Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII AWAY
HOME
2021 SKC II SCHEDULE DATE
2021 RECORD: 0-0-0
#TULvSKC
MATCH: DATE:
2021 RECORD: 1-0-0
Sporting KC II at FC Tulsa
Saturday, May 1
KICKOFF:
7 p.m. CT
LOCATION:
ONEOK Field (Tulsa, OK)
WATCH:
ESPN Plus
MATCH PREVIEW Led by fourth-year head coach and former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Paulo Nagamura, Sporting Kansas City II (0-0-0, 0 points) will open their 2021 USL Championship campaign in earnest on Saturday night with a visit to Central Division rivals FC Tulsa (1-0-0, 3 points). Sporting KC II returns a number of key players from 2020, including Sporting KC Academy products Jake Davis, Christian Duke and Jahon Rad as well as defender Danny Barbir and forwards Enoch Mushagalusa and Dominik Resetar. The club has also welcomed a bevy of newcomers, with the likes of Ropapa Mensah and David Panka bolstering the attack and Travian Sousa and Matt Constant solidifying the backline. Additionally, Sporting II is likely to field multiple MLS players on loan from Sporting Kansas City and several rising talents from the club’s Academy over the course of 2021.
Sat, May 1 Fri, May 7 Fri, May 14 Wed, May 19 Sat, May 22 Sun, May 30 Wed, June 2 Wed, June 9 Wed, June 16 Sun, June 20 Wed, June 23 Sat, June 26 Fri, July 2 Sat, July 10 Sun, July 18 Sat, July 24 Wed, July 28 Sun, Aug. 1 Sat, Aug. 7 Wed, Aug. 11 Sat, Aug. 14 Sun, Aug. 22 Sun, Aug. 29 Sat, Sept. 4 Sat, Sept. 11 Fri, Sept. 24 Fri, Oct. 1 Wed, Oct. 6 Sat, Oct. 9 Wed, Oct. 13 Sun, Oct. 24 Sat, Oct. 30
OPPONENT
TIME (CT)
at FC Tulsa OKC ENERGY FC COLORADO SPRINGS at LA Galaxy II at Indy Eleven EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC FC TULSA at Atlanta United 2 at FC Tulsa INDY ELEVEN at OKC Energy FC at Memphis 901 FC LOUISVILLE CITY FC at Atlanta United 2 BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC at OKC Energy FC LOUISVILLE CITY FC MEMPHIS 901 FC at Louisville City FC at Birmingham Legion FC ATLANTA UNITED 2 INDY ELEVEN MEMPHIS 901 FC OKC ENERGY FC at Indy Eleven FC TULSA BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC at Memphis 901 FC at Louisville City FC ATLANTA UNITED 2 at Birmingham Legion FC at Oakland Roots SC
7:00 7:00 7:00 9:30 6:00 4:00 7:00 6:30 7:00 4:00 7:30 7:30 7:00 6:30 4:00 7:30 7:00 4:00 6:30 7:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 6:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 6:30 7:00 4:00 7:30
RESULT
SKC II INJURY REPORT
Nagamura’s side went 5-10-1 during a truncated 2020 campaign, playing 14 of 16 matches away from home. With a balanced schedule back in the picture, Sporting KC II will look to return to the playoffs after reaching the postseason every year from 2016-2018.
OUT: GK Remi Prieur (L knee) QUESTIONABLE: None
SKC II emerged victorious in their most recent trip to ONEOK Field on Aug. 29, 2020, prevailing 2-1 behind goals from Fredinho Mompremier and Wilson Harris.
