Sigma FC
 | |
| Full name | Sigma Sports |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
| Stadium | Paramount Fine Foods Centre Mississauga, Ontario |
| Owner | Sigma Sports Solutions |
| Managing director | Constantine Smyrniotis |
| League | League1 Ontario |
| 2019 | League1 Ontario, 5th Playoffs: Quarter-finals |
| Website | Club website |
Sigma Sports is a Canadian youth soccer development academy and player management company based in Mississauga, Ontario.[1] They also operate a senior academy soccer team that currently competes in League1 Ontario, as Sigma FC. Over 140 Sigma players have gone on to play NCAA or U Sports soccer on scholarships.[2]
History
Sigma was formed in 2005 by Constantine and Bobby Smyrniotis as a private academy aimed to develop young Canadian soccer players.[3] Over the years Sigma have sent players from their academy to the NCAA and to trials overseas and have prided themselves as the premier private academy in Southern Ontario.
When League1 Ontario was formed in early 2014, Sigma announced they would be entering their senior academy team to compete as part of inaugural season.[4][5] They were one of the three Ontario Soccer Association Recognized Non-Club Academies permitted to enter a team in the league, along with ANB Futbol and Master's FA.[6] The three Mississauga-based League1 Ontario teams - ProStars FC, Sigma FC, and North Mississauga SC - compete annually for the Credit River Cup, awarded by the Sauga City Collective supporters group, with the team's matches against each other during the L1O deciding the victor.[7]
Sigma made news in January 2015 when academy player Cyle Larin was drafted first overall by Major League Soccer club Orlando City at the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.[8] This was the first time a Canadian went first overall in an MLS draft.[9]
On October 1, 2018, Sigma co-founder Bobby Smyrniotis was named head coach and technical director of Canadian Premier League club Forge FC. Bobby had served as technical director and first team head coach of Sigma from 2005 to 2018.[2] 16 members of Forge's 2019 roster had played for Sigma in the past.[10]
Seasons
| Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | League Cup | Canadian Championship | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | League1 Ontario | 9 | 8–5–3 | 3rd | – | Runner-up | – | [11] |
| 2015 | 12 | 12–6–4 | 4th | – | Runner-up | – | [11] | |
| 2016 | 16 | 14–2–6 | 2nd, Western (5th) | Did not qualify | First round | – | [11] | |
| 2017 | 16 | 17–4–1 | 2nd, Western (2nd) | Did not qualify | First round | – | [11] | |
| 2018 | 17 | 11–4–1 | 2nd | Group stage | Semifinals | Did not qualify | [11] | |
| 2019 | 16 | 8–3–4 | 5th | Quarterfinals | – | Did not qualify | [11] | |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[12] | |||||||
Notable players
Kwame Awuah- Molham Babouli
- Kyle Bekker
- Tristan Borges
- Tajon Buchanan
- Klaidi Cela
- Giuliano Frano
- Sam Gardner
- Mark Gonzalez
- Jonathan Grant
- Triston Henry
- Evan James
- Manjrekar James
- Cyle Larin
- Richie Laryea
- Duran Lee
- Baj Maan
- Monti Mohsen
- Chris Nanco
- Oluwaseun Oyegunle
Greg Ranjitsingh- Dominic Samuel
Jelani Smith- Justin Stoddart
- Kadell Thomas
- David Velastegui
- Emery Welshman
- Lowell Wright
- Marcel Zajac
References
- ^ Armstrong, Laura (October 23, 2016). "Local soccer academy has become playground for future stars". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ a b Urciuoli, Anthony (October 1, 2018). "Forge FC names first-ever head coach". Global News. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ "Sigma Sports: About us". Sigma. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
- ^ Clarke, Ian (April 9, 2014). "Sigma FC: Laying the groundwork for Canadian youth development". Red Nation Online. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ Rowaan, Dave (April 8, 2014). "League1 Ontario announces teams for inaugural season". Waking the Red.
- ^ Hayakawa, Michael (April 10, 2014). "Vaughan to field 2 teams in inaugural soccer league". Vaughan Citizen.
- ^ Raza, Ali (August 14, 2019). "Credit River Cup announced for Mississauga-based soccer clubs". Mississauga News.
- ^ "MLS SuperDraft: Canadian international Cyle Larin selected first overall by Orlando City SC". Major League Soccer. January 15, 2015.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (January 15, 2015). "Canadian forward Cyle Larin goes first overall in MLS SuperDraft". Toronto Star.
- ^ Bedakian, Armen (October 5, 2019). "'It's a high level': Forge's Sigma alum praise League1 Ontario platform". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ a b c d e f "League1 Ontario Historical Standings Men's Division". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
- ^ "League1 Ontario cancels Fall season plans for 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions". Canadian Premier League. September 4, 2020.
