Club Statement
We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gadi Kinda. Our hearts are with Gadi’s family, his friends, teammates and all who knew him.
Sporting KC head coach Kerry Zavagnin
On the passing of former Sporting KC midfielder Gadi Kinda…
It's still a raw emotion. Obviously in the club right now and the way that the group is taking it, in such a difficult way, it goes to show what he meant to all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time. He was such an electric figure in our club and he's going to be dearly missed.
On what Kinda was like on a personal level…
A pleasure to be with every day. No matter what the day looked like, he always came in with it with an optimistic view. Everyone from the chefs, the cooks, the cleaning service, the coaches, the rest of the staff, the players, all had a good feeling when they were around him and it shows today in how everyone's taken this tragic news.
On if Kinda was as humble behind the scenes as he was publicly…
One hundred percent. He was quiet, he was humble, and even in training he was very unassuming. But when the lights went on and the game started, he just became a different person. Entertaining, electrifying, creative and was a great injection of spirit combined with humility.
On how he handles news like this as head coach…
I think you appeal to the human part of what goes on in this organization, this sport. It's a reminder that we just play a game. And for the players, on all different levels, that are taking this news, I think the consistent message of “show up today, and be the best version of who you are.” And some days like this, that best version is good enough, no matter what it is. So whether it's on the field, off the field, we just have to show up and continue showing up and it's a difficult day for all of us. Some of us will not train today, we will go home and mourn, rightfully so. But we show up and we keep moving forward. So that's the message to not just the players, but everybody in the club.
On how differently each person reacts to the news…
Everybody has their space today. We've given the opportunity to go home. We've given the opportunity to train. We have people within the club that are open and willing, professionally speaking, to help in this difficult moment. But we also have each other, and everybody goes through this in different ways at different times, and to allow that space and that opportunity for everyone to experience this on an individual level, I think is the most healthy way to move forward.
On how difficult it is to process the news personally…
Another moment of compartmentalizing. It hurts down to my heart knowing him as a person, which was a much better version than what he was as a player. And he was a pretty darn good player. So that part hurts, as much as you want to admit that we can't escape change and we can't escape what the ultimate is for all of us, it's difficult on a day like today.
