COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – In the span of just two weeks, Colorado Rapids rookie Dominique Badji’s role has changed from a player in whom the team in entrusted their offensive hopes to that of bench warmer.
The fourth-round pick from the 2015 MLS SuperDraft was thrust into the role of carrying the load at striker when Deshorn Brown left Colorado for Vålerenga back in March. And he did well do end the team’s scoreless streak of more than 600 minutes with the team’s first goal of 2015.
But the 22-year-old has also had his share of struggles. To date, that goal on April 10 has been his only tally in nine games (six starts) and nearly 500 minutes of play. He’s gone unused in Colorado’s last three games.
“I had a talk with Badji when he first got selected [at the Draft], and I told him there’s going to be some ups and downs,” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “There’s going to be moments of learning. It’s important for him to understand that he’s here to develop every day and when asked to play that he’s ready for that opportunity.”
Now, with the arrivals of experienced foreign strikers Kevin Doyle and Luis Solignac, the rookie has returned to a more traditional first-year role of learning from veterans.
“Honestly right now, I’ve kind have had to take a back seat,” Badji said. “I’ve got to stay realistic, it’s been kind of tough being the lone man up top. I’m happy to have more experienced players here. Guys who I can look up to and who can help me.”
With an opportunity to learn from Doyle, an Irish international, Mastroeni drew comparisons between Badji and LA Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes’ tutelage under Irishman Robbie Keane. Mastroeni witnessed it firsthand when he was with LA in 2013, his last as a player.
“It was constantly being critiqued by Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane,” Mastroeni said of Zardes’ development into a player who scored 16 goals for LA en route to an MLS Cup last season. “When you have those guys who pull you aside and say, ‘This is what I want,’ I think they bring a wealth of opportunities for these younger players to learn.
“[Badji] has been exceptional in that regard. He’s been a consummate pro and is always asking questions. Now that he has Kevin and Luis to model himself after, that’s the quickest way to learn besides coaches and video.”
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After the arrival of Solignac, Badji already began taking notes.
“You can tell Luis is a really experienced player,” Badji said of the Argentine. “He’s really calm on the ball and with his finishing, and that’s something I can learn to be better at.”
Next came Doyle, who humbly acknowledged that while he’s willing to help, the Rapids perhaps have even more useful resources currently in place for the team’s more youthful attackers.
“We’ve got Claudio Lopez [director of soccer] here, and he’s a legend, so I’m sure he’s mentoring the young strikers,” Doyle said. “If they need help or they’d like it, I’ll give my opinion.”
A loan spell to the Rapids’ USL affiliate in Charlotte proved effective for the Rapids’ other young striker, Charles Eloundou, in the early course of the season before making a return to Colorado. According to Mastroeni, Eloundou needed the benefit of a “full preseason” after missing a large portion of this year with visa issues.
With Badji, the Rapids’ boss sees a greater benefit in an apprenticeship under Doyle and Solignac.
“Every case is individual,” Mastroeni explained. “I think it would be great for Badji to stick around and really learn from guys like Luis and Kevin. They’re dynamic, their movement is great, and their awareness around the ball is great. These are things that you can only learn from being around in this environment.
“I think this is a great environment for Badji to continue flourishing.”