1
as of 4/29/21
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SKC II Preseason Recap
SKC II All-time Records
April 17: L 1-2 at Union Omaha Sporting Kansas City II opened the club’s 2021 preseason campaign on April 17, visiting USL League One side Union Omaha in a friendly at Werner Park in Papillion, Nebraska. Fresh off an impressive preseason training camp with the Sporting Kansas City first team, Academy standout Kayden Pierre assisted forward Dominik Resetar for a 34th-minute equalizer in a narrow 2-1 loss for head coach Paulo Nagamura’s side. Omaha secured the victory thanks to a goal in either half from midfielder JP Searce. April 21: W 8-0 vs. Baker University Sporting Kansas City II continued their preseason campaign with a comprehensive 8-0 win over Baker University at Swope Soccer Village as six different players found the back of the net. Head coach Paulo Nagamura’s side opened the scoring in the 20th minute when 17-year-old Ozzie Cisneros, a freshly minted Homegrown Player for Sporting’s first team, slipped a pass through to David Panka for a crisp strike into the corner. Less than a minute later, another MLS player made his mark as forward Wilson Harris nipped the ball away from a defender, rounded the Baker goalkeeper and calmly slotted home. Sporting KC II added a third three minutes before halftime. Academy product Jake Davis whipped a corner kick into the mixer from the left side that first team center back Graham Smith glanced into the net, rounding out an impressive first half of action. Nagamura made nine substitutions at intermission, but Sporting KC II had little problem picking up where they left off. With 50 minutes on the clock, Panka did well to beat his defender down the right wing and cut the ball back for 18-year-old Academy standout Bailey Sparks, whose right-footed effort upped the lead to 4-0. Homegrown Player Tyler Freeman added to Sporting KC II’s cushion in the 65th minute after fellow substitute Enoch Mushagalusa galloped goalward from the right channel and crossed low to the 18-year-old for a sliding finish at point-blank range. Shortly thereafter, Academy player Nicholas Pendleton flicked a deft path to the boot of Ropapa Mensah, who unleashed a venomous blast high into the roof of the net. Mensah wasted little time powering his way to a hat-trick, pocketing two additional late goals on assists from Freeman and Sparks, respectively.
2021 Record All-Time Record
Overall 0-0-0 61-62-32
Home 0-0-0 41-18-14
Away 0-0-0 21-44-18
2021 Scoring First All-Time Scoring First 2021 Conceding First All-Time Conceding First
0-0-0 52-10-13 0-0-0 10-52-11
0-0-0 33-5-5 0-0-0 8-13-5
0-0-0 19-5-8 0-0-0 2-39-6
2021 Leading at Half All-Time Leading at Half 2021 Trailing at Half All-Time Trailing at Half 2021 Tied at Half All-Time Tied at Half
0-0-0 36-2-7 0-0-0 4-39-2 0-0-0 22-21-23
0-0-0 25-1-5 0-0-0 3-11-1 0-0-0 13-6-8
0-0-0 11-1-2 0-0-0 1-28-1 0-0-0 9-15-15
2021 Leading at 75’ All-Time Leading at 75’ 2021 Trailing at 75’ All-Time Trailing at 75’ 2021 Tied at 75’ All-Time Tied at 75’
0-0-0 52-1-5 0-0-0 0-53-6 0-0-0 10-8-21
0-0-0 35-1-2 0-0-0 0-14-2 0-0-0 6-3-10
0-0-0 17-0-3 0-0-0 0-39-4 0-0-0 4-5-11
SKC II Year-by-Year SEASON RECORD PLAYOFFS 2016 14-10-6 Lost in Championship Final 2017 17-8-7 Lost in Championship Final 2018 15-11-8 Lost in Conference Semis 2019 6-20-8 DNQ 2020 5-10-1 DNQ
April 24: W 5-0 vs. Rockhurst University Sporting Kansas City II concluded their 2021 preseason with a comprehensive 5-0 win over Rockhurst University in a 120-minute scrimmage at Swope Soccer Village. Forward Ropapa Mensah notched his second hat trick of the week, while Jahon Rad and Enoch Mushagalusa also etched their names on the scoresheet. Mensah nodded Sporting KC II ahead after just four minutes. Bailey Sparks’ out-swinging corner kick was cushioned back across the face of goal by leaping center back Danny Barbir, allowing an unmarked Mensah to head home from point-blank range. The hosts doubled their lead in the 59th minute. Mushagalusa did well to power his way along the right endline, and although his initial effort from a tight angle was blocked, Rad was on hand to plunder home the rebound and make the score 2-0. Sporting KC II added a third eight minutes later when David Panka embarked on a mazy run into the box and won his side a penalty kick. Mensah made no mistake on the ensuing spot kick, expertly finishing into the top left corner. Mensah completed his second hat trick in four days with 75 minutes on the clock, rounding out Sporting KC II’s best attack of the day. A clever Sparks through ball set Mushagalusa free down the right channel and an unselfish square pass allowed the in-form striker to bag his third goal of the match. Mushagalusa tallied a deserved goal of his own in the 90th minute, rising above the rest in a crowded penalty area to snap a header into the left corner off a cross from Nicholas Pendleton.
