Whitecaps London / Railway City FC . (Canada)

Whitecaps London/Railway City F.C.

Tapping into ALL areas of the club and community. Athletes, Parents and our fantastic Coaches. We also are excited to feature other SOCCER related NEWS and Interviews with many in the Soccer Community. If you're a lover of the Greatest Game on Earth, you have found the right place. All Podcasts are led by Abbi Lezizidis. If you want to be featured, have an idea for a Podcast or want to simply provide us Feedback connect with us at: info@whitecapslondon.ca

  1. Emilia Vilos - U15G OPDL

    Mar 31

    Emilia Vilos - U15G OPDL

    🎙️ Player Spotlight – Emilia Vilos In this episode, we sit down with attacking midfielder Emilia Vilos, who joined our club this year to compete in the OPDL after developing through the Alliance Soccer Club pathway. Emilia spoke with a lot of appreciation for the coaches and experiences that helped prepare her for this next step, including giving a great shoutout to Jeff Cambridge for the role he played in her development. Emilia is incredibly well spoken, thoughtful, and organized, and throughout the conversation she showed a level of self-awareness that really stands out in a young player. She understands that improvement comes from intentional work, and she approaches training and development with that mindset. She plays an exciting style as an attacking midfielder, using both feet comfortably, thriving in tight spaces, and bringing creativity and speed to the game. What really came through in the podcast was Emilia’s balanced outlook. She’s competitive and driven, but also realistic about the work required to improve and succeed. She values being around teammates who are positive, focused, and intentional about the game, and it’s clear that the team environment is something she truly enjoys. Off the field, Emilia has a wide range of interests. She loves school, enjoys cooking (with pasta being her specialty), and one of the fun surprises from the conversation was learning about her massive Lego collection. She’s a proud Lego builder and definitely a hidden Lego enthusiast. As she prepares for her first OPDL season, Emilia is excited to test herself at this level and continue developing her game. Looking ahead, she hopes to one day play at the NCAA level while keeping academics as a top priority. Fast, technical, creative, and disciplined, Emilia Vilos is a player who brings both personality and perspective to the game. This conversation is a great chance to get to know her as she begins her OPDL journey.

    35 min
  2. Cali Soumalias - 2010G OPDL

    Mar 26

    Cali Soumalias - 2010G OPDL

    🎙️ Player Spotlight – Cali Soumalias In this episode, we sit down with U16 OPDL centre back Cali Soumalias, and from the moment the conversation started it was clear we were talking with someone who brings passion, personality, and leadership to everything she does. Cali was incredibly well spoken throughout the podcast. In fact, during the conversation I told her she might have a future in broadcasting if she ever decides to go that route. She communicates with confidence, energy, and purpose — the same qualities that make her such a strong presence on the field. A former gymnast and dancer who ultimately chose soccer, Cali now anchors the back line as a centre back. She plays the position with intensity, organization, and a natural leadership voice. Being vocal and guiding the team is something she takes pride in, and it’s clear that her teammates feed off that energy. When the moment calls for it, Cali has a simple phrase that sums up her mindset: “Go time.” She spoke highly about playing in the OPDL, calling it an incredibly competitive league that challenges players to grow every single week. She also shared openly about the injuries she has battled through and how difficult those moments can be for athletes. What stood out most was her resilience and her ability to stay motivated even when things weren’t easy. One of her proudest moments on the field came from a perfectly timed slide tackle that she described with so much excitement you could almost see the play unfolding. It’s a great story, and one you’ll definitely want to listen for in the episode. Cali is deeply connected to her teammates and her family, both of whom play a huge role in her journey. She trains with intention, competes with intensity, and carries big goals — including playing post-secondary soccer, ideally in the NCAA, while also keeping the door open to Canadian university programs. Her coach, David Rojas, speaks incredibly highly of her, and after listening to this conversation you’ll understand why. Cali Soumalias brings leadership, determination, and personality to the pitch. And when it’s go time, you know Cali is ready.

    26 min
  3. Mason Franze - u17 OPDL Boys (CAM)

    Mar 24

    Mason Franze - u17 OPDL Boys (CAM)

