January 16, 2025...AFC Toronto Announces Technical and Medical Staff Ahead of Inaugural Season (from AFC Toronto news release)

AFC Toronto Announces Technical and Medical Staff Ahead of Inaugural Season


Image: AFC Toronto technical staff for the 2025 Northern Super League season. Credit: AFC Toronto.
Back row (left to right): Billy Wilson (Sporting Director), Marko Milanovic (Head Coach), 
Sylvia Forbes (Assistant Coach) and Rasih Pala (Goalkeeper Coach). Front row (left to right): 
Karla Leong (Lead Athletic Therapist), Mariana “Maddie” Gonzalez Moreno (Sports Science and Performance 
Coach) and Kia Halsall (Athletic Therapist).

Toronto, ON (January 16, 2025) - AFC Toronto is proud to announce its technical and medical
staff ahead of the inaugural Northern Super League season. The club welcomes Rasih Pala
(Goalkeeper Coach), Karla Leong (Lead Athletic Therapist), Kia Halsall (Athletic Therapist) and
Mariana “Maddie” Gonzalez Moreno (Sports Science and Performance Coach) to its list of
experienced personnel.

The four appointments help AFC Toronto continue to set standards in the professional game by
providing quality care, knowledge and leadership for its players. They join Billy Wilson (Sporting
Director), Marko Milanovic (Head Coach) and Sylvia Forbes (Assistant Coach) at the club.

“We are thrilled to add these four individuals to our club and are more than confident in their
technical and medical abilities,” said Billy Wilson, AFC Toronto Sporting Director. “It was important
to not only ensure we have staff with experience working in high performance women's sport, but
also people who share our belief in this project and the opportunity to impact the Toronto soccer
scene. AFC Toronto’s entire staff is excited to begin working with them.”

Rasih Pala joins as Goalkeeper Coach with over two decades of experience and a passion for
player development. A former professional goalkeeper in Turkey’s second division, his rich
background as a player and coach boosts AFC Toronto. Pala previously served as the Goalkeeper
Coach within York University’s soccer programs and is the Manager of Goalkeeping at North
Toronto Soccer. He holds a Canada Soccer National Youth Goalkeeper Licence and is completing
his National B Licence.

Karla Leong is the Lead Athletic Therapist after a long-standing career with Canada Soccer's
Girls' U-15 National Team. Over the last 10 years, she acted as Lead Therapist within the youth
program, including at multiple Concacaf tournaments. Additionally, she spent five years at the
National Development Centre (NDC) Ontario. A Certified Athletic Therapist, Leong will oversee the
health and wellness of all AFC Toronto players while championing player welfare.

Kia Halsall joins as an Athletic Therapist after working for leading sports organizations. Her
experience with the Toronto Blue Jays, Canadian Elite Basketball League, Canadian Sport
Institute Ontario (CSIO) and NDC Ontario prepares her to thrive at AFC Toronto. As a Certified
Athletic Therapist and a Registered Kinesiologist, Halsall is committed to optimizing performance
and recovery through evidence-based practices and personalized care.

Mariana “Maddie” Gonzalez Moreno is the Sport Scientist and Performance Coach at AFC
Toronto, equipped with robust experience and a strong academic foundation. A former athlete with
a master’s and bachelor’s degree in exercise science, she worked for prominent Canadian sports
organizations, including Toronto FC, Canada Soccer's Girls' U-15 National Team, NDC Ontario
and CSIO. An evidence-based scientist who is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist, she will help athletes achieve their goals on and off the pitch.

To keep up with AFC Toronto’s exciting updates, register for the club newsletter and follow AFC
Toronto on Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin and TikTok.

About AFC Toronto
AFC Toronto is a founding club in the new Canadian women's professional soccer league, the
Northern Super League. The club is gearing up to deliver a top-tier experience for players, staff,
and supporters in spring 2025. AFC Toronto is committed to uniting the community and inspiring
young women and girls to lead, develop, and excel. The club’s purpose is to not just build a
football club but to also create a platform for girls and women to achieve greatness on their terms.

back to 2025 AFC Toronto menu

.

.