2
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2021 ROSTER ALPHABETICAL ROSTER No. Player 33 Danny Barbir 98 Matt Constant 39 Petar Cuic 46 Jake Davis 32 Christian Duke 50 Aljaz Dzankic 65 Dylan Hooper 55 Gavin Krenecki 88 Isaiah LeFlore 71 Michael Lenis 70 Ropapa Mensah 77 Enoch Mushagalusa 90 David Panka 47 Kayden Pierre 42 Remi Prieur 84 Jahon Rad 34 Dominik Resetar 44 Rojay Smith 45 Travian Sousa 43 Bailey Sparks 67 Max Trejo 56 Jayvin Van Deventer
Pos. D D D M M D D GK D D F F F D GK M F F D M GK M
Ht. 6-3 6-6 6-1 5-10 5-8 6-3 6-0 5-11 5-9 5-6 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-9 6-2 6-1 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-0 6-1 5-9
Wt. 175 190 170 165 160 185 175 170 160 130 170 175 180 140 185 180 170 150 180 150 155 140
Birthdate (age) 01/31/1998 (23) 08/17/1998 (22) 06/02/1999 (21) 01/03/2002 (19) 06/05/1991 (29) 03/19/2002 (19) 11/13/2003 (17) 03/08/2003 (18) 12/11/2002 (18) 10/12/2003 (17) 08/20/1997 (23) 11/13/1999 (21) 10/03/1999 (21) 02/16/2003 (18) 04/17/1997 (23) 06/13/2001 (19) 05/27/2000 (20) 09/21/1996 (24) 09/19/2001 (19) 12/30/2002 (18) 04/10/2002 (19) 01/01/2004 (17)
NUMERICAL ROSTER WITH PRONUNCIATION No. Player Pos. Pronunciation 32 Christian Duke M CHRISTIAN DOOK 33 Danny Barbir D DANNY bar-BEER 34 Dominik Resetar F DOM-in-ick reh-seh-TAR 39 Petar Cuic D PEH-ter KOO-itch 42 Remi Prieur GK REH-mee PREE-eur 43 Bailey Sparks M BAY-lee SPARKS 44 Rojay Smith F ROW-jay SMITH 45 Travian Sousa D TRAY-vian SO-sah 46 Jake Davis M JAKE DAVIS 47 Kayden Pierre D KAY-den pee-AIR 50 Aljaz Dzankic D ALL-yahz JANK-itch 55 Gavin Krenecki GK GAV-in kreh-NECK-ee 56 Jayvin Van Deventer M JAY-vin VAN duh-VENT-er 65 Dylan Hooper D DILL-en HOOPER 67 Max Trejo GK MAX TRAY-ho 70 Ropapa Mensah F row-PAPA MEN-sah 71 Michael Lenis D MICHAEL LEN-iss 77 Enoch Mushagalusa F EE-nock MOO-shah-gah-LOO-sah 84 Jahon Rad M jah-HON ROD 88 Isaiah LeFlore D leh-FLOOR 90 David Panka F PAHNK-ah 98 Matt Constant D MATT CON-stant
Hometown Allentown, PA Dallas, TX Zagreb, Croatia Rochester, MI Overland Park, KS Apace, Slovenia Shawnee, KS Fair Oaks, CA Minneapolis, MN Weston, FL Accra, Ghana Denver, CO Leusden, Netherlands Rochester Hills, MI San Ramon, CA Durham, NC Zabok, Croatia Portmore, Jamaica Modesto, CA Dallas, TX Lawrence, KS Lee’s Summit, MO
Birthplace Overland Park, KS Atlanta, GA Zabok, Croatia Zagreb, Croatia Modling, Austria Tampa, FL Portmore, Jamaica Lathrop, CA Rochester, MI Rochester Hills, MI Ptuj, Slovenia Sacramento, CA Tuscaloosa, AL Overland Park, KS Mexico City, Mexico Accra, Ghana Miami, FL Kinshasa, DR Congo Chapel Hill, NC Minneapolis, MN Almere, Netherlands Dallas, TX
3
College -University of North Carolina --University of San Diego ------ -Salt Lake Community College --Saint Mary’s College --University of Tampa ----Last Club Orange County SC (USL Championship) Sandhausen II (Germany) Dinamo Zagreb II (Croatia) Dinamo Zagreb II (Croatia) --- -Hamburger SV (Germany) --NK Aluminij (Slovenia) --- --Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL Championship) ----Miedz Legnica (Poland) --
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2021 PLAYER STATS Player Danny Barbir Matt Constant Petar Cuic Jake Davis Christian Duke Aljaz Dzankic Dylan Hooper Gavin Krenecki Isaiah LeFlore Michael Lenis Ropapa Mensah Enoch Mushagalusa David Panka Kayden Pierre Remi Prieur Jahon Rad Dominik Resetar Rojay Smith Travian Sousa Bailey Sparks Max Trejo Jayvin Van Deventer
GP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MIN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GLS AST * Sporting KC loanee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2021 GOALKEEPER STATS Player Gavin Krenecki Remi Prieur Max Trejo
