Colorado Rapids Draft Mason’s Adjeman-Pamboe

Story by Broadside Staff Writer Brendan Murphy. Photos by Randy Urick and Courtney Erland.

The excitement did not have to end for Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe after a tough second round loss in this past season’s NCAA tournament. The senior forward will embark on a new journey after being drafted in the second round, 28th overall out of 60, in the 2009 Major League Soccer Super Draft held in St. Louis on Jan. 15.

“I sat back and was like, ‘wow.’ My name popped up and I was really excited. My legs were shaking for almost an hour. I just thanked the Lord, I was so happy,” said Adjeman-Pamboe.

Adjeman-Pamboe was the first of six selections by the Colorado Rapids, who finished fourth in the MLS Western Conference with an 11-14-5 record.

“My phone was blowing up, I missed my head coach’s call and I had, like, five voicemails and so many text messages coming through. My phone died after 30 minutes and I had to charge it back up,” said Adjeman-Pamboe.

Adjeman-Pamboe was one of 65 college seniors invited to participate in the 2009 pre-draft Major League Soccer Adidas Player Combine held at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. from Jan. 9-13.

“I expected to go late second round, after my first day my new agent told me I may have bought my ticket into the early second round. They projected me to go as the 30th pick and I ended up going two spots higher than that,” said Adjeman-Pamboe.

He was joined by two fellow CAA members including midfielder Nick Zimmerman of James Madison University, who went 44th overall, and Trevor Banks of Old Dominion University.

“It was fun and I wasn’t in awe of the other players. I felt I belonged and I was smiling all the time. The other guys didn’t seem like they were much better than me. I felt I was equal and proved myself on the second day,” said Adjeman-Pamboe. “The combine definitely helped a lot because I was not one of the big names there and [Mason] didn’t get looked at as much.”

Adjeman-Pamboe became the seventh player in Mason history to be selected in the MLS draft. He led the Patriots to their first CAA tournament championship in 19 years, a first round 1-0 win over University of Pennsylvania in the NCAA tournament and a close 2-0 loss in the second round to the eventual national champion University of Maryland Terrapins.

“It meant a lot because it was the first time in 19 years since they changed the format so all of us are going in the history books. Everyone was happy with our success,” said Adjeman-Pamboe.

After leading the CAA with 25 points, seven assists, and four game-winning goals, he earned many individual accolades. Adjeman-Pamboe also led the Patriots and tied for second in the CAA with nine goals. He was awarded First Team All-CAA honors, named Most Outstanding Performer at the CAA Soccer Championship after contributing four goals and an assist in the three wins, and was named NSCAA First-Team All-South Atlantic Region honors.

“It means a lot to me. I didn’t know I was going to get all of these awards for playing well. I wasn’t expecting it because I was just trying to win day in and day out trying to keep the season going one more game,” said Adjeman-Pamboe, “But it is a great accomplishment what I achieved this season. I credit it to my coaches and teammates for keeping me honest and I worked hard which lead the individual accomplishments.”

Adjeman-Pamboe is set to move to Colorado Jan. 26 to begin preseason and his fight to make the 24-man roster, which currently has 36 players.

“Going in I can’t see myself as a rookie. Even though I am, I cannot be scared of anyone. I have to play my game and sooner or later adapt,” said Adjeman-Pamboe.

His first game is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 21 at 8:30 p.m. against Chivas USA, who drafted local product Michael Lahoud ninth overall from Wake Forest University. For Adjeman-Pamboe, there is still unfinished business along his road to success.