If Sporting Kansas City's three new signings hadn't already impressed enough to earn their first MLS contracts earlier this week, their performances Friday night in their first game as official members of Sporting Kansas City gave little reason to doubt the decision to bring them on board for the 2011 season.
Defender Mike Jones opened the scoring and was solid in his defensive duties throughout, striker C.J. Sapong had a a goal and an assist before being replaced midway through the second half and outside back Scott Lorenz recorded two assists while anchoring the left side of the defense.
Their professional debut of sorts couldn't have gone much better for the trio, and that pay off wasn't lost on them after the years of hard work it took to get them this opportunity.
The first person Jones called after Sporting Kansas City selected him in the Supplemental Draft was his mother, who initially thought her son was pulling her leg. But after some convincing, she delivered some sage advice that has helped guide Jones to this day.
“She told me, ‘This is not a time for you to celebrate,’” Jones (above) said. "It’s great that you got drafted, but now you are with the big boys. You need to be able to stay, work hard and not get too excited about getting drafted or the glory. This is your job, and it can go so fast.’”
That mentality is one that Jones and Kansas City’s other young domestic signings – first round pick Sapong and trialist Lorenz – have taken to heart.
In a business defined by its cutthroat nature, all three came to Kansas City in January and outlasted and outworked the countless other faces that came and went as Sporting surveyed their options and shaped their opening-day roster.
Manager Peter Vermes said they each earned their opportunity, even if nothing is necessarily guaranteed going forward.
“Over the entire preseason, those guys had not only shown well early on but also progressed day-to-day and week-to-week,” he said. “They are guys that we feel we can work with over time and hopefully find something in them that will continue to add quality to our roster.”
Sapong is a physical, athletic striker who should provide depth behind Teal Bunbury, Kei Kamara and Diop. Jones is a left-footed center back with the size and speed to stay with MLS attackers. Lorenz will start the season as a backup for Roger Espinoza at left back after spending last season in Minnesota in the second division before making an impression in a short trial last season and taking advantage of his opportunities this preseason.
“It’s a good feeling to finally get signed and have all the work you did in the offseason result in something positive,” Lorenz said. “Getting signed is just the beginning of what I have really come here to do. I’ve got plenty of work to do.”
That work will most likely come in training and reserve league games initially, but if their mind sets stay true, there is little doubt that each will be ready for whatever opportunity presents itself.
“Signing a professional contract with an MLS team is an absolute dream come true,” Jones said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m going to do whatever I can to continue to live this dream and be the best I can be for myself and my teammates.”
