As soon as the 2014 season ended, C.J. Sapong mentally prepared himself for the possibility that he’d be on the move in the offseason.
So when the call came last week that he had been traded, the 25-year-old striker wasn’t blindsided.
If anything, he was delighted at the opportunity for a new beginning with the Philadelphia Union after registering career lows in minutes (811), goals (2) and assists (0) for Sporting Kansas City this past season.
“Man, there’s a lot of excitement,” Sapong told MLSsoccer.com over the phone while packing his things up in Kansas City to prepare for the move to Philly. “There’s a renewed focus and drive. It definitely felt like it was the perfect time for me to go on elsewhere and try to provide an impact somewhere else.”
To be sure, Sapong loved his time in Kansas City, where he won the Rookie of the Year award in 2011 and an MLS Cup two years later. But he felt underutilized over the past two seasons when his playing time decreased, and even believed that he “had a lot more to give” during his first two years despite scoring a combined 14 goals.
Now, after having all of that “take a toll” on him, he’s ready to live up to his massive potential and become the focal point of the Union’s attack, hopefully as a center forward.
“I think [Union head coach Jim Curtin] and I both know the No. 9 spot is where I’ve had the most success in this league,” Sapong said. “For me, that’s a spot I’ve been itching to play for a while now. It’s going to be good to be able to get back to that. I’m ready to shake off the rust in that position. I played that position my whole life. It’s like riding a bike.”
Sapong is also excited about the potential frontline partnership with 23-year-old winger Andrew Wenger, who he played with at Reading United in 2010. Sapong said he didn’t have a great connection with anyone on SKC after Kei Kamara left in 2013 and believes he and Wenger are “going to cause trouble” for opposing defenses.
He also knows fullback Ray Gaddis from Reading United and believes all three will be part of a young core that can help lead the Union to the heights that Sporting Kansas City reached.
“We all have the same swag if you will, the same kind of mindset the same chip on our shoulder to prove ourselves,” Sapong said. “I’m very excited and interested in us assimilating all our characteristics and trying to get some hardware and trying to develop something that will last for a long time.”
But before that, he’s just excited to get to Philly for the preseason.
Said Sapong: “It’s a perfect fit, man.”
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.
