Mansally is in for long haul
Kenny Mansally was on the move starting at 6 a.m. Feb 14, running on the beach in Banjul, Gambia, along the Gambia River in the West African nation. By the time Mansally's journey concluded, more than 35 hours later, he had rejoined his Revolution teammates for preseason training in Bermuda, where he would score four goals in two games. Mansally's itinerary included stops in Dakar (five-hour layover), New York, and a night with his host family in Wrentham, Mass., before a Boston-Bermuda flight on the 15th.
Mansally was not in the Revolution starting lineup for their preseason opener against the Bermuda national team last Saturday. But Mansally replaced Spencer Wadsworth in the 35th minute, scored three minutes later, and again just before halftime and in the final minute of play. Mansally also earned a penalty kick, which was taken by Shalrie Joseph and saved in the 84th minute. In Wednesday's rematch, Mansally converted in the 21st minute of a 2-0 victory.
"I didn't feel I was warmed up enough to go in," Mansally said of his three-goal performance. "But when I was sitting on the bench I saw how Bermuda was defending and I said I would score three goals against them. Three goals is a very good start and I hope we can continue like this."
Among the subplots of the preseason is a duel for a starting striker position to complement Taylor Twellman. Last year, Adam Cristman was the sensation of training camp, scoring five goals in four games, then scoring four times in the regular season.
Cristman, Mansally, and Wadsworth have emerged as top candidates to replace Pat Noonan, a United States national team member who moved to Aalesund FK in Norway last month.
"Obviously, Taylor is starting, and the other three guys are fighting for a spot," coach Steve Nicol said. "Somebody has to step up. So far, we've only been outdoors for a week and it seems it's gone the way it has the last two or three years in Bermuda."
The Revolution are feeling at home in Bermuda, where they have a 9-0-1 record (31-7 goal differential) in four preseason trips.
Cristman, who scored twice in Bermuda, is the likely choice to start alongside Twellman in the season opener against Houston March 29. But Mansally provides an alternative should Cristman be called to the US Olympic team.
Cristman, 23, and Mansally, 19, could be effective paired with Twellman, as they are speedy and strong enough to maintain possession and pressure defenders.
"They do more running than they have to do because of their lack of experience," Nicol said. "But any coach would take all the running. And they will pick and choose better when to run as they get more experience." 