The new Canadian Premier League: Can it surpass MLS?

Canadian Premier League stars Nathan Mavila and Daryl Fordyce share their views on the exciting new top division. 

Since 1992, no fully professional football, or soccer, league existed in Canada.

That was until 2019.

The formation of the simply yet effectively named Canadian Premier League marked a huge step for the sport in one of the world’s largest countries.

As players like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David begin to make noise in Europe, Canada will be keen to create and maintain a fertile breeding ground for youngsters and make the league an effective platform for prospects to refine their attributes.

Obviously, the league is still incredibly young and cannot expect to attract the best players from Europe.

However, the division is beginning to reel in a number of young talents let go by clubs in England - especially from West Ham.

Atlético Ottawa, owned by Simeone’s Spanish giants, signed Vashon Neufville, a former Chelsea trainee, this year from West Ham United’s reserves.

Jordan Brown, formerly of Arsenal, left West Ham for Hannover’s B team in 2016 and arrived at Cavalry FC via the Czech Republic in 2019. 

Brown’s teammate, Nathan Mavila, also plied his trade for West Ham as a teenager and his switch to Canada comes after spells with a number of non-league clubs in England.

I spoke to Nathan and asked what lured him to Calgary.

Nathan recalled the club’s coach, Liverpool-born Tommy Wheeldon Jr visiting London and sharing his plans for Cavalry, saying:

“What convinced me was when the coach came to London and we had a great talk on his plans, the club’s plans and how we could make history.

Also, it was a chance to get back to full-time football.”

He was also eager to get into a team which could be set to make history.

Cavalry FC have proven to be top dogs in the first season of the Canadian Premier League and Nathan is keen to keep the incredible start going. 

He said:

“My first impressions were what I expected.

Very organised, training was very good.

Good bunch of people and players, but what surprised me was the fans, how great they were.

Being part of a fresh league again was great as I was a part of history.”

Mavila in action for Calvary FC. [Via keverenguillou.com]

A player at a different stage of his career is Daryl Fordyce, 33.

The Northern Irishman began at Portsmouth before playing in his native Belfast with Glentoran and Linfield.

He initially switched to Canada in 2013 with FC Edmonton and is now with Valour FC.

Daryl hasn’t played for the club yet but shares similar views to Nathan Mavila on the brilliant facilities in Canada, saying:

“Great first impressions at life at Valour.

Fantastic club, facilities, coaching staff and players.

It’s been long overdue for a professional league in Canada. Great that it’s here though.”

Via northerntribune.ca

Nathan Mavila, who has a full season under his belt from 2019, has been very impressed with the standard of football in Canada.

He said:

“The standard of football here is much better than non-league. It isn't as physical but there is more quality than non-league.”

He also recommends the division for players in numerous different stages of their careers, adding:

“If you want to revive your career, you’re a young player who needs a chance or on the back end of your career right now then, yeah, this is the place for you.”

Canada has traditionally been a nation associated with ice hockey and Canadian football, so soccer has often been on the back burner.

However, Nathan has been pleasantly surprised by the support at Cavalry.

He said:

“It's a bit weird here in Calgary as the main two sports are hockey and the CFL then football is the sport I'd say after that.

In Canada as a whole country it isn't as popular.

You have Hockey, CFL, golf and basketball ahead of football.

But positively, I've been surprised at the turnout to games.

Most days, the attendance would range from 3000 to 7000 depending on the importance of the game.”

It appears that the Canadian Premier League got off to an exciting start in 2019, as the league continues to progress and its name begins to spread.

But will the CPL have the ability to compete with MLS as an attractive prospect for European stars in the twilight of their careers?

Valour’s Daryl Fordyce is optimistic about the league’s future, saying:

“Yes for sure, it can. Why not?

The country is growing rapidly in soccer and starting to produce top quality players on an international stage so the league can grow, especially with the World Cup here in 2026.”

Nathan Mavila echoed this, adding:

“I think the CPL has everything to become as big as the MLS.

It's still in its early stages and in the beginning of everything there is always room for improvement.

If you give it a couple years and the right people are behind the scenes, I don't see why it can’t be at the same level or bigger.” 

The future looks bright for the Canadian Premier League and the excitement of a fresh new professional top flight is plain to see.

Time will tell whether the league can grow and surpass its United States counterpart.

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