Sacramento Republic FC News Release -- www.sacrepublicfc.com
Tuesday, Februay 11, 2014
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC announced the signing of veteran Major League Soccer forward Justin Braun and 18-year-old rising star Mawolo Gissie pending league approval. Both players will report to Republic FC training camp beginning February 17.
“I knew when I first saw Justin play in 2008 that he was a player with great potential, and now it will be even better to work with him due to his experience of playing in the MLS for five years,” said Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach Predrag “Preki” Radosavljević. “Justin’s veteran experience will be leveraged not only on the field but off it as he guides one of the sport’s most exciting young players in Gissie.”
Braun’s professional career includes stints with Chivas USA (2008-2011), Montreal Impact (2012), Real Salt Lake (2012) and Toronto FC (2013). Braun has appeared in 110 regular season matches, four playoff matches and has scored 24 goals over five seasons in MLS. The 6-foot-3-inch forward made his professional debut on March 30, 2008 after being discovered by then Chivas USA Head Coach Preki at an amateur tournament held at Home Depot Center. His career includes team-high nine goals along with three assists in 2010, MLS Player of the Week honors and a hat trick against the New York Red Bulls on May 15, 2011. Braun is a native of Salt Lake City where he was named an All-State first team player during his junior and senior years in high school.
Gissie is an up-and-coming talent who has captured attention while only a sophomore in high school. The Liberian-born forward led the New England Revolution’s U16 in goals (15) and assists (8) in 2011-12 and he made his professional debut in 2012 on the Revolution Reserves. He is known for his speed, running six-minute miles, and ability to score serving as an offensive catalyst for his teams. In high school, he scored the go-ahead goal in a 3-1 win for North High; a rare championship win for the Worcester public school system.
Braun and Gissie join previously signed players Rodrigo Lopez and Mickey Daly on the Republic FC’s club roster. Additional player announcements are expected prior to the club’s training camp which commences on February 17-21 at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, Calif.