‘Part of the legacy’: Montreal new women’s soccer team Roses FC holds tryouts in Laval

They’re shooting their shot for a spot on Montreal’s new professional women’s soccer team.

Roses FC — of the Northern Super League — gave CityNews a look into their tryouts at the Centre Sportif Bois-de-Boulogne in Laval as the inaugural season approaches.

“This is just wonderful,” said Marinette Pichon, Sporting Director, Roses FC. “Wonderful for the league, wonderful for the club, wonderful for the women’s sports.”

“I see the players coming to the tryout with the smile on their face,” said Pichon. “Happy to run and show how good they are.”

“For me, it’s just a wonderful day and for my staff also.”

120 players are attending the three-day tryouts.

All with one goal: hoping to receive an invitation to the team’s training camp in March 2025.

“They came here with a lot of courage,” explained Pichon, who is also a French soccer legend. “To try to show how good they are and how good they can be.”

“Technically speaking, I want to see the player being able to have a good control of the ball,” said Robert Rositoiu, Roses FC’s Head Coach. “Being able to really pass the ball in precision.”

“Also the player that is able to dribble and dribble the opponents to take them 1v1,” he added. “Being able to be mastered about dribble, pass the ball, these are aspects that we are looking for.”

Roses FC is part of the Northern Super League along with:

• Vancouver Rise FC
• Ottawa Rapid FC
• Halifax Tides FC
• Calgary Wild FC
• AFC Toronto

“It’s very cool to be part of this experience,” said Daphnée Blouin, who is a striker trying out for the Montreal Roses. “And be part of the first players who are trying to get in the team.”

“So that’s very exciting,” she added.

The inaugural 25-game season is set to kick off in April 2025.

“We are already part of the history,” said Pichon. “We are already part of the legacy.”