VANCOUVER, BC — When Kekuta Manneh was named the highest ranked of the four Vancouver Whitecaps FC players in the 2014 MLS "24 Under 24" list last week, coming in at number 12, it raised a few eyebrows.
Manneh has had a difficult second season in the pro ranks, managing just three goals on the year, but a lot of that ranking came down to his potential to develop further.
The 'Caps hope the Gambian will be an impact player for them again down the stretch, and the young striker knows his game still needs work if he is to take it to the next level.
"I just feel grateful to be on there," Manneh told reporters on Tuesday about making the list. "I need to work hard and show people I deserve to be on there. I definitely need to work on my defending. I feel that going forward I have a lot to give to the team but when we lose the ball I definitely need to make sure that I'll be in the right spots.
<a href="//www.youtube.com/embed/iyAdetQFsC0"></a> |
<b>Kekuta Manneh hat-trick vs. Seattle Sounders FC in 2013</b> |
"I've been much more comfortable on the ball and taking down the information that the coaches have been giving me. We've been talking about a lot the past couple of weeks and they've been helping me, going through stuff. I feel that that's helped a lot."
Veteran defender Andy O'Brien has developed a close bond as a mentor for Manneh, showing him some of the tricks of the pro game. O'Brien knows it's been a tough sophomore season for the 19-year-old, but he still has confidence in him to fulfill his potential.
"We've all got belief in him," O'Brien told reporters. "I've said, and I hope I don't get made to eat my words, that he's got the world at his feet. I said that early on and he demonstrated [on Saturday against RSL] in a short period, probably within 30 seconds of coming on, how good a player he is.
"He's young, but being at a professional club in an adult environment at the age of 18,19, is going to bode well for the future. He's demonstrated in flashes this season how good he is and it's maybe this time of the season that he seems to come into form."
Manneh's six goals and electric final month of his rookie season, which included a hat-trick in Seattle, left many expecting more of the same this year.
Despite playing more minutes than last season, it simply hasn't happened, but if his substitute performance against Real Salt Lake on Saturday was any indication, the young striker may be hitting form again at just the right time.
"Delighted for Kekuta to finish 12th," coach Carl Robinson said of Manneh's "24 Under 24" placing. "I still think there's a lot more to come from him. With all young players I think they go through peaks and valleys. Kekuta's played more minutes and more games this year than he did last year and probably hasn't had the same effect but he had a massive effect in the last few games last year.
"I think it's a confidence thing with him. He's played a number of games, he's had a number of chances, but he's still trying to reach top form. Hopefully we can see that in the last few games because, as I've said, one of my younger players needs to catch fire and go on a run."
