The NISA Season that Wasn't

 Note: This is for funzies, so take it with a grain of salt and a large alcoholic beverage. Or chocolate if you’re living a sober lifestyle.

 NISA’s 2020 Spring Season has been shut down, another sports league brought to a grinding halt by COVID-19. We’ll never know how it would have played out. Frustrating, I know. And in frustration, perhaps you shout out something like…

 “Isn’t there anyone who can tell me who would have taken the NISA trophy this spring?”

“Sure – I can tell you who would have taken the NISA trophy this spring.”

Lights, please.

And yes, those are clouds. We are heading into a dream sequence, so keep your arms inside the vehicle until the ride comes to a complete stop.

Going by the alphabet, let’s start with Cal United Strikers. With plenty of firepower, aggressive midfield play, and a solid, competent backline, Cal United would find a way to struggle every week. Enough results would go their way, yet at times they could frustrate the heck out of you. During one of these performances against LA Force, the usually happy and joyful play-by-play voice of the Strikers Simon Allen loses it in midstream, runs onto the field and starts yelling maniacally at the Cal United forwards, “Surely he’s going to shoot now! SURELY HE’S GOING TO SHOOT NOW!” The ref finally stopped play and surely showed Allen a red card. 

Chattanooga FC enjoyed a very sold first season as a professional club. Staying in the top half of the table for most of the spring season, playing in front of crowds that most lower league teams would be jealous of, CFC would punch a ticket to a playoff spot with a home win over 1904 FC. Good times, right? So why were the locals annoyed? In a word: Nashville hot chicken. OK, three words. If the members of the Chattanooga faithful got a nickel for every time visiting fanbases asked where to get the best hot chicken, they would hate the Red Wolves just as much (hah – didn’t see that coming, did ya?),  

Just fill in any gaps with imaginary friends. (Image courtesy of Youtube)

So yeah - Detroit City FC won lots of games, ran away from the rest of the league, blah de blahblahblah.  The more interesting aspect of the Spring Season was in the stands at Keyworth. Limited by a seating capacity of just under 8,000, the Northern Guard schemed up a way to increase this number: imaginary friends. First it was Invite an Imaginary Friend Night. Then those imaginary friends brought their friends. And so on. And so on. When the announced attendance was 27,394 for the Cal United Strikers game, things had gotten pretty weird – even by Northern Guard standards. So the decision was made to ban imaginary friends for the rest of the season. A few invisible tears were shed.   

So the LA Force crowds were practicing social distancing long before COVID-19, evidently. I know – low-hanging fruit. But the club would struggle for points and fans in stands during the spring season. And that’s a shame, because this is how many fans of lower league soccer want to see clubs built – from the ground up. This is an academy club that added a pro team at the top. The hope here is that the club can develop a following of a corps of passionate fans that can spread the word. Hey – they’re not all going to be funny.   

The Michigan Stars would continue to be a collective pain in the butt to play against, challenging offenses with their ability to take away each team’s best players. When Cal United came to Pontiac, the Stars put three men on Christian Thierjung right from the first moment. No, not the start of the game – as soon as he got off the bus. And in the parking lot. And into the locker room. Thierjung never actually got onto the pitch, and the Stars went with the rarely-used 7-1-0 lineup. But Cal United could only manage a nil-nil draw, as Gustavo Villalobos was swallowed up by Zanin Mahic’s hair.   

Only the first of many moments that ended up on tshirts.

Laney College Stadium would finally become that fortress for the Oakland Roots, and the club would make any opponent’s trip to Oakland a tough one. The road would cause some issues, but the club would keep themselves in the top half of the table throughout the spring. And the quick release of T-shirts to capture celebrated moments (like the Jack McInerney game-tying goal on opening night) would continue. A Matt Fondy wonderstrike against Detroit City – on a T-shirt. Taylor Bailey saves to PK against Cal United – on a T-shirt. Ariel Mbumba being subbed on in the 67th minute against LA Force – on a T-shirt. David Abdor taking a point blank shot to his junk – considered, but ultimately not on a T-shirt.