GP GS MIN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GA GAA SO SV W-L-T 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0 * Sporting KC loanee
5
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2021 LINEUPS at FC Tulsa Saturday, May 1 GK RB CB CB LB CDM RCM LCM RF CF LF
6
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII HEAD COACH PAULO NAGAMURA Paulo Nagamura is in his fourth season as head coach of Sporting KC II, having served as the assistant coach in the club’s run to the USL Cup Final in 2017 before taking the helm for a 2018 campaign that ended with a loss to Phoenix Rising FC in the Western Conference Semifinals. Nagamura, 38, enjoyed a 12-year MLS career that saw him win two MLS Cup championships and three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles. He made 269 appearances in MLS, including 240 starts, recording 15 goals and 21 assists. In five seasons with Sporting Kansas City, Nagamura tallied seven goals and eight assists in 119 appearances across all competitions. He played a vital role in some of Sporting Kansas City’s biggest moments in club history, converting penalty kicks in shootouts of the 2012 and 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups as well as the 2013 MLS Cup. A native of Brazil, Nagamura began his youth career with hometown club Sao Paulo FC in 1994 before moving to Arsenal FC of the English Premier League in 2001. He signed for the LA Galaxy in 2005, where he won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in his first professional season at the senior level. After two years in LA, Nagamura continued his MLS journey with Toronto FC (2007) and Chivas USA (2007-2011), becoming an MLS All-Star in 2009. Nagamura and his wife Monique have two children, Alice and Clara.
ASSISTANT COACH CHRIS MARTINEZ Assistant coach Chris Martinez is in his fourth season with Sporting KC II after joining the club from the Colorado Rapids, where he served as their Development Academy Program Director. Martinez, 50, also coached the Rapids Under-18 and Under-19 squads, as well as their USL Premier Development League U-23 side. He also has experience coaching with the U.S. Under-15 National Team and as the Director of Player Development at U.S. Soccer Development Academy club Real Colorado. The former MLS defender enjoyed a stellar playing career for the Colorado Rapids, making 119 appearances in five seasons of MLS play. Martinez played collegiate soccer at Clemson from 1989-1992 before joining American Professional Soccer League side the Colorado Foxes in 1993, winning the APSL title in his first season. Martinez then joined the Wichita Wings, who played in the National Professional Soccer League, and was named to the NPSL All-Rookie team in 1994.
GOALKEEPER COACH DARRIN MACLEOD Darrin MacLeod was named Sporting Kansas City II goalkeeper coach ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season. MacLeod, who played for Sporting II from 2017-2018, has been coaching goalkeepers in the Sporting KC Academy since January 2020 and completed his C-License through the U.S. Soccer Coaching Education program earlier this year. During his playing career, MacLeod made 10 appearances with Sporting II across two seasons in 2017 and 2018. He posted two clean sheets on his way to recording a 4-3-3 record. MacLeod’s most notable performance with Sporting II came in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs, where he saved one penalty as SKC II defeated Phoenix Rising FC 4-2 on penalty kicks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. After departing Kansas City, MacLeod linked up with North Carolina FC in the USL Championship for the 2019 campaign, playing seven games and recording three shutouts. MacLeod announced his retirement from professional soccer at the end of the 2019 season.
