FC Buffalo is happy to announce that it has accepted an invitation to participate in the inaugural NISA Independent Cup in late July and early August.
The 15-team, four-group tournament puts FCBFLO in the Great Lakes Region with former league mates and current NISA professional side Detroit City FC and current NPSL conference partners Cleveland SC.
Game dates and locations will be announced at a later date. All matches will be streamed on a national platform in what will be an incredible stage for our club and players. We are hopeful our players will be able to showcase our 2020 Change Kit, to boot.
“The first of its kind, the Independent Cup, is a regionalized competition featuring independent professional and amateur clubs. The Independent Cup was created to provide a platform for professional and amateur independent clubs to play together on a national stage. Independent clubs are built in their communities and this competition allows those communities an opportunity to express their pride in their clubs.”
Our club has been in talks with NISA about this tournament for more than three months and has attended weekly calls regarding safety and the challenges associated with playing during the COVID-19 era. Nothing has been taken lightly, nor will it be moving forward.
FC Buffalo recognizes the immense responsibility to keep our players and communities safe during the coronavirus pandemic, and staffs and players for our team and opposing teams will be tested for COVID-19 while abiding by a strict return to play protocol, outlined below:
“NISA also announces that all clubs participating will be adhering to NISA’s Return to Play Protocol created and established with top
medical professionals and in accordance with the CDC guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all clubs’ players, staffs and
personnel. Regional competition will also adhere to all state and local governance in place at the time of regional competition. Full
details on the NISA Independent Cup schedule can be found at https://nisasoccer.com/independentcup.”
It’s an honor for our club to be recognized for its place in American soccer as an independent club, and we know the on-field challenge we face in a monumental one. As we proved with matches against FC St. Pauli and Monarcas Morelia Reserva last season, we’re not ones to back down from a test or the underdog role.
The club looks forward to following all local, state, and national guidelines and competing in 2020.
