<a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/road-trip-first-kick"><img src="//kansascity-mp7static.mlsdev.net/mp6/2011_road_trip_adidas_logo.png" alt="" width="180"></a><p>Join MLSsoccer.com’s <strong>Jackie Pickering</strong> and <strong>Nick Firchau</strong> as they travel from LA to Vancouver, checking in on all the West Coast teams, meeting with fans, and stopping into adidas HQ in Portland to pick up the game ball for First Kick on March 15 at Qwest Field.</p><a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/road-trip-first-kick"><strong>Follow the Road Trip here</strong></a> |
When C.J. Sapong heard his name called in the first round of January’s MLS SuperDraft, he understood that it was just beginning.
In Major League Soccer, being a first-round pick simply means having an opportunity. Some are taken, others are not.
Sapong took his, officially signing with Sporting Kansas City last week after impressing with his work ethic and ability to adapt quickly to a professional environment. However, now he has the task of fighting for his spot on the team.
“All in all, I think it was good,” Sapong said in a phone interview from Arizona. “It gave me an opportunity to work hard every day and not slip into a comfort zone.”
Truth be told, Sapong never had the opportunity to let his guard down.
Prospective players have cycled in and out of Kansas City’s preseason preparations, keeping the pressure on Sapong to continue improving and making progress day in, day out.
Though, like most rookies, he was a little behind the pace when camp convened, manager Peter Vermes said Sapong has continually developed and taken advantage of his chances in training and preseason games to force his way onto the roster.
“His progression has been very good,” Vermes said. “He’s very coachable. He learns very fast and he has a real ambition to be successful. You put all those things together, and with his athleticism, it can be a dangerous combination.”
So far, Sapong’s opportunities have come as the center striker in Kansas City’s 4-3-3 formation, where he is competing for time with Teal Bunbury and Birahim Diop.
READ: MLSSOCCER.COM Q&A WITH SAPONG
Though he points to fellow forward Kei Kamara as a kindred soul and key influence on the field, he said his biggest adjustment thus far has been to simply have more confidence in himself and his own abilities.
“When I first got here, I was so hell-bent on keeping the ball and playing simple,” Sapong said. “But as I kept doing that, the coaches saw that and gave me a little freedom to turn players and not just be another player on the field. Just because I’m a rookie and playing with professional defenders doesn’t mean I need to act like I don’t belong.”
And, make no mistake, Sapong belongs.
A product out of James Madison University, Sapong has the frame (he stands at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds) and the skill set (he played nearly every attacking position in college) to compete with MLS defenders and help create opportunities for himself and his teammates.
[inline_node:330266]Those skills have helped him draw two penalties and contribute an assist during a preseason in which he has impressed with his ability to hold the ball and involve his teammates in the attack, a skill that comes from his basketball background.
“I’ve always been a player that prided myself on being strong on the ball,” Sapong said. “Being at striker, my basketball background comes into play a little bit, too. Posting up is something that really comes natural to me.
"I like contact, feeling defenders and knowing where they are. Contact gets me into the game. If they want to battle, I’m ready for that.”
Although Sapong acknowledges that he’s still working on staying in the game mentally for 90 minutes and adjusting his runs to MLS tactics, Vermes knows he has a player who will make the most of his opportunities with hard work and a desire to improve.
“He’s a tireless worker, which is a strong asset in this league,” Vermes said. “That’s what that position needs.”
