'Dream come true': Jade Kovacevic makes history as 1st Northern Super League player, signs with AFC Toronto
6-team professional soccer loop scheduled to begin play in April across Canada
The Northern Super League has its six founding teams with shiny new looks ahead of its kickoff next April, and now Canada's first domestic professional women's soccer league has its first player.
AFC Toronto announced Monday that Jade Kovacevic, a former Canadian youth international and League1 Ontario's all-time leading scorer, is their historic first signing.
The 30-year-old from Acton, Ont., a celebrated striker known for her knack around the net and leadership on the pitch, is the career goal-scoring leader in League1 Ontario for both men and women, with more than 170 goals. She earned five Golden Boot awards and was named most valuable player four times.
"It is a dream come true," Kovacevic told CBC Sports. "A big shout out to Diana Matheson and Christine Sinclair and the NSL for finally bringing this to Canada. There's so much talent within this nation.
"It's amazing we finally get to give these players a platform to showcase their abilities and the best part is they don't have to live out of a suitcase overseas, they get to play in front of their friends and family. That's a dream come true for any athlete."
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"We're thrilled to have Jade as our first signing," said Marko Milanovic, head coach of AFC Toronto. "She's always trained like a professional, even without a domestic league to play in, and it's that commitment, her goal-scoring ability and leadership that will help us establish our presence in the league."
Also on Monday, Roses FC, Montreal's entry, announced veteran French international defensive midfielder Charlotte Bilbault and Canadian goalkeeper Gabrielle Lambert as its first player signings.
Born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, Kovacevic played for various clubs growing up, including Georgetown, Oakville, and the Toronto Lady Lynx. But her first soccer memory was as a 10-year-old playing up an age group with the Flamborough Flames. It was her first 11-v-11 game and she scored on a whistling free kick from more than 20 yards out.
"It was a 'hope it goes in' shot," Kovacevic said with a laugh. "I can remember it as clear as day."
Kovacevic later went on to play for Canada at both the U17 and U20 World Cups.
While she had success at the youth international and university levels, she didn't start realizing that she could make soccer a career until she was 23.
She went on to play professionally in Italy and Hungary in her mid-20s, becoming the top scorer for Roma Calcio Femminile in just half a season and making history as the first player to score for Gyðri Eto FC.
NSL rosters will consist of up to 25 players, with a maximum of seven internationals. The league is looking at a salary cap of $1.5 million per club.
The league's minimum salary is $50,000, with no maximum salary cap for designated players, which the league says ranks it among global leaders for women's soccer.
Details around the transfer window are expected soon and more player announcements will be unveiled in the coming days and weeks ahead.
As for Kovacevic, she couldn't be happier to be AFC Toronto and the league's first official signing.
"It's the perfect timing for me and there's just no other city that I'd want to play for."
She has a message for other Canadian soccer players, too.
"My pathway is definitely not traditional and now that the NSL is here and AFC is here, the opportunity for all the young players out there is here. Go for it. It's real."
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The 34-year-old Bilbault, who arrives from Montpellier in France's top flight, has won 56 caps for France and captained her country in a friendly against Kazakhstan in December 2020.
She was part of the French World Cup team in 2019.
Lambert, a native of Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., comes from SC Freiburg in the top German women's league.
Minimum player salary $50,000
Players in the NSL will earn at least $50,000 and can't be traded without their consent.
Teams will work under a $1.6-million player salary cap and are allowed one designated player, whose salary will not count against the cap.
The league's standard player agreement comes with guaranteed contract terms and players will also be free agents following the expiration of their contract.
The league also says its players will have access to "comprehensive mental health services and maternity/fertility benefits designed to meet and exceed the standards set by FIFA and ensure players' well-being."
"Our standard player agreement reflects our commitment to giving athletes the respect, security and support they deserve with a player-first approach from Day 1," Diana Matheson, the league's co-founder and chief growth officer, said in a statement.
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with files from The Canadian Press
