Coach Vermes talks to 41 Action News

PETER VERMES IS NOW INHIS 13TH SEASON AS THEHEAD COACH OFSPORTING, THE LONGESTTENURED MANAGER INMAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER DAN COHENJOINS US THISMORNING--HE SPOKE ONEON ONE WITH COACHVERMES AS HE PREPARESTO RETURN TO HIS HOMESTADIUM TONIGHT.DAISHA,, COACH VERMESIS THE FIFTH WINNINGESTCOACH IN MAJOR LEAGUESOCCER HISTORY, ANDCONTINUES TO BE AFAMILIAR PRESENCE ONTHE SPORTING SIDE.BUT HE TOLD US HREALLY MISSED HAVINGMORE FANS IN THE STANDSLAST YEAR AS MAJORLEAGUE SOCCERNAVIGATED THE HIGHPOINT OF THE COVID-19PANDEMIC.

HE SAID ITAFFECTS THE QUALITY OFTHE SOCCER ON THFIELD, AND HE'S EAGER TOSEE THAT IMPROVE WITHMORE FANS COMING BACK,STARTING TONIGHT.I always say it's areciprocatingrelationship.

You play reallyhard,and the fans, respect that theyapplaud that right, if even ifyou lose,I mean if you if you gaveeverythingyou had on the field and thefans areenjoyed and so I think that waslostlast year for not just our teambut forall the games.

The fans make thegame.COACH VERMES SAID HE'SEAGER TO SEE THENUMBER OF FANSALLOWED BACK GO UP ASTHE SEASON MOVESALONG, STARTING WITHTHE 40% CAPACITYNUMBER FOR TONIGHT'SHOME OPENER.

FUTUREHOME GAME ATTENDANCEWILL BE ANNOUNCEDTHE SCHEDULEPROGRESSES.

DAISHA?DAN, COACH VERMES ISREACHING A SIGNIFICANTMILESTONE TONIGHT,WHAT IS ITIT'S A REALLY BIG NIGHTFOR THE SPORTINGMANAGER - HE WILL BEPARTICIPATING IN HIS600TH MAJOR LEAGUESOCCER MATCH AS APLAYER OR HEAD COACH.HE'S ONE OF ONLY TWOPEOPLE IN LEAGUEHISTORY TO ACHIEVE THATFEAT.