 The move from San Diego State’s stadium to Lincoln High School did not have the effect that 1904 FC – sorry, Ought Four – wanted as far as crowd support. As the season went on, the club would try different venues to get that intimate feel. Local parks. Parking lots. Mini golf courses. Against the Michigan Stars, they tried playing in a bowling alley. Didn’t manage much on the scoreboard (Tito Ramirez was bottled up at the snack bar by the Stars defense), but midfielder Christian Enriquez did bowl an impressive 187. Through it all, the Black Plague kept the faith - except when Enriquez missed an easy spare in the 9th frame. That almost broke them. 

In Stumptown, chasing a playoff spot would be a constant throughout the season. It would ultimately be not in the cards for the club, but they would be there right to the end. A home-and-home series with Detroit City to end the season would be Stumptown’s undoing. But here was one other storyline that hung over the season: the progress of the building behind one of the goals at OrthoCarolina Soccer Complex. When the Michigan Stars arrived, the siding had been completed. By the time of the Cal United game, some landscaping had been placed. Things looked good. Then came the Detroit City game, and an errant shot from George Chomakov sailed over the fence, crashed through an upper-story window, and blasted a hole through the roof. Deemed unfit to occupy, the building was razed – with new construction to start at the beginning of the fall season.

When the season ended in June, the table stood thusly:

Team                            Pts

Detroit City FC              987

Cal United Strikers         34

Chattanooga FC             31

Oakland Roots SC          29

Stumptown Athletic        24

San Diego 1904 FC         18

Los Angeles Force          16

Michigan Stars FC            9

(My math is impeccable, by the way).

 Since Cal United had already qualified for the playoffs due to the Fall Showcase, they somehow ended up having to face off against themselves in the semi-finals – much to the chagrin of the Oakland Roots! And that chagrin found its way onto a T-shirt. Playing itself to a nil-nil draw, Cal United managed to get past themselves on penalties.

In the other semi-final, it was Detroit City and Chattanooga FC hooking up for tense battle between old NPSL rivals. Evenly played throughout the first half, things got unraveled in the second half when the Northern Guard started chanting “Where’s your hot chicken?” which seemed to unnerve CFC. The floodgates opened, and DCFC was going to the finals!

Now it was down to Detroit City and Cal United. And in the final, the Strikers would pass and move with a veracity and determination that was impressive and almost led to a goal. But the final whistle would come, and both teams were without a goal. Extra time would be needed. For the Northern Guard, this meant extra extra smoke. A billowy blast would emanate from the stands, and slowly cover the entire field. Nobody could see a damned thing. Industrial fans would quickly be brought in to blow the smoke off the field. And when order was restored – the NISA trophy had disappeared!

Who’s laughing now? (image courtesy of Forbes.com)

Suddenly, the sound of wheels peeling out could be heard as a black limousine sped away. And leaning out the back window, Rocco Commisso held out the trophy, laughing.

So who took the NISA trophy? The New York Cosmos, of course.  

- John Howard-Fusco

If you enjoyed John’s approach to NISA in this article, you should check out his NISA podcast, the Knights Who Say NISA - available on the Protagonist Podcast feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever else you get podcasts.

Ranking the NISA Home Openers

For those that missed it, NISA put out a list of the home openers for the Spring 2020 season. With the first match kicking off on the weekend of February 29, we’re sitting 6 weeks out from the kick-off of the expanded season of NISA play with the addition of Chattanooga, Detroit City, and Michigan Stars. The full schedule won’t be released until later this month, so for now, let’s rank the home openers.

- Dan

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★

Stumptown Athletic vs. 1904 FC (2/29/20)

Stumptown Athletic was the runner up in the East to Miami FC, but with Philly Fury forfeiting the season and Atlanta SC’s 2 wins coming in matches that Philly vacated, they have a tremendous amount to prove heading into this season. The addition of heavy hitters in the East will mean that task will be even harder. 1904 only managed two wins in the stronger West and will be desperate to start off their season with a win. This will be a match most will skip out on and, with Stumptown’s attendance issues last season, the stands will reflect that.

★★

Cal United Strikers FC vs. Michigan Stars FC (2/29/20)

This isn’t going to come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the NPSL, Michigan Stars was the little brother in a conference dominated by big name clubs, including their fellow NISA expansion, DCFC. Stars have a lot to prove in their league and will have to kick off their season on the road, heading to Orange County to face Cal United Strikers. Strikers finished the last regular season in second position in the standings. They followed that up by beating LA in the playoffs on PKs. Kicking off their season against an unproven NISA expansion side should be a recipe for a quick 3 points.

