Red Bulls Gameday Feature

After a long journey, Kandji lands in New York

Known for a knack for finding the back of the net, Kandji tallied 11 goals for the Silverbacks in an abbreviated USL season in 2008 before joining New York as the Red Bulls began their push for the playoffs. The Dakar, Senegal native made an immediate impact with his new club, placing a dangerous cross into the box that found fellow newcomer Matthew Mbuta in both of their Red Bull debuts to knot the game at 4-4 late in New York's match with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, September 27 at Giants Stadium.

Kandji was born on August 2, 1985 in Dakar, Senegal, with a soccer pedigree in his blood and a love for the beautiful game in his heart. "I have been playing soccer for as long as I can remember," Kandji recalls. "Everyone in my family played soccer; my cousins, my uncle, my dad. I grew up into the sport. In my country, that is the biggest sport. I used to go play every day. (In Gambia, where he moved when he was about seven years old) I would leave my house after breakfast, and I would not return until dinner time. I would get in trouble and my aunt would ground me for a day. The next day, I would do the same thing."

But even being grounded would not stop Kandji from working on his skills. "When my aunt would ground me and I couldn't leave the house I would take my ball to the side of the house and learn some new tricks," confessed Kandji. "I grew up watching Denilson, Ronaldo, and when Ronaldinho came, him. I would watch them and then put my own part into it."

Kandji's father, Cheriff Kandji, was a defender, and played professionally in Senegal, for ASEC Abidjan, a successful club team in the Ivory Coast, and for the Senegal National Team. His uncle, Amadou Ndiaye, played professionally in Norway, and, since he was a striker, Kandji believes he models his game more after his uncle than his father.

Though he plays more as an attacking player professionally, Kandji played nearly every position when he played with his friends growing up. "I played goalie, defense, forward, everywhere," noted Kandji. "I didn't have a team when I was younger, so when I would play with older guys I would play forward. When I played with guys my own age, I would play midfield. When I played with guys younger than me, I would play goalie or defense." But even when playing in the back against kids younger than him to try and make the pickup games fairer, the goal scoring instinct would inevitably take over. As Kandji remembers it, "Even when I play goalie, when there is a PK, I would take it."

Kandji came to America in 2002 when he was 17 years old, joining his mother, who had come to the United States seeking asylum status, in North Carolina. He completed his final year and a half of high school at East Mecklenburg High School, and played one year for his high school team. Kandji earned all-conference, all-region and all-state recognition as well as Team MVP honors after leading his team to the state quarterfinals before losing on penalty kicks. However, it was his missed penalty that he remembers the most. "I scored a PK to win the game 2-1 in the game before, but I missed (in his team's defeat), and I still think about it. I hit the crossbar and (the ball) came straight down. The ref said it didn't go over the line, but I think it went in."

Still a relative unknown, Kandji did not have an overwhelming amount of collegiate suitors, and ended up at Georgia Military College. "The coach at GMC saw me play and wanted me to go there, but I didn't really have any intention of going there. I was originally going to go to (Division II) UNC-Pembroke, but I had an issue with my paperwork (which effected his recruitment). A friend of mine was at GMC and he told me to come to school with him. I went for a visit, and didn't really like the town, but they offered to help me with my papers."

Kandji played for one season for GMC, which is located in Milledgeville, GA, an hour and half outside of Atlanta, but did not play his second season to help maintain his eligibility for a potential transfer. "I was thinking about transferring to Clayton State University," stated Kandji. "I started playing with the Atlanta Silverbacks U23s to stay in shape, but they liked what they saw and asked me to stay. From there, I was called up to the full team."

The name Macoumba Kandji became a household staple among American soccer fans over the next two seasons, as the striker found the back of the new 13 times over 33 matches and became the subject of numerous transfer window discussions. When the dust settled on the MLS Roster Freeze Deadline on September 15, Kandji was wearing a Red Bulls kit and beginning the next phase of his professional career at the highest level of American professional soccer.

"The transition (from USL to MLS) has been great so far," Kandji said. "The guys on the team are very welcoming, making me feel at home. The level is a little bit different, but I am adjusting every day."

Kandji is adjusting not only to a new league and new teammates, but to a new city as well, but he is taking it all in stride.

"Since I was a little kid, everyone dreams about America," Kandji stated. "I have always dreamed of coming here. Once I came here, it was very nice. New York City is great. The city is alive and a great place to be. I like how it is so busy and that there are people everywhere. I like the lights, especially in Times Square in Manhattan. (On a recent visit) I was just standing there, looking around. It was amazing."

As Kandji establishes himself in MLS and with the Red Bulls, he has his eyes on another goal as well, playing international soccer for his national team.

"(The Senegal National Team) have been calling me for some time now," noted Kandji. "They have been calling me since I was in Atlanta, but with my paperwork, I am not able to go back at this time. Once that is taken care of, that is something that I am looking forward to do. They called me for the U23 Olympic Qualifiers, but now that I am 23, they have called me for the full national team. We have a great team as you can tell from 2002 (when the team defeated defending World Cup champion France, 1-0, in group play and advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup as well as to the championship match of the African Nations Cup). There are a lot of big players playing overseas, like Papa Bouba Diop, who is playing for Portsmouth, Henri Camara, who is with Wigan, El Hadji Diouf, who is with Sunderland, and Mamadou Niang, who plays for Marseille."

Since Kandji has yet to represent a country on the international level, he is keeping his options open as to which country's call he will answer. He is eligible to play for Senegal, Gambia, and the United States, and would have to make a tough decision should all three nations come calling, but this confident young man has a firm head on his shoulders and has a future that is as bright as the sparkle in his eyes.

"Five years from now hopefully I will have signed with a big team in Europe, be a big player and a big part for my national team," states Kandji. "And of course, scoring goals every day."