From Gambia to Seattle with a few stops in between, Sounders FC 2 midfielder Amadou Sanyang has seen a lot in his seven-year professional career. This season, Sanyang steps into a leadership role with S2 having been given the captain’s armband by Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson. SoundersFC.com caught up with Sanyang during the road trip to Sacramento for a Q&A about the season so far, and tonight’s match against defending USL champion, Sacramento Republic FC.
SoundersFC.com: Having been a professional soccer player for the last seven years, what has the journey to Seattle been like?
Amadou Sanyang: It has been great so far, it has been a long journey with ups and downs and injuries. I was in Charleston for some time which was great, that’s a really good city, but I am always excited to be back in Seattle. This club has great management, this city is where I call home and we have such exciting fans here. All of us players are lucky to be around Ezra, who has so much experience and knows what it takes to develop. I want to get my game to a higher level and I believe this is the place I can do it.
Every soccer player in the United States would be excited to be a part of this organization. From the top to the last person in the organization, there are wonderful people here, and you always feel excited and motivated on and off the field to be here. Being able to play in my hometown is an incredible blessing.
SFC: Your wife and kids are from Seattle, how is it being back in Seattle with them?
AS: It’s so good to be here with them. It’s a new thing for me, we only got married a few months ago, but it has been great so far. My wife has been on my side throughout my journey and I couldn’t ask for more. The kids are at every single home game with her, and having their support makes things easier for me to concentrate and do what I love.
SFC: As the captain of this team, you seem to get a lot of respect from the other players. How do you see your role in player development with S2?
AS: This is an incredible group of guys who all respect each other. We joke and tease each other, but the thing about this team is when it comes to getting down to business, this is something we all need to do. My role is more to talk to the guys about what it takes to be here and play for this organization. In life, sometimes we take things for granted, and having played here before and getting to come back, I know how much of a blessing it is to play here and I like to remind guys of that.
We talk a lot about how we should help ourselves in terms of staying away from injury. I try to use myself as an example because I have been through a lot of different injuries, and most of the time with younger guys those injuries can be a huge setback in their game. I try to help guys get through that and learn how to take care of their bodies.
In the game we all talk to each other and motivate each other. You have to be strong to move on when you’re playing because it’s an 11-man game. When one person goes down, it affects the rest of us. We are there to push each other knowing it won’t be perfect all the time, but your teammates are there to help you out.
Getting to play for leaders like Ezra, Sigi [Schmid] and the rest of the technical staff is fantastic. It’s an amazing feeling as a player for the coaches to tell you straight what you need to work on. As a captain it helps a lot as a leader to be able to have that guidance we have so many leaders out on the field helping each other get better, and we are blessed to be a part of it.
SFC: Tonight you face a tough Sacramento team, what is the mood ahead of tonight’s match?
AS: We all know this is going to be a tough match. They are a well-organized team with a great coach leading them, and Bonney Field is a tough place to play. The mood has been good so far, and we prepared well for this game. We have been learning what it takes to come and get three points on the road, which is our main objective. It is going to take hard work, and we definitely have to be disciplined. I have played here before when I was with Charleston, and I know it won’t be easy, but I know what it’s going to be like and I have told the guys so I think they are well aware of what it will be like. We are excited to go in and try to get three points.