Chattanooga FC vs. Michigan Stars FC (3/14/20)

CFC is one of two big names to cross over into NISA during the offseason. With their ability to fill Finley, it’s reasonable to expect a crazy crowd for this first professional match for Chatta. The club should make quick work of their fellow ex-Members Cup opponent. Speaking of Members Cup, Michigan finished with only 2 wins and a negative 8 goal differential. Not good, man.

★★★

Michigan Stars FC vs. Los Angeles Force (3/21/20)

So I’ve dunked on Michigan Stars in two previous previews, so let’s give this home opener a 3 star rating. I’d expect the club to be on a losing streak and this will be a chance to bounce back, facing a club that had to travel over 2,000 miles. Is anyone else a little troubled the match is scheduled at a location TBD? Seems a little late in the game for details like that to not be settled. Anyway, back to the match, so good chance for a bounce back for the hosts, EXCEPT their opponent was the regular season champ in the West and lost on PKs in the playoffs. LA Force will have faced DCFC at home for their opener (more on that later) and we don’t know the rest of the schedule yet, but without a doubt this appears on paper to be a big win opportunity for LA.

★★★★

Detroit City FC vs. Oakland Roots (3/21/20)

Detroit City FC heads into NISA with a ton of steam after soundly defeating the rest of the Members Cup participants in the Fall. Detroit really matched their support and swagger with solid play on the field and look to be the favorites of this first season in NISA. Their first NISA opponent at Keyworth will be Oakland Roots, a club that nailed every aspect of their rollout in 2019, except for their on-field play. With a new coach and a renewed roster, Oakland will be looking to match their looks with substance in 2020.

Oakland Roots vs. Chattanooga FC (2/29/20)

Everything I said about Oakland in the previous preview, but now they get to host the other big boy expansion club, Chattanooga FC. It’s a long trip from Chattanooga, so maybe that helps Oakland? Especially considering Oakland draws well, something that CFC rarely has rarely seen outside of Detroit. I think this match is sneaky good and should show us where Oakland is headed into 2020.

★★★★★

Los Angeles Force vs. Detroit City FC (2/29/20)

Yet another match to be played at TBD, but WHAT a match. The 2019 regular season winner from the West hosts the bad boys of Detroit on the first week of the 2020 season. This should bring all the eyes on opening weekend. Circle this match.

Oakland first, always.

Nominated for Protagonist Club of the Year, Oakland Roots showed from day one their ability to connect with their city and its fans in ways that most grassroots clubs haven’t. We sat down with Edreece Arghandiwal, club cofounder, CMO, and one of the primary drivers of the young club’s branding. With year one in the books, Arghandiwal opened up about the club, their first year successes, and how Oakland will remain the primary focus in every decision moving forward.

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First season in the can, what went right? What could you have done better season one? 

2019 was a dream start for the Roots. People have asked us how we did it, and the answer is quite simple; Oakland did it. The Roots acted as a vehicle for the ideas, passion, and interest that already reside in our community. We not only sold out games, but were able to build an identity that is synonymous with Oakland. We had a team that represented the community, had incredible game day experiences, and built a safe place for people to just be themselves. There were many successes, but we will not stop there. I don’t think we will ever stop, because Oakland hasn’t ever stopped. Walt Disney said that Disneyland will never be done as long as there is an imagination. Roots aren’t quite Disneyland, but I hope you get the point. Diverse people, ideas, creativity, and culture exist in Oakland and as long as those things exist, we will always have to think differently. We are constantly looking at ways to challenge assumptions. We have an opportunity to do things the Oakland way. 

This past year, our team was left with one wish; to do even more in the place we love the most. 

What’s your favorite memory of this first season? 

At our first game, we shutdown East 10th street for a block party, and the response was overwhelming. We had local artists perform, food trucks serving food, good drinks from local breweries, and more. I remember being in the middle of the concert and hearing the chorus of one of the songs that was being performed, “O-O-O-O-Ohhh.” As I looked around I saw everyone throwing up an “O” for Oakland. I got emotional, and I won’t forget it ever. Our first ever game landed on my 30th birthday, so it was a perfect mesh of happenings. 

