Sporting Kansas City forward CJ Sapong has been made favourite to take out the 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year award.
The 22-year old played in all 34 of the regular season matches for SKC, scoring five goals and providing five assists, and according to some could join the likes of Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey and Maurice Edu as the competition's best first year player.
"It kind of shows that my hard work is paying off and people are taking notice and that I'm making an impact. And that's all I want to do is provide an impact and help the team," Sapong said.
"Work for the team and individual success will come with it. To get that award would be great, it would make me feel like all the hard work at soccer will have gotten me somewhere."
