Sporting Kansas City drafted James Madison University striker C.J. Sapong on Thursday with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore, Maryland. Read below for comments from Sapong and Manager Peter Vermes following the announcement.
Sporting Kansas City draft selection C.J. Sapong
On being drafted...
It was pure elation. I looked over at my mom and she could
not believe her ears. I was so excited when I heard my name. I kind of got
flooded with emotions for a little bit, but I brought myself back because I
worked for this, I’m ready. The rebranding, the new stadium. I see the fans on
TV, I love them. I can’t wait until that first time I step onto the field. I
know I’m going to have to prove myself, I had to do it until now. This is just more
motivation to try even harder.
About himself…
I’m a flashy, outgoing person. I’m fun-loving. You’re going
to see that I’m having fun on the field. I have fun with life. No matter what
situations I come across, I take the best out of them. I know God has a path
for me. I have faith that whatever the path may be, I will be successful. I
just have to keep believing.
On Manager Peter Vermes first words to him…
He said, ‘do you know how crazy it’s going to be to play in
our stadium with all those fans?’ I was like, ‘I don’t, but I’m ready.’
Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes
About what he sees in Sapong…
There’s a couple things. Last year Teal Bunbury we picked
with our 4th pick that we had overall in the 1st round. We felt that his
explosive style in the League can be very dangerous with the way we play. And
C.J. brings a lot of the same qualities. I think that between the two of them,
they can be a pretty interesting tandem. We think he’s a very explosive and
powerful type of forward that plays very well with his back to the goal. So we
think that, not only right away he can have some impact with the team, but we
think over time he’s got a huge upside. We’re pretty excited about the pick.
On Sapong coming from a smaller program…
I think what happens is a lot of players
that come out of those situations sometimes, if they have the ability but maybe
weren’t on the big stage. They’re always trying to prove that they belong. I
think there’s not only an inner-confidence, but also a inner-motivating factor
that he wants to prove himself to be a big time player. I think he’s got an
excellent, excellent attitude for the game. So I really think that over time
the kid’s got something that he’s going to be able to deliver to this League.
On Sapong’s impact going forward…
I think that from any coaches perspective, you always want
guys to have an immediate impact. But I think you also have to patient with the
fact that it takes time to adjust to our League, especially making the jump
that he is. And you don’t want to put too much pressure on him right away to be
successful because you want to build that confidence up as you go and do that
on an upwards slope as opposed to being up-and-down, all around. It’s really
going to depend on where his development is, but like I said, I think he’s got
a great future ahead of him.
On the first things he told him…
That’s he’s coming into the best team in the League, in
regards to so many different opportunities: new stadium, great training
facility, very good team that plays a style that’s conducive to him. So I think
all of those things fit really well with him coming into our club.
