Andre De Grasse to Attend Historic Home Opener for AFC Toronto

Andre De Grasse is excited to watch AFC Toronto play their first match at BMO Field this Saturday. As a member of the ownership group for the Northern Super League team, he is traveling from Florida, where he has been in training, to witness the historic event against Montreal Roses FC. Expressing his eagerness, De Grasse highlighted the significance of the moment, saying, "Can’t miss it. I’ve got to catch the home opener."

Before the match begins, De Grasse will have the honor of delivering the match ball. Afterward, he will enjoy the game from a suite accompanied by his partner, Nia Ali, who is also a champion sprinter, along with family, friends, and some business partners. De Grasse shared his anticipation of returning home and immersing himself in the experience, although he will fly back to Florida on Sunday to continue his training.

A six-time Olympic medalist, De Grasse has a rich history in sports, playing youth soccer for the Scarborough Azzurri-Blues. He also expressed hope that his daughter, currently engaged in gymnastics and tennis, would explore soccer in the future, noting their home is filled with soccer-related activities, including a net in their backyard for practice.

The new Northern Super League franchise has recently welcomed Michigan-based entrepreneur Mark Mitchell as its majority owner. The founding partners, who have connections to North Toronto Soccer Club, include Helena Ruken, Brenda Ha, Kamal Sandhu, Jill Burgin, Mike Ruthard, Billy Wilson, and Shamez Mangalji. Ruken is positioned as CEO for the club, with Wilson serving as the sporting director and Sandhu as COO. In addition to De Grasse, other notable investors include tennis star Milos Raonic, all actively participating in the franchise. Mitchell believes that their collective involvement will benefit both the community and the team greatly.