Here’s what to expect as Republic FC kicks off the 1st California pro game in 4 months

For the first time in over four months, there will be a live professional sporting event in California.

Sacramento Republic FC will resume the United Soccer League season Monday against Tacoma Defiance after a long sports hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The game against Tacoma Defiance will look and feel drastically different than the club’s season opener on March 7 against Tulsa FC — which drew a sold-out crowd of 11,569 people.

No fans will be allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions but the game will be broadcast on KQCA My58 and ESPN Deportes. Republic FC fans will also be able to take part in a new pregame show and virtual English and Spanish watch parties.

“This is a special year and with everything that has gone on in the world, Sacramento is thirsty for sports and for their teams to come back,” Sacramento Republic FC general manager Todd Dunivant said Wednesday. “Even though fans can’t pour into the stadium just yet, they will soon enough if all goes well. They can tune in and watch and support what we are trying to represent. We have an opportunity to have a lot of eyeballs on us in a time where our world and city really need sports and needs that escape.”

Without fans in attendance for the near future, the atmosphere of a normally loud and vibrant stadium will be reduced to chatter among players and coaches.

“It’s going to be weird for us because most teams don’t have the (fan) advantage we have,” Republic FC forward Cameron Iwasa said. “Our fans pack the (stadium) up. They are loud and scream and sing the entire time, so to have that taken away will be tough but we know people will be rooting us on from home. That will be our motivation — to put a smile on their faces and give them entertainment.”

Republic FC coach Mark Briggs talked about how a game without fans reminds him of his early coaching days.

Briggs is seeking his first regular-season win with the club as head coach. He was hired in December 2019 after serving as the club’s academy director for four months.

While the atmosphere will be weird, to say the least, Briggs was quick to point out he and his players have all played in empty stadiums before. It’s just been a while.

“It’s strange (not having fans) and it takes you back to when you first started coaching,” Briggs said. “Even then, you have parents on the sideline and you have people in attendance watching the game. It’s going to be an interesting and unique environment. No matter what circumstance you are in, you have to find the motivation to perform at the highest level and to ultimately win games.”

MLS and NWSL in a bubble

Major League Soccer resumed play Wednesday in the MLS is Back Tournament.

FC Dallas was withdrawn from the tournament Monday after 10 players and a coach tested positive for the virus. On Thursday, Nashville SC withdrew from the tournament after nine total positive COVID-19 cases.

MLS players and coaches are currently in a bubble environment in Orlando, Florida — while the National Women’s Soccer League are isolated in the Salt Lake City suburbs for NWSL Challenge Cup.

The USL won’t be isolated in a bubble and teams throughout the season will play on home fields. Dunivant said the team plans to test players every week and take additional safety measures to keep everyone safe.

“We are watching them closely and they are watching us closely,” Dunivant said of the MLS and NWSL tournaments. “It’s a different setup but after the tournament ends, they are going to go back to their local market again. We are all watching each other at this point. We are watching also what goes on in England, Spain, Germany and all these places that have started already and have examples for us on what worked and what hasn’t.

“Safety is our first priority with the players and the community,” Dunivant added. “We are doing regular (COVID-19) testing and we are taking a bus to as many games as possible to avoid planes and when we do fly, we will take direct flights. We are telling our players that even if they test negative, they shouldn’t let their guard down. We want to keep them safe and want them to do the right things to prevent any sort of spread within the team.”

Sac Republic stayed busy during sports hiatus

During the four-month long sports hiatus, Sac Republic connected with their fans and gave back to their community.

The Club launched various programs including, Let’s Talk Soccer — which allowed fans to connect with a Republic team official to talk soccer during the pandemic.

Another program the club launched during the stay-at-home order was Indomitable Hands. Republic FC partnered with Raley’s to deliver meals to seniors who were homebound during the stay-at-home order.

“The fans are the lifeblood of this club,” Iwasa said. “To be able to give back to the community that gives so much to our team was important for us. To be able to have any sort of human interaction was good for us.”

Republic FC midfielder Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu went on MLS Idle: Soccer’s Hidden Talents in early May and impressed judges with his ability to sing and play the piano during a rendition of Labrinth’s “Jealous,” His musical talents helped secure a $1,000 donation for Sacramento’s Department of Sound — which provides musical opportunities for local kids.

Sprint to the playoffs

Instead of a traditional 34-game regular season schedule, the USL season was cut to 16 games. USL clubs were placed in eight groups, with five groups having four teams and three groups having five teams. The groups were designed to limit travel and potentially limit the spread of COVID-19.

Republic FC was placed in Group A — which includes Portland Timbers 2, Reno 1868 FC and Tacoma Defiance. In the new World Cup-style format, the top two teams in each group will advance to the playoffs.

Ever since the club resumed full-contact training June 25, the sense of urgency has been there, players and coaches said. With only the top two teams making the playoffs from each group, players know a few ties or losses could leave them on the outside looking in.

“Starting with the initial quarantine shock, I think everyone is dealing with the unknowns, but you have to figure out what you can control,” Sac Republic defender Tomas Hilliard-Arce said. “Everyone has done a good job of that. That mixed with the coaches being involved we found ourselves in a situation where we could jump right back into training rather than struggling the first few weeks.”

Iwasa added, “By the time we got the chance to come out here to start training as a group again, everyone was ready to go and we really hit the ground running. We are in a good spot.”

Last season, Republic FC went 14-6-14 and lost in the Western Conference semifinals 3-0 to El Paso Locomotive FC. With a new coach and rejuvenated roster — thanks in part to the team joining MLS in 2022 — this year’s Sac Republic team has the potential for a deep postseason run.

“The expectation is that we are one of the best teams in this league,” Iwasa said.“We feel that way on paper. Now it’s on us to go prove it. The expectations (for this year) are high and hopefully, we can meet them.”