He was the 10th overall draft pick and MLS Rookie of the Year in 2011. In 2012, he won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and debuted with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He became MLS Cup champion in 2013.
Even after all that success early in his career, CJ Sapong (’10) wasn’t fulfilled. He wanted to change lives. A personal battle with injury led him to realize that he can’t play soccer forever. Couple Sapong’s foresight for needing a post-soccer career with a yearning for fulfillment and positively impacting others, and you have Sacred Seeds Inc.
In
February 2017, Sapong founded Sacred Seeds, which empowers underserved communities
through nutrition, education and community building. Sacred Seeds provides
educational agricultural opportunities for youth while promoting
self-sustainability and growth of their communities. Through the development of
urban gardens and farms, Sapong’s foundation is paying it forward for the next
generation.
“The human body is interesting in that it will adapt to whatever environment it’s put in,” Sapong said. “You might think that you’re healthy, but you’re really kind of running on 50%. So I said, ‘Well, why aren’t more people nourished?’ They’re not educated about it.”
On the pitch, he’s evolved from promising young talent to savvy veteran. The speedy striker regained his 2017 form in 2019, netting a team-high 13 goals along with a pair of assists, while tying for the most appearances in his first season with Chicago Fire FC before MLS suspended play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The former JMU soccer standout was the first JMU player to be first-team all-conference four times.
Sapong
returned to campus in December 2019. Among the items on his itinerary was
speaking to JMU student-athletes about ways they can maximize their potential
on and off the pitch.
Sapong said that despite the considerable changes on campus since he left a decade ago, the essence of JMU remains. “Students, staff and even local organizations are dedicated to the progression of themselves and the people around them,” he posted on Instagram after his visit.
