Sopra du Quebec: Canada’s new top-flight club inspired by Athletic Bilbao

Placentino grew up in Montreal and played for Quebec’s other professional soccer team, Major League Soccer team CF Montreal, as well as stints in the second and third divisions in Italy.

While Montreal spreads its scouting network around the world to be competitive, FC Supra is focusing on local players who may have overlooked it.

They want to give other players from Quebec the opportunity to try to emulate Canadian internationals like Sosolo’s Ismael Kone and Nice’s Moise Pombeto.

Bombito was born in Montreal, while Kone moved to the city from Ivory Coast when he was seven, and their travels highlight the rich cultural mix and football obsession that exists in Quebec.

“The goal is to have a local pride program in the Canadian Premier League, a team that can supply local and multicultural players,” Placentino said.

“Look at countries like Belgium and Iceland. If they can build players and sell them around the world to become top footballers, why can’t we do it in Quebec?

“A lot of players here will fall and miss opportunities to shine and perform at a higher level.

“All we have to do is take these ballplayers, put them in a very professional environment, while also maintaining the DNA of being streetballers.”

A unique touch that shows Supra’s pride in their province is the printing of the Quebec flag on their kit.

Paul Despaillets, Supra’s chief brand officer, says the goal was to revive the unique Quebecois character.

“There has always been a history between Quebec and Canada,” he said.

“What makes us so proud of this club is that this is further proof of why this territory is so great. We are a complete mix of French, Italians, British, Moroccans, Persians and Asians.

“It doesn’t matter what ethnicity it is. We came together around the Supra first and that’s our melting pot of what Quebec is.”