CAVALRY FC
Players take to the field at Spruce Meadows
They’re back on the pitch.
At least to train.
Cavalry FC jumped onto the field Monday morning — in small groups, mind you — after the Canadian Premier League club was awarded approval from health authorities to hold voluntary workouts at Spruce Meadows.
It’s the first official sign of professional sporting life in Calgary since the coronavirus pandemic gripped the world in mid-march.
“Very good news — we’ve got the band back together, and that’s exactly what it was like,” said Cavalry GM/ head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “You’ve been waiting for so long — 12 weeks on our own just waiting to hear back when the government says we can start moving together in small groups.
“We honoured all the safety protocols and had a real thorough welcoming committee as well as a process. But I’ll tell you … once you get on the green grass here at Spruce Meadows with the sun out and the boys doing their thing, it was phenomenal.”
It’s the first step back in a return to pro soccer in Calgary after the COVID-19 crisis shut down the operation — and the eight-team CPL — two months ago.
Or think of it as an obstacle removed in the pursuit of a returnto-play process after the team met all guidelines of safety required by provincial and local health regions, Canada Soccer and Foothills County — where Spruce Meadows resides — and submitted those approvals to the league.
“It was great to welcome the players and football operations staff back this morning,” said Cavalry president Ian Allison.
“We’re blessed to have ample space to allow for all of the required measures to be put in place.”
Before they could take the field, however, there was quite a series of measures put in place for each player and coach to follow.
In fact, it began as they arrived at Spruce Meadows, with each member of the club being given a staggered arrival time.
From there, everybody had their temperatures taken before moving onward to physiotherapy treatment — if needed — and then onto their individual section of the field.
“The setup was really good,” said Cavs captain Nik Ledgerwood. “I was really surprised that the health protocols that we went through are probably better than I’ve surrounded myself with in the last few months or seen at the grocery store or gas station or wherever.
“Going out to training, everything’s marked and everybody’s got their own quarter of the field to work with. So you’re only really coming into contact with somebody taking your temperature at the starting gate. So I think all the guys out there feel completely safe, and they know all the steps we have to take to get this moving forward.”
They practised four to a field, with each player occupying one-quarter — and only that quarter — of the pitch, while one coach stood at the centre mark directing the drills. Each session of players was geared to a specific position, such as having all the central midfielders out together — but socially distancing, of course — at one time.
Afterward, they each exited along a designated line marked on the pitch and dropped off their individual GPS units.
They then left just as they came — with their training gear on — to shower at home.
What lies ahead now for the Cavs is a welcome regular schedule of training — finally — with weekday work and weekends off, at least for the foreseeable future. The days will vary with regards to intensity.
And as the sessions pass, they’ll eventually get the entire squad back in the Spruce Meadows stable.
The first return day saw 17 of the 21 signed Cavs make it to training.
Brazil’s Oliver Minatel, who returned to Canada late last month, joins next week once his stint in isolation is complete.
Nathan Mavila just returned from U.K., so he’s just started self-isolating.
Brazilian Richard Luca and Honduran Jose Escalante are still awaiting their visas before making their way to Calgary.
And still on the shelf are Dean Northover and Chris Serban due to injury.
Meanwhile, young Victor Loturi is training with the club until his future is decided.