Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal as a Homegrown Player on April 13, 2018. Kuzain, a product of the Sporting KC Academy and the ninth Homegrown Player in club history, signed an MLS contract through 2020 with options for 2021 and 2022.
A holding midfielder, Kuzain becomes the first Sporting KC Homegrown signing to progress from the Sporting KC Academy to the Swope Park Rangers to the senior team.
2020: MLS regular season: Did not feature. MLS is Back Tournament: Did not feature. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature.
2019: MLS regular season: Did not feature. Concacaf Champions League: Did not feature. Open Cup: Did not feature.
2018: MLS regular season: Started three of six appearances and scored one goal (307 minutes played). Made his Sporting KC and MLS debut as a second-half substitute in a 0-0 draw against Columbus Crew SC on May 27. Opened his Sporting KC and MLS scoring account with a goal after coming off the bench in the 18th minute of a 4-1 win over Minnesota United FC on June 3, becoming the second-youngest player to score a regular season goal in club history at 19 years and 262 days. Open Cup: Started and played 83 minutes in a 2-0 fourth-round win over Real Salt Lake on June 6. Started and played 90 minutes in a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas in the Round of 16 on June 16, assisting Daniel Salloi's second goal in the 66th minute. MLS Homegrown Game: Played 45 minutes as the MLS Homegrown Team tied the Tigres UANL U-20s 1-1 on July 31. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature. Swope Park Rangers: Started 22 USL matches on loan and scored four goals.
SWOPE PARK RANGERS
2017: Made 13 appearances, including nine starts in his first full season with the Rangers. Kuzain made his professional debut in the season opener against OKC Energy FC on March 25 and signed a full professional contract with the Rangers on July 11 having been on an Academy contract prior to that. Kuzain led the team with a 91.3 percent passing accuracy and also ranked first on the squad with a 86.4 percent passing accuracy in the opponent’s half.
2016: Signed by the Swope Park Rangers as an Academy signing on Aug. 18. Wan Kamal was included on the gameday roster against Saint Louis FC on Aug. 21 but did not make an appearance.
SPORTING KC ACADEMY
Born to Malaysian parents in Carbondale, Illinois, Kuzain spent several years with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club before joining the Sporting Kansas City Academy in August 2016. He signed an Academy contract with the Rangers later that month, allowing him to play for both SPR and the Academy while retaining his amateur status. The midfielder finished the 2016-17 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season with Central Conference Best XI honors, tallying four goals in 20 appearances for the Sporting KC U-18s.
Before Sporting KC: Wan Kamal played Academy soccer with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club, making 27 appearances and scoring eight goals in the 2015-16 Development Academy season. He signed an Academy contract with USL side Saint Louis FC and made two appearances for the club’s PDL U-23 team. Previously, Wan Kamal has trained with Dutch Eridivisie club Feyenoord’s Academy. He has committed to college powerhouse the University of Akron.
International: Wan Kamal represented the U.S. Under-17 National Team in 2015.
