‘Excited to be back!’ Iwasa signs deal to return to Republic FC, his hometown club
Cameron Iwasa will get a chance to extend the records he holds for his hometown soccer club.
Republic FC on Tuesday announced the team captain will return for his fifth season with the United Soccer League side. Terms on his contract weren’t disclosed.
“Re-signing Cam was a major priority for us this offseason,” Republic FC general manager Todd Dunivant said in a statement. “His offensive production has been our main catalyst, and we’re thrilled to have him lead this team into the 2020 campaign and beyond.”
Iwasa signed with Sacramento in 2015, the second year of the team’s existence, and is the franchise leader in games played (116) and goals in club competition (47). He’s also tied with Danny Barrera in assists (16).
The 26-year-old forward started 29 of the 33 games he played in this past season and led Republic FC with 17 goals – tying a club record he set in 2018 – and six assists. He also tallied the fastest hat trick in club history March 24 during a 4-1 win over OKC Energy FC, scoring three goals in 27 first-half minutes.
“Excited to be back! Much more work to do,” Iwasa tweeted.
The Jesuit High School graduate has played with Republic FC every season since 2015 except for one. In 2017 he signed with Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, but spent the season on loan to Swope Park Rangers, the team’s USL affiiliate.
Should he want to make his MLS debut with Republic FC, he’ll have to wait a few more years. Sacramento was awarded the 29th franchise in the United States’ top soccer league on Oct. 21, but won’t begin play at that level until early in 2022.
He was asked during the season about the team’s chances to be promoted to MLS.
“I think if there’s anybody in our locker room that doesn’t have the desire and the hunger to get to that next level, there’s something wrong there,” Iwasa said. “At the same time, I think everybody in that locker room understands the road there starts here. We’re all just focused on this current season in the USL.”
Sacramento’s season ended with a 3-0 Western Conference semifinals loss at El Paso Locomotive FC. The club is searching for a new coach after parting ways with Simon Elliott last month.
This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 5:53 PM with the headline "‘Excited to be back!’ Iwasa signs deal to return to Republic FC, his hometown club."