Sporting KC: 5 key players to watch in 2020

By Nathan Dunn | Feb 27, 2020

KANSAS CITY, KS - JULY 06: Sporting Kansas City midfielder Yohan Croizet (10) is congratulated by teammates after a goal in the first half of an MLS match between the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City on July 6, 2019 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Beitar’s midfielder Gadi Kinda (C) is marked by Atletico Madrid’s Spanish midfielder Saul Niguez (R) and Atletico Madrid’s Spanish midfielder Rodri during the friendly football match between Beitar Jerusalem and Atletico Madrid at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem on May 21, 2019. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) /

4. Gadi Kinda

Plenty remains to be seen, but there has been quite a bit learned about Gadi Kinda, the new Ethiopian-Israeli signing for Sporting KC. Coming over on a loan deal from Beitar Jerusalem, Kinda was handed plenty of playing time in preseason with Felipe Gutierrez picking up an injury.

As Peter Vermes has said that Gutierrez, Sporting’s top goalscorer of 2019, is day-to-day, it would be no surprise if Kinda gets his first start in Saturday’s opener in Vancouver. Throughout preseason, he showed some rustiness, admittedly, but he also showed the willingness to whip a long diagonal ball to open up the field and unlock the defense.

There is little doubt that Kinda will be given a chance, but it is up to him to take it. His role could be as an impact midfield substitution or possibly even taking over Roger Espinoza’s starting position if he can figure out a way to work well with Gutierrez and Ilie Sanchez.

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