C. J. Sapong Explained

CJ Sapong
Fullname:Charles Nana Kwabena Sapong
Birth Date:December 27, 1988
Birth Place:Manassas, Virginia, United States
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:D.C. United
Collegeyears1:2007–2010
College1:James Madison Dukes
Collegecaps1:67
Collegegoals1:35
Years1:2009
Clubs1:Fredericksburg Gunners
Caps1:8
Goals1:0
Years2:2010
Clubs2:Reading United
Caps2:11
Goals2:4
Years3:2011–2014
Clubs3:Sporting Kansas City
Caps3:110
Goals3:20
Years4:2013
Clubs4:Orlando City (loan)
Caps4:4
Goals4:1
Years5:2015–2018
Clubs5:Philadelphia Union
Caps5:123
Goals5:36
Years6:2019–2020
Clubs6:Chicago Fire
Caps6:43
Goals6:15
Years7:2021–2023
Clubs7:Nashville SC
Caps7:74
Goals7:17
Years8:2023
Clubs8:Toronto FC
Caps8:20
Goals8:1
Nationalyears1:2012–2018
Nationalteam1:United States
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:November 2, 2023
Ntupdate:March 30, 2019

Charles "CJ" Nana Kwabena Sapong (; born December 27, 1988) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward.

Born in Manassas, Virginia, Sapong was part of the D.C. United youth academy before playing college soccer for the James Madison Dukes. After playing four seasons with James Madison, Sapong was drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City as the 11th overall pick.

After his debut professional season, Sapong was named the MLS Rookie of the Year for 2011. In 2012, Sapong won his first championship, helping Kansas City win the U.S. Open Cup. He then was part of the side that won MLS Cup in 2013. Prior to the 2015 season, Sapong was traded to the Philadelphia Union. He played for the Union for three seasons, converting from a winger to a forward, before being traded to the Chicago Fire in 2019. Sapong has also represented the United States internationally, earning four caps between 2012 and 2018.

Playing career

College

Sapong played college soccer at James Madison University, where he ended his career with 37 goals and 21 assists in four seasons from 2007 to 2010. He was awarded First Team All-Conference and team Offensive MVP honors all four years, a first in program history, and was the CAA Player of the Year as a senior co-captain in 2010. Sapong was a two-time NSCAA First Team All-South Atlantic Region selection. As a freshman, he was named the CAA and VaSID Rookie of the Year and chosen to the Third Team All-South Atlantic Region.[1]

Sapong made eight appearances for Fredericksburg Gunners in the USL Premier Development League in 2009,[2] and made eleven appearances and scored four goals for Reading United during their 2010 PDL season.[3]

Club

Sporting Kansas City

On January 14, 2011, Sapong was drafted #10 overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City. He signed with the club on March 1, 2011.[4] He made his professional debut on March 19, in Kansas City's opening game of the 2011 MLS season against Chivas USA; he scored his first professional goal after just two minutes of the game, helping his team to a 3–2 victory.[5] Sapong was awarded the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for 2011, edging out Perry Kitchen and Michael Farfan, who finished second and third, respectively.[6]

Orlando City

Sapong was loaned to USL Pro's Orlando City in July 2013.[7] On July 18, only a week after being loaned to Orlando, Sapong was recalled by Sporting Kansas City. In total, Sapong scored one goal in three matches while tallying one assist.[8]

Philadelphia Union

On December 8, 2014, Sapong was traded by Kansas City to Philadelphia Union in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.[9] After several seasons of being deployed on the wing with Kansas City, Sapong was positioned as the Union's lone center forward, taking advantage of his strength and hold-up play.[10] He led the Union in goals during the 2015 season (with 9) and would build on those totals in subsequent seasons. He scored his first career hat-trick in Philadelphia's 3–0 victory over the New York Red Bulls at Talen Energy Stadium on May 6, 2017.[11]

On October 22, 2017, Sapong broke the Union's (and his own) single-season scoring record, previously held by Sebastian Le Toux (14 goals during the 2010 season). At home against Orlando City, on the final day of the season, Sapong scored his fifteenth and sixteenth goals for the record.[12]

Chicago Fire

On February 23, 2019, Sapong was traded by Philadelphia to Chicago Fire in exchange for up to $450,000 in Allocation Money.

The specifics of the Allocation Money are as follows: $200,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money, $100,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money, and an additional $100,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money to be conveyed to Philadelphia should the Chicago Fire acquire said funds this year.

If the Fire do not acquire an additional $100,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money to convey to Philadelphia this season, then that money conveys as GAM in 2020, and the Union also receive $50,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money from Chicago should Sapong hit certain performance incentives in 2019.[13]

Sapong's contract with the club expired at the end of the 2020 season.[14]

Nashville SC

On February 10, 2021, Sapong signed as a free agent with Nashville SC.[15]

Toronto FC

On April 25, 2023, Sapong was traded to Toronto FC for Lukas MacNaughton and up to $200,000 of general allocation money.[16] At the end of the 2023 season, the club declined his option for the 2024 season.[17]

International

On January 21, 2012, Sapong made his debut for the senior side of the United States (as a second-half substitute) in the 1–0 win over Venezuela in a friendly match. On November 14, 2017, Sapong made his first start for the United States in a friendly against Portugal, notching an assist with an incisive pass to Weston McKennie.