SPORTING KC II TECHNICAL STAFF Sporting Director: Peter Vermes Fitness Coach: Mike Steidle Technical Director / VP of Player Personnel: Brian Bliss Head Trainer: Isaac Gomez
7
Equipment Manager: Andy Garay Team Administrator: Wan Kuzac Wan Kamal
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII DANNY BARBIR 33
MATT CONSTANT 98
PRONUNCIATION: bar-BEER POSITION: Defender BORN: 01/31/1998 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Allentown, PA BIRTHPLACE: Atlanta, GA COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sandhausen II (Germany)
POSITION: Defender BORN: 08/17/1998 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-6 WEIGHT: 190 lbs. HOMETOWN: Dallas, TX BIRTHPLACE: Dallas, TX COLLEGE: U niversity of North Carolina LAST CLUB: None
Now in his second SKC II season, Barbir previously suited up for German side Sandhausen II while on loan from Romanian outfit Astra Giurgiu. He made 12 appearances for the club in the 2018-19 season, helping the side to a second-place finish in the Verbandsliga. He joined Astra Giurgiu in Romania in early 2018, but did not appear for the side. Barbir joined Vancouver Whitecaps 2 in late 2017, making three appearances prior to the end of the regular season. He has represented the U.S. at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels, competing at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile. Barbir spent most of his youth career in England, first with Manchester City before joining West Brom in 2014.
Constant was selected by Sporting Kansas City in the second round (50th overall) of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He spent preseason camp with the first team in Arizona before signing with Sporting II ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season. Constant spent his junior and senior seasons at the University of North Carolina. He started 11 of 12 appearances as a junior in 2019 before starting in all seven matches in a shortened season in 2020. A native of Dallas, he spent his first two collegiate seasons at the University of New Mexico. Constant was part of the United States U-17 Residency program in Bradenton, Florida, in 2015 before representing the Canada U-20s in 2016 and 2017.
PETAR CUIC 39
JAKE DAVIS 46
PRONUNCIATION: PEH-ter KOO-itch POSITION: Defender BORN: 06/02/1999 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Zagreb, Croatia BIRTHPLACE: Zagreb, Croatia COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Dynamo Zagreb II (Croatia)
POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 01/03/2002 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Rochester, MI BIRTHPLACE: Rochester, MI COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
Now in his second season with Sporting KC II, Cuic joined Dinamo Zagreb’s youth academy in 2015 and rose through the ranks from the club’s U-15 squad to the reserve team by 2018. He made his debut in the Croatian second division with Dinamo Zagreb II in April 2018. Cuic became a regular in the Dinamo Zagreb II lineup in the 2018-19 season, making 15 appearances before playing in a further 14 games in the 2019-20 season. Earlier in the year, Cuic helped Dinamo Zagreb U-23s advance to the Premier League International Cup final by beating Southampton 3-1 in the semifinal. Cuic has represented Croatia’s U-16 and U-19 National Teams.
