The Charlotte Independence are preparing for their first match in 139 days.

COVID-19 shut down sports across the world in March, including USL Championship, but the league resumed play on July 11 with the Independence scheduled to return on July 22 at Miami FC. However, due to Floridas rising infection rate, that game has been pushed to Aug. 23. Instead, Charlotte returns on July 25 at Memphis. They will play 15 regular season matches, which end on Sept. 30 against North Carolina FC in Cary.

Im excited to be back out on the field with the group, Charlotte coach Mike Jeffries said. I know the guys are happy to be playing and competing and doing what they love in a real manner. Looking forward to having the training have meaning as we get ready for the games.

Jeffries focused on technical work during the last month-plus as contact training was limited to small groups. As training progresses, they have been able to focus on the tactical side. Probably most importantly is trying to get the guys back into the habits of playing at pace, being able to make decisions at pace, Jeffries said. Fitness-wise, no matter what we did in small groups, its a different fitness. Weve been able to pin down how we want to play defensively.

In March, the Independence had just embarked on their season with a road win. They signed all-time leading USL Championship goal scorer Dane Kelly, and the season looked promising compared to the disaster of the Jim McGuinness experiment the previous season. While some clubs quietly awaited the restart, the Independence had to deal with backlash from majority owner Dan DiMiccos anti-Black Lives Matter tweets. Fans demanded season ticket refunds from the club, to no avail, as the club is asking for fans to provide proof that they have been financially impacted by the pandemic.

Silence is a trend the front office has become intimately acquainted with since releasing a tepid anti-racism statement on June 1. In the meantime, their youth component created an Independence Anti-Racism Task Force, has met with first team, and committed to community work such as food drives.

Players like defender Hugh Roberts and goalkeeper Brandon Miller continue to advocate for social and racial change. Miller has partnered with California-based group the Young Investors Society to increase financial literacy in low income high schools. Both are working to raise funds and awareness for Heal Charlotte, a community empowerment and youth advocacy non-profit organization.

Roberts partnered with The Queens English Soccer show to create a fundraiser for Roots in the Community Services, Creative Player Foundation and Block Love Charlottelocal organizations empowering communities of color. While the club is promoting Roberts work compared to June when they remained nearly silent, the dichotomy between team and front office remains.

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Charlotte Independence gear up for return to the USL pitch - Charlotte Post