Ottawa Rapid FC players look to make community impact

Emily Amano remembers going to TD Place to watch her soccer heroes and now she and her teammates will be the ones inspiring a whole new generation.

Ottawa Rapid FC will play their inaugural match against AFC Toronto on Sunday as part of the second weekend of play for the Northern Super League. It will be more than just a homecoming for Amano, a midfielder for Ottawa.

It will be a full-circle moment.

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Born and raised in Ottawa, Amano now has the opportunity to play professionally in the city where her love of soccer began.

"Growing up, there wasn't this option," she said. "Playing professionally in Canada, it still feels so crazy to say, but now it's real. I guess, there's always that saying, if you can't see it, you can't be it.

"This gives kids in Ottawa a chance to be able to have that opportunity to come see us every week and be able to interact with us."

Amano is looking forward to mentoring and inspiring young players from the Ottawa South United Soccer Club, where she first developed her passion for the game.

With her own soccer journey taking her across continents, from Colgate University in the United States to professional stints in Sweden and Iceland returning to Ottawa is about giving back.

"We're able to go out to their clubs now and they have something to strive for that is tangible for them," said Amano. "They can come to TD Place and see their favourite players every week or every two weeks, and be able to interact with us on a more regular basis and hopefully it keeps more kids in soccer."

Building that local connection is a big