Davis is originally from Michigan but moved to Kansas City to join the Sporting KC Academy in 2017 and lived with a host family through the club’s residency program. He made 54 appearances for the U-17 and U-19 squads over three seasons, tallying eight goals from central midfield. He spent much of the 2020 preseason with the Sporting Kansas City first team before signing his first professional contract with Sporting II before the restart of the season in July. He played in all 15 games after the restart, starting 14 and tallying one assist. His assist came in the only game he appeared as a sub, where he recorded the game-winning assist in a 2-1 road win over Louisville City FC on July 29. 8
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII
CHRISTIAN DUKE
32
ALJAZ DZANKIC 50
POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 06/05/1991 (29 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Overland Park, KS BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, KS COLLEGE: U niversity of San Diego LAST CLUB: Orange County SC
PRONUNCIATION: ALL-yahz JANK-itch POSITION: Defender BORN: 03/19/2002 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 185 lbs. HOMETOWN: Apace, Slovenia BIRTHPLACE: Ptuj, Slovenia COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: NK Aluminij (Slovenia)
Duke began his professional career as a 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft pick for Sporting Kansas City. He spent most of the 2014 and 2015 campaigns on loan with USL Championship side OKC Energy FC. The versatile workhorse became Sporting Kansas City II’s captain for the club’s inaugural 2016 season and was an ever-present fixture in the side. Duke appeared in all 72 matches for Sporting KC II from 20162017, during which time the club won consecutive Western Conference titles and reached the USL Cup Final. He spent 2018 and 2019 with Orange County SC before returning to his hometown team ahead of the 2020 campaign.
Dzankic began his youth career with Slovenian outfit NK Maribor and rose to the U-19 level of Slovenia’s most successful club before joining Italian Serie A side Udinese in 2019. He made 16 appearances for Udinese Primavera, the club’s youth side, in the 2019-20 Primavera 2A season. Dzankic earned his start in the professional game in Slovenia with NK Aluminij in the PrvaLiga, the Slovenian top flight. He made his professional debut for Aluminij against his former youth club Maribor on Nov. 2, 2020 and went on to make three total appearances for the club’s first team during the remainder of 2020. He has represented Slovenia at the U-15 through U-19 levels.
DYLAN HOOPER 65
GAVIN KRENECKI 55
POSITION: Defender BORN: 11/13/2003 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Shawnee, KS BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, KS COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
PRONUNCIATION: kreh-NECK-ee POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 03/08/2003 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Fair Oaks, CA BIRTHPLACE: Sacramento, CA COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
Hooper has spent the last four seasons with the Sporting KC Academy playing primarily as a center back. The Shawnee, Kansas native has been a constant feature for the Sporting U-17s and U-19s over the past few seasons and previously signed an Academy contract with SKC II in 2019 but did not make an appearance in the USL Championship.
Krenecki has signed an Academy deal with Sporting II after spending all of preseason camp with the Sporting KC first team in Arizona during March and early April. The Fair Oaks, California native has been on an Academy contract with SKC II the past two seasons, making two appearances in 2020, including his professional debut away to Saint Louis FC on Aug. 15, 2020.
9
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII ISAIAH LEFLORE 88
MICHAEL LENIS 71
POSITION: Defender BORN: 12/11/2002 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Minneapolis, MN BIRTHPLACE: Minneapolis, MN COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
POSITION: Defender BORN: 10/12/2003 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-6 WEIGHT: 130 lbs. HOMETOWN: Weston, FL BIRTHPLACE: Miami, FL COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
LeFlore joined the Sporting KC Academy in early 2020, having spent the previous three years with AD Oeiras in Portugal. The Minneapolis native, who can play as an outside back or on the wing, joined up with Sporting’s Under-19 squad before signing an Academy contract with SKC II last July, starting two of seven appearances and scoring his first professional goal against Saint Louis FC on Sept. 19, 2020. Prior to his time in Portugal, LeFlore played for Minnesota-based Development Academy club Shattuck-St. Mary’s, representing the club’s U-14 side up until his departure in 2016.
Lenis joined the Sporting KC Academy in early 2017 having been born and raised in Florida before moving back to his mother’s hometown of Kansas City. The outside back has represented the Sporting KC U-17s and U-19s over the past several seasons and has been a member of the U.S. U-14 and U-16 national teams in the past.
ROPAPA MENSAH 70
ENOCH MUSHAGALUSA
PRONUNCIATION: row-PAPA MEN-sah POSITION: Forward BORN: 08/20/1997 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Accra, Ghana BIRTHPLACE: Accra, Ghana COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
77
PRONUNCIATION: EE-nock MOO-shahgah-LOO-sah POSITION: Forward BORN: 11/13/1999 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Denver, Colorado BIRTHPLACE: Kinshasa, DR Congo COLLEGE: S alt Lake Community College LAST CLUB: None
Mensah has spent the last four years in the USL Championship, representing Penn FC (2017), Nashville SC (2018-2019) and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2020). In total, Mensah has played 103 games, including 61 starts, tallying 26 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for USL Championship teams. On the international stage, Mensah was called up to the Ghana Under-23 National Team for the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations where Ghana finished fourth after falling agonizingly on penalties in both the semifinal to the Ivory Coast and in the third-place match to South Africa.
