A historic moment took place in the 87th minute of Sunday's scoreless draw between Sporting Kansas City and Columbus Crew SC at Children's Mercy Park.
Midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, a Sporting KC Academy product who had been selected to Manager Peter Vermes' matchday 18 for the first time, replaced Roger Espinoza to make his Sporting KC and MLS debut. In doing so, the 19-year-old Kuzain became the eighth-youngest Sporting KC player to feature in a regular season match and the second-youngest Homegrown Player to debut for the side.
Kuzain, who signed for Sporting KC as the club's ninth Homegrown Player on April 13, entered the action to a standing ovation and completed eight of his nine passes as Vermes' men collected their sixth shutout in nine games dating back to March 31.
A highly skilled holding midfielder who has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Malaysia, Kuzain is the first Sporting KC Homegrown signing to progress from the Sporting KC Academy to the Swope Park Rangers to the senior team. His development at the club over the last two years serves as a momentous testament to the professional pathway forged by Vermes and a technical staff that includes Rangers head coach Paulo Nagamura and Academy Director Jon Parry.
TIMELINE: WAN KUZAIN WAN KAMAL
- August 2016 – joins Sporting KC Academy
- Aug. 18, 2016 – signs Academy contract with Swope Park Rangers
- July 11, 2017 – signs professional USL contract with Swope Park Rangers
- April 13, 2018 – signs MLS Homegrown contract with Sporting Kansas City
- May 27, 2018 – makes Sporting KC and MLS debut
Born to Malaysian parents in Carbondale, Illinois, Kuzain spent several years with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club before joining the Sporting Kansas City Academy in August 2016. He signed an Academy contract with the Rangers later that month, allowing him to play for both SPR and the Academy while retaining his amateur status.
Kuzain continued to develop in 2017 with the Swope Park Rangers, where he helped Sporting KC’s USL affiliate to a second straight Western Conference championship. He has started nine USL matches this season for SPR, completing 89.4 percent of his passes.
YOUNGEST SPORTING KC PLAYERS
(MLS REGULAR SEASON, ALL-TIME)
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Age</strong> |
<strong>Debut Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Result</strong> |
Erik Palmer-Brown |
17 years, 24 days |
05/18/2014 |
at Chicago Fire |
L 1-2 |
Nino da Silva |
18 years, 158 days |
08/31/1997 |
at D.C. United |
L 0-2 |
Yura Movsisyan |
18 years, 311 days |
05/13/2006 |
at D.C. United |
L 1-2 |
Soony Saad |
19 years, 0 days |
08/17/2011 |
vs. Portland Timbers |
W 3-1 |
Jake Dancy |
19 years, 137 days |
08/24/1997 |
at San Jose Earthquakes |
T 2-2 |
Jose Burciaga |
19 years, 184 days |
05/19/2001 |
at Chicago Fire |
L 0-2 |
Jimmy Medranda |
19 years, 212 days |
09/07/2013 |
vs. Columbus Crew SC |
W 3-0 |
<strong><em>Kuzain</em></strong> |
<strong><em>19 years, 255 days</em></strong> |
<strong><em>05/27/2018</em></strong> |
<strong><em>vs. Columbus Crew SC</em></strong> |
<strong><em>T 0-0</em></strong> |
Igor Juliao |
19 years, 264 days |
05/14/2014 |
vs. Philadelphia Union |
L 1-2 |
Teal Bunbury |
20 years, 28 days |
03/27/2010 |
vs. D.C. United |
W 4-0 |
AGES OF SPORTING KC HOMEGROWN PLAYERS
TO MAKE MLS REGULAR SEASON DEBUTS
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Age</strong> |
<strong>Debut Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Result</strong> |
Erik Palmer-Brown |
17 years, 24 days |
05/18/2014 |
at Chicago Fire |
L 1-2 |
<strong><em>Kuzain</em></strong> |
<strong><em>19 years, 255 days</em></strong> |
<strong><em>05/27/2018</em></strong> |
<strong><em>vs. Columbus Crew SC</em></strong> |
<strong><em>T 0-0</em></strong> |
Daniel Salloi |
20 years, 264 days |
04/09/2017 |
vs. Colorado Rapids |
W 3-1 |
Jon Kempin |
21 years, 144 days |
08/10/2014 |
at Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
L 0-2 |
Kevin Ellis |
21 years, 364 days |
06/29/2013 |
vs. Columbus Crew SC |
W 3-2 |
