Phase one of the Rapids’ gamble on Alain Nkong paid off Wednesday as the 26-year-old Cameroonian midfielder was not picked in the Major League Soccer waiver draft.
Phase two has yet to play out.
Facing a “significant” payment to Nkong’s previous club in Uruguay if he played a second season, the Rapids put him on waivers along with veterans Diego Serna and Wolde Harris so they wouldn’t exceed the league’s salary cap.
General manager Charlie Wright said the Rapids will try to renegotiate a new contract with Nkong during the offseason. The Rapids hold Nkong’s rights for one year.
“We’ll try to have him on a year again if we can make sense of the deal,” Wright said.
Nkong was one of several unheralded players first-year coach Fernando Clavijo added to a team that was eliminated in the Western Conference final by eventual champion Los Angeles Galaxy.
Nkong was suspended for that loss after picking up a red card in the previous round against FC Dallas. Clavijo said Nkong’s absence played a big role in the Rapids’ lack of punch against the Galaxy.
Nkong scored five goals and had four assists in 28 games this season.
None of the 49 players released by the 12 MLS teams was claimed Wednesday.
Nkong is out of the country and will join the Cameroonian national team after being selected to compete in the African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt early next year.
Nkong has said he hoped a successful stint in MLS would open doors for a return to Europe. He owns a home in Paris.