Now in his second season with Sporting KC II, Mushagalusa competed for Salt Lake Community College where he plundered home 27 goals and three assists in one season in Utah. Mushagalusa had committed to transfer to the University of South Carolina in 2020 prior to signing with Sporting II. He was a longtime member of the Colorado Rapids Academy, tallying 53 goals in 85 Development Academy appearances as he rose from the club’s U-15 side to the U-19s. Mushagalusa spent the 2019 preseason with Sporting Kansas City II but did not sign with the club. In 2020, he tallied a goal and an assist with starts in six of 11 appearances for SKC II. 10
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII DAVID PANKA 90
KAYDEN PIERRE 47
POSITION: Forward BORN: 10/03/1999 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 180 lbs. HOMETOWN: Leusden, Netherlands BIRTHPLACE: Almere, Netherlands COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Miedz Legnica (Poland)
POSITION: Defender BORN: 02/16/2003 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 140 lbs. HOMETOWN: Rochester Hills, MI BIRTHPLACE: Rochester Hills, MI COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
Panka arrives in Kansas City following a six-month stint in Poland with Miedz Legnica in the 1 Liga. After starting the summer with Miedz Legnica II in in the 3 Liga, Panka swiftly moved up to the first team and went on to play in 12 games in the 1 Liga while making one appearance in the Polish Cup. Panka spent his developmental years with a host of clubs in his native Netherlands, representing Vitesse Arnhem, SV Spakenburg, Roda ‘46 Leusden, SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden and RKC Waalwijk. After spending a year with RKC Waalwijk’s U-21 side, the club’s youth team was disbanded at the end of 2019 which allowed Panka to continue his career in Poland with Miedz Legnica this past year.
Pierre is a defender who can play in both outside back roles. He joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native Michigan. Since then, Pierre has advanced from the Under-15 age group up to the Under-17s and Under-19s. The Rochester Hills native signed an Academy contract with SKC II in 2020 and made three appearances in the tail end of last season before spending all of the 2021 preseason with the first team in Arizona. On the international stage, Pierre has represented the U.S. U-14s and U-16s.
REMI PRIEUR 42
JAHON RAD 84
PRONUNCIATION: REH-mee PREE-eur POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 04/17/1997 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 185 lbs. HOMETOWN: San Ramon, CA BIRTHPLACE: Modling, Austria COLLEGE: S aint Mary’s College LAST CLUB: None
PRONUNCIATION: jah-HON ROD POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 06/13/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 180 lbs. HOMETOWN: Durham, NC BIRTHPLACE: Chapel Hill, NC COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
Prieur made 55 appearances for Saint Mary’s College across four seasons, posting a 0.73 goals against average and 32 shutouts. He enjoyed a stellar 2018 season, his first as a full-time starter, conceding just eight goals in 20 games to go along with 14 shutouts while leading the Gaels to the WCC Championship for the second time in program history. Prieur was a member of the San Jose Earthquakes Academy and captained the side to the Development Academy national quarterfinals in 2014 and semifinals in 2015. He was selected in the second round (47th overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew SC but did not sign a contract with the club. He is in his second season with SKC II.
