Reggie Lambe and his Toronto FC teammates including new signee Jermain Defoe will open training camp with player medicals in Toronto this weekend and then depart Sunday for Bradenton, Florida to begin preseason at the IMG Academy.
The club will play in a number of friendlies while in Bradenton, before returning to Toronto for a week in February. The club will conclude preseason in Orlando, Florida and participate in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic tournament for a fifth consecutive year.
Toronto FC will open the tournament on Wednesday, February 19th against the Columbus Crew, followed by Orlando City on Saturday, February 22nd. They will face the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, February 26th to conclude the group stage of the tournament. Each team participating will play a final playoff match on Saturday, March 1st determined by their final placing from the group stage. The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex will host the tournament.
Toronto FC have also announced that the club has signed a one-year partnership agreement with USL Pro Club, Wilmington Hammerheads FC.
“We are very excited to partner with Wilmington Hammerheads FC and continue to enhance the development of professional footballers in North America,” said Toronto General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko.
“The deal represents the first time our club has established a full development trajectory for our Academy players from the U12 level up through the first team. On the first team it can be a challenge getting younger players sufficient match experience required for their development during the course of a season. This partnership with Wilmington will allow our players to earn those valuable match minutes and continue their growth during the season in a professional environment in USL Pro. Today we have filled a developmental gap within our club.”
As part of the agreement, Toronto FC will loan a minimum of four players to Wilmington during the course of the season. The deal will also forge a business relationship between Toronto and Wilmington; including the sharing of coaching best practices as Toronto FC coaches will be able to observe Wilmington training sessions and matches. Wilmington coaches will also attend Toronto FC’s preseason in Florida next month.
As a result of the partnership, Toronto FC will opt out of the MLS Reserve League for the 2014 season.
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