Toronto FC have confirmed that a number of academy players will be part of the squad to face off against the Whitecaps in the final match of the Voyageurs Cup at BMO Field tomorrow. The game is meaningless to both teams as Toronto FC has already secured this year’s title of Voyageurs Cup champion. Both teams are just playing for pride although Toronto’s decision to call up several academy players for the upcoming match has sparked a bit more controversy with people claiming that the decision will devalue the tournament.
There is no doubt the aesthetics will not be good tomorrow night if a large number of academy players do see the field for Toronto. Were a non-soccer fan or someone new to the Voyageurs Cup happen to be flipping through the channels tomorrow night and see sportsnet showing a soccer game which they decide to watch for a minute they will not be impressed. Vancouver will most likely beat an understrength TFC side and if the academy based team does somehow pull off a result it won’t be through pretty, free-flowing football. Is it in the tournament’s best interests for Toronto FC to play an academy side against Vancouver? Of course not, but it is in Toronto’s interest. They get to give their academy kids a run out in a “competitive” game at BMO Field in front of what will be a decent crowd. The key here is that unlike when Montreal played a weakened side in 2009, Toronto has earned the right to play a weakened side by winning the tournament with a game to spare instead of backing into the situation.
The big event tomorrow will not be the match though, it will be Toronto lifting the cup for the first time at home in the history of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. BMO Field is sure to see one of the smallest attendances in Toronto FC’s history for this meaningless game, but the supporters who are there will get to join in the celebrations of Toronto FC lifting their second straight Voyageurs Cup. The deserved champions have already mentally moved on from the Voyageurs Cup and are looking ahead to the CONCACAF Champions League, but tomorrow night will give them the chance to give the Voyageurs Cup a proper send off.
