C.J. Sapong and Hope Solo have struck up a friendship since the Sporting Kansas City rookie forward serenaded the U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper with an original rap last month. “It’s definitely gone past the point of creepy admirer,” said Sapong, who has since been invited by Solo to a taping of “Dancing with the Stars.” He hasn’t made it — he’s a little busy helping his team qualify for the MLS playoffs and making a run himself at MLS rookie of the year.
The more than 370,000 views on YouTube of Sapong’s performance for Solo overshadow a remarkable season for the Manassas native and Forest Park High graduate. He scored his fifth goal of the year last weekend to help Kansas City move into a tie for first place atop MLS’ Eastern Conference.
He also scored the fastest goal ever by a MLS rookie in his first start — just 43 seconds into the first game of the year.
Sapong leads all rookies in points (five goals, five assists), is third in minutes played (2,074) and is the only Kansas City player to appear in every game this season. It’s more than Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes anticipated, even though he boldly selected Sapong with the 10th pick in January’s draft.
“Just from hearing a lot of other people that didn’t think I should’ve gone that high — there were a whole bunch of people who didn’t think I was going to get drafted — it was kind of a personal goal to prove myself,” Sapong said.
Vermes looked beyond Sapong’s CAA/James Madison resume — which traditionally holds far less sway than, say, one from the ACC — and saw an athletic, two-footed forward with a high work rate and natural ability with his back to the goal. Those skills have been evident, but Vermes isn’t rushing his precocious 22-year-old, whose name is being whispered as a potential U.S. national team call-up this winter.
“He has a tremendous upside,” Vermes said. “I think sometimes we, especially here, get too excited too quick when someone talks highly about a player. I think we jump the gun. I think he still has a lot to learn, and he still needs experience.”
But having defied the usual protocols already — just ask Solo — it would be no surprise to see Sapong break down U.S. Soccer’s doors the same way.
– Craig Stouffer
