Kasali Yinka Casal is a 19-year-old speedster with loads of potential talent. But he’s also raw and somewhat untested. It’s a combination that usually earns a player plenty of accolades yet little playing time.
Not this year at D.C. United, where coaches have shown no reluctance to test the limits of its roster as the team recovers from its 0-3 start.
“It’s a great feeling to know that you can come in and make an impact,” said Casal, who despite being the team’s second youngest player is already looking like a reliable contributor, notching an assist in his first appearance during D.C.’s season opener and drawing a game-winning penalty kick last weekend against Chivas USA.
So far this season United (1-3-1) has started more players than any other team in Major League Soccer. Though it may have originated out of necessity, it could mean added depth as the match schedule gets crowded this summer.
“We have some of our starters looking over their shoulders in terms of competitiveness, getting on the field,” said assistant coach Chad Ashton. “That’s a good thing for us when you have that competition, who’s going to take the job, starting on the weekend. Obviously, we’ve put some guys on their toes with a few different starts, but a guy like Kasali did do very well, a guy like Guy [Kpene] did very well.”
Casal’s exploits aren’t a total surprise, having joined United from English Premier League team Fulham. There he led the reserves in scoring, but it never translated into an opportunity with the first team.
D.C. rarely splits up its starters and reserves in training, pitting them against one another in nearly every drill. United’s starting lineups thus far have been proof that performance in practice matters when it comes to choosing who’s going to suit up for matches.
“That’s what I really respect about this club,” said Casal. “I’m not sure how it is at the other clubs in this country, but in D.C., if you train hard, you’re going to play. Obviously, over in England, there’s a lot of young talent and you work hard every day in training, but you don’t get a chance. It’s a great feeling to know that if you work hard, you get your reward.”
Imported offense not benefiting all
Kasali Yinka Casal is just one of a plethora of new offensive imports D.C. United has employed in the first part of the season. Forward Guy-Roland Kpene made his first start against Chivas, following Nicholas Addlery, who made his first start three days earlier against New England.
The playing time has come at the expense of fifth-year forward Jamil Walker, who made a couple appearances off the bench in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup but is yet to see any minutes in a league game.
“Up and down performances, not being consistent and things like that have put me in and out of lineup,” said Walker, who had one goal and one assist in 19 appearances (three starts) in 2006. “I think [head coach Tom Soehn’s] also trying different things as well. It’s a combination of different things. As we get toward this stretch now, I think I’ll be able to make my way back into the lineup and help out the team.”
— Craig Stouffer
