MISSISSAUGA — Pro Stars FC, one of the province's newest semi-professional soccer teams, celebrated its launch Monday night at the Invader Sportsplex.

The Mississauga-based club will play in League1 Ontario, a loop that was introduced by the Ontario Soccer Association last year.

Pro Stars will be one of 12 teams in the men's division and will also field a squad in the six-team women's division, which is new for 2015.

The club will be operated by academy director Josef Komlodi, former technical director of the Erin Mills Soccer Club and coach of the now-defunct Mississauga Eagles Canadian Soccer League squad.

"This program is a natural progression in our player development (model)," said Komlodi, a former professional player in Germany and Hungary.

"In this country, we lose a lot of players at age 15 or 16 when they disappear because there is no continuation (towards professional soccer in Canada). We owe it to the soccer community to develop these players in a different and better way and make sure there's a home for them."

League1 operated as a men's-only league last year with nine teams, including Mississauga-based Sigma FC. Pro Stars is one of three expansion teams in the men's league along with the Oakville Blue Devils and Sanjaxx Lions.

The North Mississauga Panthers enrolled in the women's division two weeks ago.

Komlodi hopes to develop players to the level where they can earn tryouts for professional teams in Europe and has been successful in that regard.

Last month, Pro Stars Senior Academy members Igor Pisanjuk, Jordan Wilson and Tristan Watson were invited to try out for clubs in Romania, England and Germany, respectively.