Sporting Kansas City's CJ Sapong has been named the 2011 Rookie of the Year by Major League Soccer. The forward was the top vote-getter in all three voting blocs (clubs, media, players), garnering at least 30 percent of the vote in each.
Sporting Kansas City’s CJ Sapong Named 2011 MLS Rookie Of The Year
Sapong was tied for the most goals among rookies (five) and added five assists, as well. Despite playing on a team that included the likes of Kei Kamara, Omar Bravo and Teal Bunbury at forward, Sapong still played in all 34 regular-season games, including 22 starts. In fact, he was the only Sporting KC players to appear in every game this year.
“Receiving this honor is very humbling, but it would never have been a possibility without the help of so many people,” Sapong said in a team release. “Our goal at Sporting Kansas City is to do everything as a team, and I am so thankful for my teammates and the coaching staff.”
Sapong easily beat out his competition for the award. DC United defender Perry Kitchen finished in second, but he garnered no more than 14 percent from any voting bloc and ended up with about a third of the support as Sapong. Rounding out the top five were the Philadelphia Union's Michael Farfan, the Portland Timbers' Darlington Nagbe and the Houston Dynamo's Will Bruin.
For all the MLS post-season award winners, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
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