Sporting Kansas City announced Thursday that forward C.J. Sapong has signed a new contract with the club. Per club policy, terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.
“I’m definitely very excited to sign an extension with Sporting Kansas City,” said Sapong. “It’s an amazing feeling, because I feel like I progressed so much this past year and I feel like I can progress even more. We have an amazing situation in Kansas City from the ownership to staff to players to fans. It’s truly amazing to be a part of it all.”
“C.J. Sapong was yet another one of our current nucleus of players that we prioritized offering a new contract to this off-season,” Manager Peter Vermes said. “His work ethic and willingness to learn is unsurpassed as is his commitment to this organization and city. We look forward to C.J.’s progression with Sporting Kansas City.”
Sapong, 23, earned MLS Rookie of the Year honors in 2011 after recording six goals and five assists in MLS competition. Taken in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with the 10th overall pick, the James Madison University product was the only Sporting KC player to appear in all 34 regular season matches last year.
In December, Sapong received his first invite to a U.S. Men’s National Team training camp and earned his first two international appearances in victories against Venezuela and Panama earlier this year.
The Manassas, Virginia native opened the 2012 season last Saturday with a game-winning goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to propel Sporting KC past D.C. United 1-0 at RFK Stadium in front of his friends and family. It marked the second straight season that Sapong has scored the first goal of the season for Sporting KC, who are 7-0-0 in games that Sapong scores, and he also scored the first-ever goal at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
Sapong becomes the fifth Sporting Kansas City player to secure a new contract with the club since the end of the 2011 season, along with goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, defender Seth Sinovic and midfielders Graham Zusi and Luke Sassano.
Sporting Kansas City will host the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in the team’s 2012 home opener. A limited number of tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the LSP Box Offices.
