Rhode Island's new pro soccer team's debut season starts in 2 months. Here's what to know
NORTH SMITHFIELD — In the closing minutes of Rhode Island Football Club’s practice, they worked their crosses — attempting one-touch finishes in the box. A welcoming sight for the newly-minted United Soccer League club.
The club began practice at World Wide Indoor Sports on Monday with most of the roster arriving to the state recently. Professional soccer will officially land in the state with RIFC’s first home game on March 16.
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“Score as many goals as possible and create for my teammates,” forward JJ Williams said of his goal this year at Friday’s media availability. “That way we're very exciting for Rhode Island to come see us. Everybody [should] want to come out and watch a Rhode Island game because we're constantly scoring.”
The club’s 17 home games will be played at Beirne Stadium on the campus of Bryant University while the permanent venue, Stadium at Tidewater Landing, is expected to open in 2025.
Roster construction and team identity
Led by former New England Revolution striker Khano Smith, who serves as both head coach and general manager, RIFC competes in the USL, which is a Division II league under Major League Soccer.
“It's just a long time coming and they've come from far and wide with players from all over the world and different nationalities,” Smith said of the roster.
The club announced its first signing, Koke Vegas, a goalie from Spain, back in November. The team has made 17 signings so far as they continue to build the roster.
“Everything is new,” Vegas said. “It's a little weird the way that, obviously everybody comes from a different methodology and different culture, but [everyone] is ready. Everything for the team and that’s something to be said.”
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More signings are expected before the regular-season opener. The club is also traveling to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for a two-week training period in early February and six-day camp in Bermuda at the end of the month.
“I think most teams now in the world say they want to keep the ball and we're no different,” Smith said of the team’s strategy. “But we also have to be cognizant and realize that's not going to be the case. There're going to be teams that are going to keep the ball and have the same game plan as us.”
‘That’s a lot of goals’: RIFC expands on Dikwa signing
On Friday, the club formally announced the signing of reigning league MVP, Albert Dikwa. Dikwa hails from Cameroon and scored 20 goals in 28 games last year for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC to win the Golden Boot award.
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“It was definitely a target,” Smith said of signing Dikwa. “He's been a target for a very long time. I'm sure everybody in the league had the same exact target. Obviously he is what he is, his resumé this past season speaks for itself.”
Smith, who knew Dikwa when he was with Orlando City B in 2017, said the 26-year-old is clinical in the box and returns as one of the league’s best finishers.
“To be able to get a player like him obviously it just puts more eyeballs on us and people are now starting to take notice of what we're doing,” Smith said. “But for me, we were always taking notice of what we were doing.”
Said Williams of Dikwa: “He's going to do nothing but help this team. So really, it's just about figuring out how we all play together and make it work. But from the outside looking in, and from us looking at it, that's a lot of goals on the field.”
Smith said that he is not involved in the construction of the stadium — the plan is to have the project completed for opening day in 2025 — and his focus was on building the roster.
“I think we have a really good roster,” Smith said. “I think I'm going to have good problems when it comes to selecting a team.”
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2024 RIFC schedule
Saturday, March 16: vs. New Mexico United
Sunday, March 24: at Monterey Bay F.C.
Saturday, March 30: at Tampa Bay Rowdies
Saturday, April 6: vs. Charleston Battery
Saturday, April 13: vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Saturday, April 20: at Las Vegas Lights FC
Saturday, April 27: vs. Phoenix Rising FC
Saturday, May 4: at North Carolina FC
Saturday, May 11: vs. Sacramento Republic FC
Friday, May 17: at Colorado Springs
Saturday, May 25: vs. Louisville City FC
Saturday, June 1: at Hartford Athletic
Saturday June 8: vs. Detroit City Football Club
Wednesday, June 12: at Memphis 901 FC
Saturday, June 22: at Louisville City FC
Wednesday, June 26: vs. El Paso Locomotive FC
Friday, July 5: vs. Indy Eleven
Saturday, July 13: at Miami FC
Wednesday, July 17: at Birmingham Legion FC
Saturday, July 27: vs North Carolina FC
Saturday, Aug. 3: at Detroit City Football Club
Wednesday, Aug. 7: at Indy Eleven
Saturday, Aug. 10: vs. Hartford Athletic
Saturday, Aug. 17: vs. Oakland Roots SC
Saturday, Aug. 24: at Loudoun United FC
Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Birmingham Legion FC
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Orange County SC
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. FC Tulsa
Saturday, Sept. 28: at San Antonio FC
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Loudoun United
Saturday, Oct. 19: at Charleston Battery
Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. Miami FC
(Games subject to change)
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RIFC signs reigning league MVP, Albert Dikwa