.JPG "Sporting Kansas City's William Agada (left) celebrates his goal against Portland with teammate Johnny Russell at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City last Sunday.")
Sporting Kansas City’s William Agada (left) celebrates his goal against Portland with teammate Johnny Russell at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City last Sunday.
AP photo
Surrounded by media and music blaring throughout the locker room after Sporting KC’s 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers, William Agada delivered his season’s best quotes.
“They’re always cooking. I’m just eating.”
Statements like that endear him to sporting loyalists. gave.
The fact that he’s scoring left and right certainly helps. He’s scored five goals in his last three games.
To understand where this energy and enthusiasm comes from, we must first understand where Agada comes from. Willie grew up in a small town in Bauchi State in northeastern Nigeria.
In an exclusive interview, Agada said, “Where I come from, I have no reason to complain.
Soccer has been a part of his life from an early age. His father, Pius, is a Manchester United fan who played football in his city. The younger Agada grew up in a soccer family, but everyone in her neighborhood played soccer.
“It’s not easy how the system works there,” Agada said.
His father played as a defender but helped shape Willie into an attacking player. He said he still plays in adult leagues for fun.
His father was a United fan, but along the way both he and Willie began to gravitate toward Chelsea, which was home to players representing, or coming from, African countries. Didier Drogba was Willie’s hero, but Chelsea’s squad had Michael Essien, Solomon Kalou and Nigerian John Obi-Mikkel.
Young Agada worked hard and caught the attention of amateur coaches. He feels lucky to have been selected for further development at his age, and he raves about the level of competition and talent that surrounds him on the street.
“We have great talent, but suddenly you’ve been selected to play in the amateur league.” They’re working hard, I’m telling you, they’re putting jobs in there.
Agada has been put to the test from an early age. At the age of 18 he moved to Israel, where loan and battles in a tough league continued to shape his style of play. And now, aged 22 and joining Sporting KC in the summer transfer market, Agada has learned to smile through tougher times and is helping his new teammates do the same.
“He has a really positive aura,” said Vermes. “Sometimes he can only do that when it works for the players. From the first moment he came here, I saw that.”
Vermes praised Agada’s work ethic, focus, preparation, dedication to learning and, of course, those goals.
They are also important.
“He may not be able to do it all and score goals,” said Wermes. “That would be a problem.
“I would say that would be a problem. I mean, it’s not going to have the same effect. The fact that he’s also hungry to score goals and get things done and help set goals, all of that.” is added to it, it all comes together.
Sporting KC had an average of less than 1 expected goals per game before Agada was fully integrated into the lineup. Over the last three games, Sporting not only leads his league in goals per game, but also in shots per game, leading his football in the major leagues. Since the addition of both Agada and fellow international newcomer Eric Tommy to the starting line-up, Sporting has averaged 2.42 goals per game.
To say Agada made an impact here would be an understatement. His teammates certainly notice the difference: Felipe Hernandez called Agada’s joy contagious, and Ben Sweat, who assisted Agada’s second goal against Portland on Sunday, said Agada was He said he fits well in Sporting’s locker room.
“When a new guy comes in like that and he bites right off, that’s what you want,” said Sweat. , rewarding him at the end of the day benefits us all.”
Agada said he has learned from longtime sports teammates and MLS veterans Roger Espinoza and Johnny Russell and relies on their perspective and guidance. He attributes it to the culture of respect instilled in him since childhood.
“You can learn from anyone, especially in this football game,” Agada said. “You meet different people, especially big players like Roger and Russell, who are top and experienced players.”
When things get tough, Agada remembers how far he’s come.
“I started at home, played on the lawn, played at school,” he said. You started to become the person your coach wanted you to use, and now you’re in MLS.
“It doesn’t matter what the situation is. But if you’re blessed, I feel like it’s inside you. Just let it out.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2022 at 5:24 PM.
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