Macoumba Kandji

Football player infobox| playername= Macoumba Kandji
fullname = Macoumba Kandji
nickname = Mac


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|8|2
cityofbirth = Dakar
countryofbirth = Senegal
height = height|ft=6|in=4
currentclub = Red Bull New York
clubnumber = 30
position = forward, midfielder
youthyears = 2004-05
youthclubs = Georgia Military College
years = 2006
2007-
2008
clubs = Atlanta Silverbacks U23's
Atlanta Silverbacks
→ Red Bull New York (loan)
caps(goals) = 08 00(1)
28 0(13)
02 00(0)
pcupdate = 1 October 2008

Macoumba Kandji (born August 2, 1985) in Dakar, Senegal) is a soccer player, who currently plays in midfield or striker for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the United Soccer League (USL) First Division. He is currently on loan to Major League Soccer side Red Bull New York until the end of the season.

Macoumba’s preferred style of play is based on speed and his striking abilities. Macoumba is a good role model as he actively promotes young people to stay in school and say no to drugs and alcohol.

Early Life

Macoumba, born in Senegal and raised in Gambia, came to the United States in 2003. He went on to attend East Meck High School and was voted MVP in 2003 as the Men’s All-State Team forward. He attended Georgia Military College and was selected in the All-Region team in 2004 and 2005, scoring 17 goals and providing 6 assists during the 2005 season.

Atlanta Silverbacks

During 2006, Macoumba impressed the Silverback Under 23’s side, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist in 8 games. He joined the Atlanta Silverbacks in 2007. He made his first team debut August 4, 2007 against Charleston Battery. From then on, he began to establish himself as one of the top players of the USL. During the 2008 season Kandji appeared in 21 league matches for Atlanta, registering 11 goals and 5 assists. He was named to the USL-1 Weekly Best 11 on six occassions, despite playing just one game in the final six weeks of the season due to an ankle injury.

Kandji finished the 2008 season ranked third in points (27 points, 21 games), though he missed nearly a third of the season due to injury, travel restrictions, and a trade to the New York Red Bulls.

During his time with the Silverbacks, Kandji was the main feature of an ESPN Soccernet article highlighting some of the USL's tops stars. The article is available [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=559409&sec=us&root=us&cc=5901 here] .

Red Bull New York

On September 15, 2008, Kandji signed with Red Bull New York on loan until the end of the MLS 2008 season. This initial loan deal involved Red Bull paying Atlanta Silverbacks a fee of $25,000. If the loan was a success, then another fee of $150,000 would be paid for Kandji, making the total amount paid $175,000, a record for a USL-1 player. He made his MLS debut against Colorado Rapids on September 27, 2008, where he recorded an assist.

Awards

2008 USL Division 1 Player of the Week (Weeks 10, 16)
2008 USL Division 1 Team of the Week (Weeks 7, 10, 12, 16, 17, 22)
2008 USL Division 1 Goal of the Week (Week 16 - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqzA1h7-3hE view here] )

2007 USL Division 1 Player of the Week (Week 17)
2007 USL Division 1 Goal of the Week (Week 17 - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k77OUe-9ZU4&feature=related view here] )

Career Statistics

:"(correct as of 29 September 2008)"

References

* [http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/pro/players.php?id=00000385 atlantasilverbacks.com profile]

* [http://www.zigazoga.com/profile/mackandji zigazoga.com profile]