Personal life

Born in the United States, Sapong is of Ghanaian descent.[18] On February 23, 2017, Sapong helped launch the Sacred Seeds foundation, which promotes and enhances the growth of underserved communities through sustenance and self-sustainability.[19] [20] He was inspired by his own experiences recovering from injuries during his soccer career and being reluctant to rely on painkillers rather than more nutritional methods.

On May 1, 2015, Sapong was arrested for DUI and reckless driving.[21] He was found not guilty of the DUI charge but still faced the reckless driving charge and was still forced to have attended an MLS league-mandated stint at a treatment facility in Malibu, California. Sapong has credited the experience with having "changed [his] life."[21]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational cupContinental[22] Other[23] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sporting Kansas City2011Major League Soccer3453110386
201231920523811
2013254512050375
2014202102040272
Total11020112102900014024
Orlando City (loan)2013USL Pro410041
Philadelphia Union2015Major League Soccer27940319
20163171010337
20173316213517
20183241031365
Total123362010213538
Chicago Fire2019Major League Soccer321310103413
202011[24] 2112
Total43151010004515
Nashville SC2021Major League Soccer3312203512
20223351031376
202380000080
Total7417303100008018
Toronto FC2023Major League Soccer2011010221
Career total370901622551001037797

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States201220
201710
201810
Total40

Honors

Sporting Kansas City

2013

2012

Individual

2011

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sporting Kansas City Selects C.J. Sapong. Sporting Kansas City. January 18, 2011. December 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131219081905/http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/01/sporting-kansas-city-selects-cj-sapong. dead.
  2. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL). January 18, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121008100829/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/6188269.html#STATS#STATS. October 8, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
  3. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL). https://web.archive.org/web/20110610082537/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/22373.html#STATS. dead. June 10, 2011.
  4. Web site: Sporting KC Signs Three to MLS Contracts. sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. March 1, 2011. May 23, 2020. September 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105236/http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/03/sporting-kc-signs-three-mls-contracts. dead.
  5. Web site: Bravo's debut double for Sporting sinks Chivas USA. mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. March 19, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110415235138/http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter-recap/bravos-debut-double-sporting-sinks-chivas-usa. April 15, 2011.
  6. Web site: Sporting KC's Sapong named Rookie of the Year . mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. November 8, 2011. May 23, 2020.
  7. Web site: Sporting KC sends Sapong, Ellis to Orlando City on loan. kansascity.com. Sporting Kansas City. July 11, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131219083549/http://www.kansascity.com/2013/07/11/4340196/sporting-kc-sends-sapong-ellis.html. December 19, 2013.
  8. Web site: Orlando City Stats . uslsoccer.com . United Soccer League. July 19, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130804031046/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2013/13380700.html#STATS#STATS . August 4, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
  9. Web site: Philadelphia Union acquires forward C.J. Sapong from Sporting Kansas City. Philadelphia Union. August 18, 2015. December 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141214141006/http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2014/12/philadelphia-union-acquires-forward-cj-sapong-sporting-kansas-city. dead.
  10. Web site: CJ Sapong and his hold-up play. Matt Doyle. MLSsoccer.com. 2 July 2017. 4 March 2018. March 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180305135459/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/07/02/cj-sapong-and-his-hold-play-analysts-den. dead.
  11. Web site: CJ Sapong records first career hat-trick as Philadelphia defeats New York Red Bulls 3–0. Bodiford, Matt. Philadelphia Union. May 6, 2017.
  12. Web site: CJ Sapong breaks Union's single-season scoring record. John Rossi. Brotherly Game. 22 October 2017. 4 March 2018.
  13. Web site: Philadelphia Union Acquire Up To $450,000 In Allocation Money From Chicago Fire For CJ Sapong. philadelphiaunion.com. Philadelphia Union. February 23, 2019 . May 23, 2020.
  14. Web site: mlssoccer. MLS contract options: Who's staying and who's going entering 2021 offseason MLSSoccer.com. 2021-09-17. mlssoccer. en.
  15. Web site: Nashville SC Acquires 10-Year Major League Soccer Veteran Striker CJ Sapong.
  16. Web site: Nashville Soccer Club Acquires Lukas MacNaughton and Receives up to $200,000 in General Allocation Money from Toronto FC in Exchange for CJ Sapong .
  17. Web site: Toronto FC announce 2023 Roster Moves. November 2, 2023. Toronto FC.
  18. Web site: Ghanaian-American CJ Sapong joins MLS club Chicago Fire. February 24, 2019. Africans in America.
  19. Web site: Sapong sprouting growth with his foundation Sacred Seeds. Jacob Born. Philadelphia Union. 29 March 2017. 4 March 2018.
  20. Web site: About Sacred Seeds. Sacred Seeds. 4 March 2018.
  21. Web site: Carlisle. Jeff. Philadelphia Union's C.J. Sapong: DUI 'changed my life'. ESPN.com. February 9, 2018. April 27, 2017.
  22. Includes CONCACAF Champions League
  23. Includes Leagues Cup
  24. Includes three appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage