2023 Coaching Staff
Fabio Roque - Director of coaching
Fabio Roque works closely with coaching and technical staff to ensure that the North York vision is being implemented at each age level. The aim is to build championship caliber teams. He will also work with players individually in our PDP program.
Fabio Roque previously served as a coach for Sporting Lisbon's professional academy in Portugal for the last 12 years. The Sporting Academy is ranked top three in the world for developing top talents including Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Nani to name a few. He holds a UEFA B coaching license. Roque received his Degree in Physical Education and Sports at Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias in Lisbon. He is also enrolled in the Ontario Soccer Technical Director course starting in March.
Bryan Cerqueira
Bryan Cerqueira has 10 years of coaching experience, from recreational programs to competitive teams. He has also attended internships at FC Porto (2) and SC Braga (1). He currently holds a Scottish FA C license and a UEFA B coaching license.
Joao de Aragao
Joao de Aragao has over fifteen (15) years of international coaching experience, having coached throughout Portugal for internationally renowned clubs FC Porto and SC Braga. He holds a number of degrees, licenses and certificates specific to coaching soccer. Most notably, he holds a master’s degree in Sport and Physical Education (Soccer Specialization) from the University of Porto, as well as a UEFA B coaching license.
Jalen Simms
Jalen Simms brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her position as head coach of the U12 Girls team. She has her full Canadian C license and is aiming to get involved in the Canadian B license very soon. As a player, Jalen was part of the team Ontario provincial programs, a member of the U17 Jamaican Women’s National team and played for Ryerson University throughout 3 seasons. She then went on to be an assistant coach of the Ryerson University women’s soccer team.
Miguel Angel Valentin
Miguel has over five years of experience as an analyst at Deportivo Cali. He started as an analyst for the academy, and was later promoted to the main team and the women’s team. In 2021, Miguel’s team were crowned Colombian champions with both the men’s and women’s team. Miguel also has a CONMEBOL analyst license, along with a degree in sports from Escuela Nacional del Deporte in Cali., specializing in sports training.
Ezequiel Gaziglia
Ezequiel is one of NYA’s most experienced and certified coaches. A part of the game since 2010, Ezequiel has completed his Canadian Soccer Association “B” License, and also studied professional football coaching at the Argentinean Soccer Coaches Association. Ezequiel has an experienced career working in and around the technical staff of several Toronto soccer clubs.
Frank Damiano
Frank Damiano has been part of the North York Academy technical staff since Fall 2019. He comes with a wealth of soccer experience both playing and coaching. Mr. Damiano acheived several courses such as Learn to Train, Respect in Soccer, Concussion Awareness, Laws of the game and Canadian C License. Frank's expertise will undoubtedly elevate the quality of training. As a youth player he played at the highest levels locally for the provincial team and Toronto FC Academy and abroad in Italy for Trento Calcio and Portogruaro Calcio.
John Lino
John’s coaching career began in 2012 as a volunteer coach for the Timbits soccer program for kids aged 4-6 at THPFC. In 2018, he became Head Coach of the Boys 2009 team at Academy Gil Vicente FC. He held the position until 2021, at which point he joined North York Academy. He is currently Assistant Head Coach for the Boys 2008 and 2010 teams, and the House League program. John has completed a variety of Canada Soccer Grassroots Coaching Education Courses, including Fundamentals, Learn to Train, Soccer for Life, Making Ethical Decisions, and Respect in Sport.
Francesco Argento
Francesco Argento has been involved with the game for over 25 years, as a player and a coach within the highest levels of Canadian Soccer. As a player, he played at the top youth level OYSL with North York Astros and in the United States and Europe. Francesco has been coaching house league and rep teams between the ages of 8-13 and has an array of technical and tactical skills at his disposal. Apart from his experience, Francesco has completed a variety of Canada Soccer Grassroots Coaching Education Courses, including Learn to Train, Soccer for Life, Ethical Decisions, Making Head Way in Soccer and Respect in Soccer. He is also trained in Adult, Infant and Child CPR/ AED.
Adrianna Fidanza
Adrianna Fidanza has immense experience as a player, as a coach, and she has been with North York Academy since 2022. With courses like Soccer for life, Making Ethical Decisions and NCCP Emergency Action plan under her belt, she is currently pursuing her C-license course. She is also keen to obtain her youth license thereafter. During her playing career, she played in the NCAA and NAIA in the United States for over four years, and also played in the Division 2 Women’s League in Malmo, Sweden. She currently trains the U-18 girls’ team at NYA.
Paolo Rogato
Paolo Rogato has a distinguished soccer career, as a player and as a coach. Having played at every level of the youth provincial pathway in Ontario. At the youth level, he has won the Ontario Cup, and OYSL League and took part in various US showcases and international tournaments. He also has experience playing abroad, having played for Vicenza Calcio in Italy during his U-17 year. He won the League 1 Ontario and CCAA National Championship with Sheridan Bruins at the senior and collegiate levels. He currently has his NCCP Respect in Sport Certificate, Mental Health in Scottish Football Certificate, and Children's Wellbeing in Scottish Football Certificate with an aim to complete his Ontario C license. Paolo is currently a member of the Technical Coaching staff at NYA.
Matt Weir
Matt Weir is a member of the technical coaching staff for the High Performance Men’s Teams. With a vast playing background and coming up to 5 years of coaching experience from both recreational and community volunteer programs to more competitive senior level teams, Matt has the experience and expertise to elevate the standard of training within the group. Currently in-training for the Canadian C-
License, having already completed all of Canada Soccer’s Coaching Education pre-requisite courses, Matt is also looking to further his qualifications within the UEFA ranks by pursuing the UEFA C-License, as he is currently completing all pre-requisite coursework though the SFA.
Christos Blanas
(Under Construction)
Tanya Cerqueira
(Under Construction)
Jen Penacho
(Under Construction)
Gilbert Manu
(Under Construction)
Kanye Charles
(Under Construction)
Samson Ebikeme
(Under Construction)
Goalkeeper Staff
Maxim Agapov
High Performance Goalkeeper Coach
Maxim has been with North York Academy since Fall 2019. As a youth player in Kyrgyz Republic, Max completed all the stages of player development. He began competing from U13 on the National team and continued at all levels of youth national teams including and up to U19, which was the first team in the history of Kyrgyz Republic to represent the country at the Asian Cup final stage. After that Max signed a professional contract. He continued to play for the national team until the age of 28 when he moved to Canada and began to play in League One.
Joseph Henriques
Grassroots Goalkeeper Coach
Under Construction