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Sacramento Republic FC

Republic FC Signs Nor Cal Players Alvarez and Emrah Klimenta

February 14, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release


SACRAMENTO, Calif. (February 14, 2014) - Sacramento Republic FC announced the signing Northern California players Max Alvarez and Emrah Klimenta, pending league approval. Alvarez, a senior at California State University Sacramento (CSUS) and Klimenta, a San Francisco Bay Area resident, were offered contracts after their performances in Republic FC combines. Both players will report to Republic FC training camp beginning February 17.

"Sacramento has an immense amount of local talent, and finally, these players will be able to wear Sacramento across their chest when they take the field as professional athletes," said Republic FC President Warren Smith. "Both these players were evaluated during tryouts and combines, and after feedback from our coaching staff, worked on their skills only to return and prove they belong on the roster. These players represent the best of Sacramento and Northern California."

Sacramento Republic FC will be Max Alvarez's first professional experience. He was featured by the club in its "The Goal" video as a representation of local players. The CSUS athlete is one of three Hornets to earn all-league honors after appearing in 18 games as a junior in 2011.The left-footed forward was voted second team freshman All-America by Soccer America in 2009 by leading MPSF in scoring (10 goals) and points (23 points) including one of the biggest goals in Hornets history versus UCLA in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. A native of Napa, Calif., Alvarez led Napa High School as the 2008 Napa County Player of the Year with 42 goals and a 15-9-2 record. He scored a total of 108 goals during his final three years of high school. At the club level, he competed for Davis Legacy Soccer Club including an appearance in 2009 at the Disney Soccer Showcase during which he earned MVP honors. He is currently a coach with the Sacramento youth club, Team BOCA Soccer.

Republic FC discovered Klimenta during local open tryouts held on November 16-17, 2013 at Davis Legacy Fields. Subsequently, he was invited to return to tryouts in January 2014, and the invite-only combines. Following the combines, Klimenta was offered a contract by the club based on his performance and improvement following feedback from coaching staff. Klimenta's professional career includes multiple experiences overseas in Germany and Turkey. He is a third-generation professional football player. His father and grandfather were both professional players in the former Yugoslavia. A native of Montenegro, Klimenta and his family fled the country in 1991 following the violence associated with the breakup of Yugoslavia. They moved to the United States in 1999 to "follow the American Dream" and eventually settled in Walnut Creek, Calif. Klimenta was recognized as Second Team All-League and team MVP (2007, 2008) as a four-year varsity player at Las Lomas High School. His most recent professional experience was with the Bay Area Ambassadors of NPSL in Oakland, Calif.

"The opportunity to play for Preki and the extra push from my father are why I tried out for Republic FC," said Klimenta. "When you hear a countryman's name it becomes a big deal because you are from the same region."

Additional player announcements are expected during the club's training camp that commences on February 17-21 at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, Calif.

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