One of my favorite songs is Telegraph Ave. by Childish Gambino, and there is a part of the song where Gambino says “we’ll both be thirty soon in Oakland.” I always thought about the day I would turn 30 in Oakland, and it happened in a way that I could have never guessed. I am grateful. 

Jack McInerney was your 2019 offensive player of the year, how did having a player of his caliber on the club shape the offense this season? Will he be returning to the club next season? 

Jack is a helluva player and human being. His attitude and style scream Oakland, and we are blessed to have him in our group. We hope to see Jack return next season. Roster decision announcements will be made soon so stay tuned for those. 

Overall, the club was unable to get much momentum in the table in 2019. Did that play a role in the separation of Paul Bravo? Why was the decision made to move on? 

I will just point you towards the comment from our club President and my Co-Founder when the decision was made a month ago. “The entire front office is thankful for the work Paul put in to help build this team in the first season. He was a true professional throughout the year and is a pioneer for the Oakland Roots, join the club based on our vision. We wish Paul the best as he continues to serve the Bay Area soccer community with the De Anza Force and the California Thorns. He will always be a welcome member of this family.” 

Can you talk about the promotion of Jordan Ferrel and why he was the best candidate for your club? What are you expectations for his performance in the upcoming NISA season? 

I'll leave the roster and technical decisions to our technical staff, but I can say that we're excited to have Jordan Ferrell serve as our next head coach. Jordan has a lot of ties to this community, and he's a great choice to serve Oakland and lead our team. His passion and desire to see Oakland succeed is what makes this a perfect fit. 

The club drew well in your first season, how was that accomplished from a club-planned approach? 

Oakland has always had an appetite for the sport of soccer. It was only a matter of time for that craving to come to life. We wanted to build a club that embodied the principles of The Town. Oakland First, Always. This doesn’t have to mean you have to be from Oakland to be a fan of this team. “Oakland First, Always” means you appreciate and respect the arts, culture, and diversity. Roots is bigger than a club. It’s a movement, and a way of life. 

What approach does Oakland Roots take to maintain connection with the city and the fans? 

We listen, and we try to always live up to what we say. Being in Oakland means you have to be present. You have to listen, and you have to be about the action. You have to walk the walk in this city, and we plan to do just that. If we slip up along the way, I hope people hold us accountable. 

Our team made an effort to be at every major community event, not with the mission of converting folks to ticket buyers or season passes, but to genuinely connect and build commonalities. I am a believer in word-of-mouth marketing. People will spread the love, if they feel love. 

Early on we built a community advisory board of people that represented Oakland; the shakers and movers of our community. We rely on them to keep us on the right path. I am forever grateful for them. 

What’s in the works looking forward? 

As you might have seen we launched Project 51O a reserve team that will play in the NPSL and function as the clubs reserve team. A project is “an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim. For Roots, the aim is to help develop soccer and promote culture in the 51O. 

As much as the club has been about the team on the field, there’s been a tremendous amount of focus on brand identity. Can you talk about what went into that from a foundational perspective? What goals did you set for branding? 

Branding is not just about slapping a logo on a t-shirt. That’s the thing I hope people truly understand. A crest and an identity have to speak loudly about the people that wear it. It has to feel good associating with. Most importantly, it has to look good. Good design is a big part of our brand approach. We spent a lot of time developing our brand, because we care about it. Everything is done with intention...otherwise what’s the point? 

Several moodboards turned into think groups, and think groups turned into many crests. We landed on the crest because it embodied the color and diversity that exists in our community. The Oak Tree is a big part of the brand identity of the city, so it was a must-have on the crest. We want the crest and identity to be associated with city-pride, culture, arts, sports...LIFE. Soccer happens to be our vehicle, but Oakland Roots is a bigger idea. It’s a wave. 

Which gear-wearing celebrity thrilled you the most? 

Dame Dolla. Period. Dame is real Oakland. The man is genuine, cares about where he comes from, and is insanely humble despite the fame and fortune. You have to know where you come from in order to know where you are going. 

Can you talk about what makes Roots (as a brand), Oakland? What is Oakland style? 

Different. 

Looking towards Spring 2020, how can Roots continue the positive flow? What steps is the club taking to maintain momentum? 

Do more, do Oakland. Reach more people by spreading the message of love, community, and sports. 

Any potential friendlies on the horizon?

We are always looking at potential friendlies we can play but nothing to announce as of now on that front”