After three cold months of longing for the warm days spent under clouds of blue confetti at Children's Mercy Park, the MLS regular season is finally here. Sporting Kansas City will begin its 2016 campaign with an away match against West Coast rival Seattle Sounders FC, followed by the team's first home match on March 12.
And as with the start of every new season, new faces and new dynamics will help shape play on the pitch. So in case you haven't been following the nitty-gritty of all this year's off-season news, here's a recap of everything you need to know heading into opening day.
Depth in the midfield
Sporting KC acquired several new players during the 2015-2016 offseason and preseason. One of the biggest highlights, though, would be the team's additional depth in the midfield. In one of the Sporting KC's first offseason transactions, the club announced it would be signing veteran midfielder and free agent Justin Mapp, largely known for his speed and ingenuity on the flank.
Less than a month later, the club acquired Brad Davis, another veteran, and this one with U.S. National Team experience. The experience and leadership the former rival midfielder brings to the pitch is undeniable — not to mention his renowned left foot can provide some killer opportunities on the pitch.
In the absence of forward Krisztian Nemeth, who was transferred to Al-Gharafa SC in late January, playmakers like Mapp and Davis will prove to be important additions when it comes to producing opportunities for conversion up top.
- Full list of 2016 transactions here.
Thinking defensively
For starters, Lawrence Olum is back. If you've been following the club for more than the past year, you'll recognize the Kenyan international from his time with Sporting KC from 2011-2014, during which he helped the team secure its 2013 MLS Cup win. The defensive midfielder returns to Kansas City from Kedah FC in Malaysia.
After a string of injuries on the back line during the 2015 season, Sporting KC also looked to add depth at center back prior to the start of the 2016 regular season. In late January, the club signed Portuguese defender Nuno André Coelho, a 6-foot-4 defender with experience in the UEFA Champions League.
More new faces
With the possibility of Jon Kempin playing significant minutes with Sporting KC's USL affiliate, the Swope Park Rangers, during the 2016 season, the team also looked to bring on a new goalkeeper during the offseason months. Sporting KC filled that gap by selecting Alec Kann in the first round of the MLS Re-Entry Draft.
Finally, Sporting KC rounded out its 2016 offseason with the addition of a new Homegrown Player, 19-year-old forward Daniel Salloi. After moving to the United States from Hungary in 2014, Salloi joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy U-18s for the 2014-2015 season and scored a team-high 21 goals in 28 appearances.
Preseason proceedings
On Jan. 24, Sporting KC players gathered in Tucson, Arizona to kick off the 2016 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy. The team played two scrimmages during the first leg of preseason before coming back to Kansas City Feb. 8-13. The players then returned to the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson for the second leg of training.
The 2016 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup kicked off on Feb. 17. After playing the first two games to a draw against Columbus Crew SC (2-2) and the New England Revolution (1-1), Sporting KC went on to defeat Colorado 4-1 with two penalty kick conversions from midfielder Paulo Nagamura. The team ended its Desert Diamond Cup run undefeated with another 2-2 draw — this time against Houston Dynamo.
Sporting KC opens its 2016 season at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday at Seattle Sounders FC. The club will host a watch party at No Other Pub, Sporting's new entertainment venue located on the second level of the Kansas City Live! Block in the Power & Light District. Supporters can also watch the game on FS1 or FOX Deportes, and as always, live updates will be posted on Twitter @SKCgameday, online at SportingKC.com/gameon, and on mobile at Sporting KC Uphoria.
