be supported by additional goalkeeping and performance staff, including:

• Matt Zaikos, Head Goalkeeping Coach: Brings nearly seven years of experience as Head Club Goalkeeping Director at Whitby FC, with experience developing goalkeepers who have progressed to OUA, NCAA, Toronto FC Academy and professional environments. A former League1 Ontario and professional goalkeeper in Australia, Zaikos also represented Canada at the FISU Games.
• Danitza Indacochea, Goalkeeping Coach: Brings playing and coaching experience at the NCAA Division II and OUA levels, along with internation team experience.
• Meaghan Phillips, Goalkeeping Coach: A former NCAA Division I goalkeeper who progressed through the Ontario Provincial Pathway, Phillips brings coaching experience at both the club and OUA levels.
• Marwah Hashimi, CAT(C), RMT, Lead Athletic Therapist: Brings experience in high-performance soccer, with expertise in sport medicine, rehabilitation and athlete care. Hashimi will support injury prevention, rehabilitation and return-to-play programming.
• Andrea Gardiner, CAT(C), Athletic Therapist: A recent graduate of Sheridan College's Athletic Therapy program, Gardiner previously completed her placement with AFC Toronto's First Team and has experience across soccer, lacrosse, rugby and school sport environments.
• Chantal Ste Croix, MSS, CSCS, Sport Scientist & Performance Coach: A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and recent graduate of the University of Toronto's Master of Sport Sciences program, Ste Croix previously interned with AFC Toronto's First Team and brings expertise in strength and conditioning, athlete monitoring and performance optimization. A former NCAA Division I ice hockey athlete, she also brings firsthand experience of the demands of high-performance sport and is committed to supporting the development of young athletes.

“We are delighted to welcome the first players to the AFC Toronto Academy,” said Billy Wilson, Technical Director, AFC Toronto. “Our Academy is a critical part of our long-term sporting strategy and is designed to provide talented young players in Ontario with access to a high-performance development pathway to the professional game.

“I’m incredibly excited to watch this first group develop within our environment. This is just the beginning, and it’s exciting to think that some of these young women could one day represent AFC Toronto at the professional level and become an important part of the future of our first team.”

The inaugural Academy players and staff will be formally introduced to AFC Toronto supporters on the pitch at BMO Field on August 30, ahead of the club’s 4:00 p.m. Northern Super League match against Ottawa Rapid FC as part of Youth Soccer Day.

The announcement represents another step in AFC Toronto’s commitment to building a long-term development pathway for female players and creating opportunities for the next generation.

About AFC Toronto
AFC Toronto is a founding club in the Northern Super League, Canada's new professional women's soccer league. The club continues to deliver a winning culture for players, staff and supporters throughout the 2026 season.

Rooted in community and driven to compete at the highest level, AFC Toronto exists to champion opportunities for girls and women to lead, grow and thrive, on and off the pitch. The club aspires to Run It Our Way by setting an ambitious new standard for success, but on its own terms, while striving to leave the game in a better place for the future.

Media Contact
Christina Miller
Director, Public Relations, Media & Communications
AFC Toronto
cmiller@afctoronto.ca