New England Soccer Today

Bye Bye Nyassi

Sainey Nyassi scored the only goal in the Revs Reserves 1-0 win over the Crew on Sunday. (Photo: Sean Donahue)

Sainey Nyassi, seen here in Reserve League action last summer, was waived by the Revolution on Thursday. (Photo: Sean Donahue)

After spending the past seven seasons trying to fulfill the promise he brought to Foxborough as U-20 World Cup star, speedy midfielder Sainey Nyassi was finally waived by the Revolution on Thursday.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who came to the Revolution on the heels of strong international performances at the youth level in 2007, never became the dynamic, attacking catalyst many envisioned he’d become when he signed a deal with the Revolution at age 18.

“We want to wish Sainey all the best as he moves into the next stage of his career,” General Manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “Sainey was always a professional in his time with us and we wish him well.”

His best season came in 2010, when he started a career-high 27 games and scored three goals to go along with two assists as the team’s starting right midfielder.

But in the years that followed, Nyassi was beset by inconsistency and injuries, both of which consipired to limit him to eight starts between 2011 and 2013.

Head coach Jay Heaps tried to address Nyassi’s struggles by moving him centrally in 2012, hoping to galvanize the Gambian’s speed against opposing center backs.

Yet, a lingering hamstring injury kept Nyassi out for the bulk of last season, and he failed to take to his new role before he was switched back to the right during the 2013 preseason.

As a last-ditch option, Heaps recently tried Nyassi out at right back during training – an idea remarkably similar to the one that Real Salt Lake employed with another former Revolution midfielder of Gambian descent: Kenny Mansally.

All told, Nyassi made 104 regular season appearances with the club, scoring eight goals and chipping in four assists. His last appearance with the Revolution came in 2-1 loss at Montreal on Jul. 18, 2012, when he came on for Saer Sene in the 79th minute. He also recorded four caps with the Gambia National Team during his tenure with the Revolution.

Prior to Thursday’s transaction, he and veteran goalkeeper Matt Reis were the lone holdovers from the Revolution’s last MLS Cup appearance in 2007.

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