Jahon Rad joined the Sporting KC Academy at the start of the 2016-17 season alongside his twin brother Kaveh Rad, who is on Sporting’s MLS roster. Jahon was previously a part of the North Carolina FC Academy in his native state. He made 88 appearances for the Academy, including 15 in the curtailed 2019-20 season for the U-19s. He was added to the Sporting II roster on an Academy contract in early 2020 and set a career high with seven appearances in the shortened 16-game schedule, including three starts where SKC II went 2-1-0. His starts came at Indy Eleven (Aug. 1), at Austin Bold FC (Sept. 22) and at Indy Eleven (Sept. 30). 11
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII
DOMINIK RESETAR
34
ROJAY SMITH 44
PRONUNCIATION: reh-seh-TAR POSITION: Forward BORN: 05/27/2000 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Zabok, Croatia BIRTHPLACE: Zabok, Croatia COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Dinamo Zagreb II (Croatia)
POSITION: Forward BORN: 09/21/1996 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 150 lbs. HOMETOWN: Portmore, Jamaica BIRTHPLACE: Portmore, Jamaica COLLEGE: U niversity of Tampa LAST CLUB: None
Resetar made his professional debut at age 17 for Inter Zapresic in Croatia’s top division in 2017 and went on to make nine appearances for the club in the 2017-18 season. Resetar moved to Dinamo Zagreb II ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, making six appearances in the Croatian second tier and one in the UEFA Youth League for Dinamo’s U-19 squad. In the 2019-20 season, Resetar played in seven games for Dinamo Zagreb II. He has made 10 appearances for Croatia’s U-19 team, scoring three goals. Resetar played in all 16 games for Sporting II during the shortened 2020 USL Championship campaign, starting six times and adding one goal.
Smith spent his junior and senior years with the University of Tampa, tallying eight goals and seven assists across 27 appearances. He earned All-Sunshine State Conference honors as a senior after leading the team with six goals in 2019. The Portmore, Jamaica native spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Northern Oklahoma College in the NJCAA, playing in 36 games and plundering home 33 goals and eight assists across his Freshman and Sophomore seasons prior to transferring to the University of Tampa. Prior to arriving in the United States in 2016, Smith was on the books of Jamaican side Harbour View FC, competing with the club’s U-17 and U-20 teams.
TRAVIAN SOUSA 45
BAILEY SPARKS 43
PRONUNCIATION: TRAY-VIAN SO-sah POSITION: Defender BORN: 09/19/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 180 lbs. HOMETOWN: Modesto, CA BIRTHPLACE: Lathrop, CA COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Hamburger SV (Germany)
POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 12/30/2002 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 150 lbs. HOMETOWN: Dallas, TX BIRTHPLACE: Tampa, FL COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
Sousa, who plays primarily as a left back, spent the last 18 months in Germany with Hamburger SV. He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2019 and went on to make 14 appearances with the team’s U-19s in the A-Junioren Bundesliga, tallying four assists. Sousa also made a pair of appearances for Hamburger SV II in the Regionalliga Nord. Sousa’s form saw him earn a call-up to first team training at Hamburg, currently in the 2. Bundesliga, and he played 90 minutes in a friendly against Braunschweig in October 2019. Sousa has been a regular member of the U.S. youth national team setup, representing his country at the U-14, U-19 and U-20 levels.
Sparks arrived in Kansas City last summer having led Texas club Solar SC to the U-17 Boys’ Development Academy Championship during the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. Sparks’ performance during the postseason tournament earned him the Golden Ball for the U-17 division, honoring the best player of the USSDA Playoffs. Sparks signed an Academy contract with Sporting II last summer, making two appearances and scoring a dramatic game-winner on the road against Indy Eleven on Sept. 30, 2020.
12
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII MAX TREJO 67
JAYVIN VAN DEVENTER
POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 04/10/2002 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 155 lbs. HOMETOWN: Lawrence, KS BIRTHPLACE: Mexico City, Mexico COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
56
PRONUNCIATION: VAN duh-VENT-er POSITION: Defender BORN: 01/01/2004 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 140 lbs. HOMETOWN: Lee’s Summit, MO BIRTHPLACE: Tuscaloosa, AL COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: None
Trejo was born in Mexico City but grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and has been a part of the Sporting KC Academy since 2016. The goalkeeper has risen from the U-15 side to the U-19s and signed an Academy contract with SKC II two years ago, making two appearances in the 2019 USL Championship season.
Van Deventer joined the Sporting KC Academy through the club’s Center of Excellence as a 12-year-old in 2016 and the midfielder has since risen from the U-12s to the U-19s. In 2018, Van Deventer was named the MVP of the Copa Rayados Internacional in Texas after leading the Sporting U-15s to the semifinals of the tournament involving several U.S. and Mexican Academy teams.
13