It’s been less than a week since Rhode Island FC players first came together but based on practice sessions opened to the media, the team is already starting to look the part of being Rhode Island’s only professional soccer team.
Training at the Wide World of Indoor Sports complex in North Smithfield on Friday, players were put through extensive drills by Coach Khano Smith and his technical staff. The theme of the day’s practice sessions: maintain possession and how to play out of the back to break high pressing teams.
Smith has been clear in identifying the team he wants to build, one rooted in a possession-based playstyle.
“Most teams now in the world say they want to keep the ball, and we’re no different,” Smith stated after practice. “When both teams have the same game plan, we will just need to figure out a way to get the ball back as quickly as possible.”
While it is still too early to define formations, it was evident that the team was practicing defensive transitions with both four and five player back lines. The approach embraces the wing back nature of recent signings Stephen Turnbull and Jojea Kwizera.
Signed players were not the only participants at the practice. Trialists from MLS teams such as the Vancouver Whitecaps and Charlotte FC, as well as collegiate players Lukas Burns and Kevin Vang from Providence College, Ethan O’Brien (Notre Dame), and Nate Silveira (Crown Legacy) were on site running through drills.
When asked if these players were additional reinforcements, Smith hinted that that additional signings were on the way.
“We have a couple that we won’t mention depending on visa times getting approved, but for me the roster is a moving document, we’re always looking to improve the team,” Smith said. “We have a good core. We’re not going to sign anyone that doesn’t make us better.”
Better is definitely an understatement as the club announced the multi-year signing earlier in the morning of USL Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner, Albert “Chico” Dikwa. The 26-year old forward from Cameroon lit the league on fire in 2023 scoring 20 goals in 28 appearances, a performance that has only continued to improve after scoring 11 goals the prior season.
“Dikwa’s a finisher,” Smith said when asked about his abilities on the pitch. “He’s a killer inside the box, there’s no one better.”
Dikwa’s sudden departure from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds had fans guessing where he might land, including speculation that he might join a MLS club. For Rhode Island FC, this signing was a long term effort, having engaged the player’s camp over six months ago to join the amber and blue in the Ocean State.
“Those deals are never easy,” RIFC President Brett Luy said. “There were 23 other clubs I’m sure that wanted to sign him as well, including his former one in Pittsburgh. If we can take one of the strongest players in the league away from conference rivals it’s too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
While still in startup mode, the signing of Dikwa has elevated expectations internally and externally for the club. Ownership has said from the beginning that RIFC would be competitive out the gate, and they are putting their money where their mouth is.
“Pressure is a privilege,” Luy went on to say when asked if the acquisition of Dikwa changes the objectives of the club. “We’re not shy about putting expectations forward. It comes with the territory. We’ve been clear from the beginning that we are here to win and win now.”
While the league waits and watches what this will mean for the club’s performances ahead, the signing of Dikwa presents new challenges for the team including finding positions on the pitch for all of the talent the club has signed.
“Having this much firepower is a good problem to have,” JJ Williams answered when asked how he anticipates combining with the likes of Dikwa.
The club’s other center forward, Williams recently signed from the Tampa Bay Rowdies where he put up an equally impressive 12 goals last season.
“I don’t have an answer yet, but we’ll have to figure it out. If we fire on all cylinders we’ll be in a really great spot. Our subs are going to have the same quality as our starters.”
Williams isn’t wrong. The collective goal scoring abilities spread between Dikwa and Williams when combined with winger signings in Mark Doyle, Noah Fuson, and Prince Saydee are positioning the club to be a goal scoring monster on paper. How Smith achieves those results on the pitch will depend on the preparation of his players over the next eight weeks.
“We want to entertain people,” Smith said when asked about his goals for the season. “We’re going to provide the community with a good team that going to fight to be competitive in a competitive league that is getting better every year.”
To that end, the team has a robust pre-season ahead including matchups against MLS-side Orlando City, local matchups against Providence College, a training camp in Bermuda, and two separate matches with the New England Revolution 2. Rhode Island FC’s inaugural match will kick-off Saturday, March 16th at Bryant University.
In addition to the TBM, you can stay up to date with RIFC exclusives and player interviews by listening to the Raising Anchor Podcast available on all major listening platforms.