    🎙️ Player Spotlight – Mason Franz This episode features U17 OPDL midfielder Mason Franz e— a player whose mindset and commitment to improvement come through immediately the moment he starts talking about the game. Mason was thoughtful, well spoken, and incredibly clear about what soccer demands from him, especially in the attacking midfield role where fitness, decision making, and awareness never get a break. He takes pride in his preparation and understands that performance starts long before kickoff. For him, staying fit isn’t optional — it’s part of respecting the position and the team. Now in his third year with Whitecaps London, Mason spoke about how impressive the OPDL level is across the province and how the constant competition pushes him forward. He values the social side of the game, but what he really appreciates is being surrounded by teammates who challenge each other every single training session. That environment is exactly what drives him. One of his proudest moments was earning provincial screening selection, and he continues to build toward his next goals — playing at the university level and hopefully beyond, while staying committed to school and the responsibility that comes with balancing both. He enjoys playing in tight spaces, which is why futsal has become such an important part of his development, and he spoke genuinely about the role his parents play in supporting and holding him accountable on and off the pitch. When asked whether soccer should stay serious or stay fun, Mason didn’t hesitate: it has to stay fun. That perspective says a lot about who he is as a player and person. A mature, motivated athlete with a grounded outlook and big ambitions — you’ll enjoy getting to know Mason Franz in this conversation.

    36 min
  4. Molly Hammond - 2010G - OPDL

    Mar 19

    Molly Hammond - 2010G - OPDL

    🎙️ Player Spotlight – Molly Hammond In this episode, we sit down with Molly Hammond from our 2010 Girls OPDL team. A passionate, thoughtful centre back who brings both intensity and perspective to the game. Molly shared a moment from when she was younger that perfectly captures how the game first grabbed her. While playing with Delko Bridge, she scored a goal and her coach at the time, Wendy, ran over, gave her the biggest bear hug, and spun her around in celebration. Years later, that memory still sticks with her as the moment she truly fell in love with the beautiful game. Since then, Molly’s journey has taken her from Delko Bridge to Byron in 2020, and eventually to Whitecaps London where she now anchors the back line primarily as a centre back, while also being comfortable at full back. Throughout the conversation, she spoke with tremendous respect for her coach David Rojas, crediting his drive to win, high expectations, and constructive feedback as major influences in her growth as a player. Molly embraces the commitment that comes with playing at this level. Beyond team training, she continues to invest in her development by working with specialty coaches around the city, always looking for ways to improve. What stands out most is her willingness to be honest about both her strengths and the areas she’s still working on...a quality that separates athletes who truly want to grow. She believes last season marked one of the biggest jumps in her development, especially in her communication on the field, her confidence in taking risks, and her ability to lead from the back. As a defender, she takes pride in building the play out from the back and also relishes the challenge of recovering and defending her goal when the game demands it. Off the pitch, Molly plays field hockey at school and enjoys spending time with friends, who describe her as laid back, loyal, funny, and deeply committed to the people around her. Looking ahead, Molly hopes to continue her soccer journey at the NCAA or OUA level, while also pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor and eventually attending medical school. Her final takeaway from the podcast was simple but powerful: celebrate the small victories. Whether it’s a perfectly placed pass through defenders that creates a chance or a small moment of progress in a game, those moments matter. For Molly, recognizing those small wins is part of what keeps the love of the game alive. You’ll hear that passion throughout this conversation with Molly Hammond.

    33 min
  5. EMSA District - Eliana Caranci | Karen King

    Mar 17

    EMSA District - Eliana Caranci | Karen King

    NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🎙️ We just wrapped a fantastic conversation with EMSA District leaders Karen King and Eliana Caranci — and it truly pulls back the curtain on the people guiding our game behind the scenes. In this episode we talk about:• Why they chose to get involved in soccer governance• Where the district fits within the Canada Soccer → Ontario Soccer → District → Club pathway• What a district actually does day-to-day for players, families and clubs• The evolution of the game and the explosive growth of women’s soccer• Real challenges at the district level — including accessibility and the human side of decision-making• The role parents play in youth sport• A World Cup year and what it means for the future of the game Two powerful takeaways stood out: “Don’t forget to have fun.” — Eliana Caranci “You have to see it to be it.” — Karen KingA message to young female leaders to step forward and get involved in the game beyond playing. Karen and Eliana spoke with clarity, passion, and genuine care for the sport and the people in it. They also highlighted how progressive the EMSA District is — with four female board members, more than any other district in the province — a strong reflection of leadership opportunity and engagement in our game. This episode helps families understand that many decisions affecting soccer come from a governance structure working to balance policy, fairness, and the human element of doing what’s right. For more information about the district:Website: https://emsadistrict.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emsa.district/?hl=en A big thank you to Karen and Eliana for the work they do every day for our soccer community 👏

    56 min

About

Tapping into ALL areas of the club and community. Athletes, Parents and our fantastic Coaches. We also are excited to feature other SOCCER related NEWS and Interviews with many in the Soccer Community. If you're a lover of the Greatest Game on Earth, you have found the right place. All Podcasts are led by Abbi Lezizidis. If you want to be featured, have an idea for a Podcast or want to simply provide us Feedback connect with us at: info@whitecapslondon.ca