Kpene Takes a Roundabout Way to D.C.

Rookie Forward Goes From Ivory Coast to Long Island to Major League Soccer

"I know I am a good player; it doesn't matter where I played. I have the ability, the speed and the desire," says Guy-Roland Kpene, who was selected in the supplemental draft Jan. 18 by United. (Jonathan Newton - The Post)

Guy-Roland Kpene's path to MLS was not much different than the one taken by so many players the last dozen years. Born overseas, he starred at a U.S. university and was selected in one of the league's winter drafts.

But his course to D.C. United's roster was distinctive because of what brought him to the United States in the first place (neither soccer nor education) and where he played the last three years (not at a Division I program).

In 2003, his mother, Lelehi, informed him and his younger sister that she had gotten a new government job and they would have to leave their home in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. They weren't going to another city or a neighboring country; they were headed to New York, where Kpene's mother would be their country's finance attache to the United Nations.

"It was a big change for us," Kpene recalled recently. "We were living in Africa and then we were going to New York."

Like many of his friends in the former French colony, Kpene grew up playing soccer in an unstructured environment. Upon settling in the New York area, he enrolled at Westchester Community College and tried out for the team. While earning all-region honors, he was spotted by an assistant coach from Dowling College, a Division II program on Long Island.

"You could see right away that he could play," Dowling Coach John DiRico said. "His strength, his speed, he's a smart player and a passionate player. We knew he could help us."

Kpene did more than that. After contributing 13 goals and seven assists in 2005, he had 25 and 10 last fall as the Golden Lions went undefeated and won their first national championship. Although he had a year of eligibility remaining, he was about to turn 24 and figured time was running out on a pro opportunity.

Visibility was an issue. He had played in a lower division and had not been invited to the MLS scouting combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Through its college networking, though, United became familiar with him. The club waited until the supplemental draft on Jan. 18 -- an obscure event held six days after the regular draft and conducted via conference call -- to select him with its second, and final, pick.

"I wasn't really sure if it would happen, if anyone would notice me," he said.

Kpene (pronounced Ka-penny) has agreed to a low-level developmental contract and, although he will make the final 28-man roster, his initial playing time will come almost exclusively in reserve league matches.

"He's going to have to adjust his game to the pro level," Coach Tom Soehn said. "Sometimes in college it's a little easy where you can just rely on your offensive stuff and not worry about filling channels and linking up with other guys. There's a learning curve."

Although few non-Division I players make it in MLS, Soehn said Kpene's college background is insignificant. "When we draft, it doesn't really matter where they're from," he said. "We gauge everything on what they do with us."

Said Kpene: "I know I am a good player; it doesn't matter where I played. I have the ability, the speed and the desire."

DiRico saw that desire surface at halftime of the NCAA semifinals last fall. With Dowling trailing West Florida by two goals -- its largest deficit of the season -- Kpene made an emotional plea to his teammates. "It was in French or something, I don't know, but he got his message across," DiRico said. "He's usually a pretty quiet guy, but he got everyone's attention. The whole team was like, 'Whoa, Guy's not happy, is he?' "

Kpene scored the equalizer late in regulation and Dowling advanced on penalty kicks. Two days later, he assisted on the game-winner during a 1-0 victory over defending champion Fort Lewis (Colo.).

"No one knows about me, but I am going to work very hard," Kpene said in fluent English. "It's just going to take time to adjust and to learn."

United Note: Jay Nolly, whose rights were acquired from Real Salt Lake in the Freddy Adu trade, is close to signing with the club to become the No. 2 goalkeeper, a source close to the negotiations said. Until recently, Nolly had been exploring opportunities in Europe.