UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. – In mid-July, New York attacker Mac Kandji was perhaps the hottest property in MLS.
After a strong showing with the Red Bulls in the Barclays New York Challenge in which he tallied a goal against English Premier League side Manchester City, Kandji garnered interest from European teams, several of whom reportedly made transfer offers for him.
WATCH: Kandji finds the net against Man. City
It seemed as though Kandji was set for a hot summer and destined for a big second half of the season
Then, he followed the friendly matches with two disappointing efforts in league play against Houston and Chicago, and all of a sudden, Kandji is coming off the bench for the Red Bulls rather than starting.
“At this point, it’s a waiting game," Kandji told MLSSoccer.com. “You have Juan [Pablo Angel] and Thierry Henry out there ahead of me. Those are pretty good options out there.”
On Saturday, in New York’s 2-0 win over San Jose, Kandji put in a solid 20-minute appearance off the bench. But head coach Hans Backe said he wants to see more from the player.
“He has to show well in every session," Backe said. "He did well in the Challenge, but that was against two English sides in pre-season. And to be perfectly honest, the two sides weren’t in form and all that ready.”
“[Kandji] has to show more, every day,” Backe added frankly.
The forward vowed that he is putting forth his best effort in training and said he is willing to wait his time this year or next year for a starting spot.
“I think I’m performing my best in practices," he said. "I think I’ve been doing well in training and always giving my fullest and best. All I can do is train hard and, during games, sit there and wait [for] my chance.”
One thing Kandji isn’t waiting for is his international future. The player, who had expressed interest in playing for the United States but was uncertain of when he’d obtain citizenship, is set to soon put on the colors of an African country for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament's qualification process starts in September.
Kandji is eligible to play for Senegal, the country in which he was born and for which his father played for. He can also represent Gambia, the nation in which he spent most of his formative years.
It’s a tough choice for the forward, who is in the U.S. on asylum status, and he said he will discuss it with his father before making a decision.
“It is Gambia or Senegal," Kandji said. "I will decide soon because I want to play for [one of] them in October during the matches then. I had thought about the United States – my father had advised me to consider the United States because of their organization and structure – but I don’t know when I’ll be able to become a citizen. I don’t want to be 31 and just beginning my international career.”
Kristian R. Dyer can be reached for comment at KristianRDyer@yahoo.com and followed at twitter.com/kdyer1012.
