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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Former SKC midfielder Kinda passes away at 31</li><li>Club Maccabi Haifa announced news after "complex medical battle"</li><li>Kinda spent four seasons in MLS with Sporting</li></ul>

Gadi Kinda, former Sporting KC midfielder, dies at 31

Major League Soccer

Los Angeles FC

Sporting Kansas City

Former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gadi Kinda died after a "complex medical battle" had hospitalized him in recent weeks. His club, Maccabi Haifa, announced the news Tuesday.His last game for the Israeli side was March 29."Maccabi Haifa Football Club mourns the death of the team's player, Gadi Raphael Kinda, who passed away at the age of 31," the club said in a statement. "The Maccabi Haifa family hugs the Kinda family and prays that they will not know any more sorrow."Sporting shared support to Kinda on May 10, posing with his jersey prior to their MLS match against the Portland Timbers."For Gadi," the club posted on social media. "Please join us in showing support and love for Gadi Kinda during this difficult time."

WHAT HAPPENED?

The midfielder played four seasons in MLS with Sporting from 2020 to 2023, scoring 14 goals and recording 16 assists across 64 regular season matches. He missed the 2022 season due to injury.Kinda, born in Ethiopia, represented Israel internationally, earning 10 caps for the national team. Along with Maccabi Haifa, Kinda also represented Ashdod and Beitar Jerusalem at the pro levels. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gadi Kinda. Our hearts are with Gadi’s family, his friends, teammates and all who knew him," Sporting KC said in a statement Tuesday.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Sporting KC midfielder Gadi Kinda. Our hearts are with Gadi’s family, his friends, teammates and all who knew him. <a href="https://t.co/LYJaPXE1Ox">pic.twitter.com/LYJaPXE1Ox</a>— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportingKC/status/1924852580837986798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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THE BIGGER PICTURE

"It's still a raw emotion.," said Sporting KC head coach Kerry Zavagnin. "Obviously in the club right now and the way that the group is taking it, in such a difficult way, it goes to show what he meant to all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time. He was such an electric figure in our club and he's going to be dearly missed.""A pleasure to be with every day," added Zavagnin, speaking to the character of Kinda. "No matter what the day looked like, he always came in with it with an optimistic view. Everyone from the chefs, the cooks, the cleaning service, the coaches, the rest of the staff, the players, all had a good feeling when they were around him and it shows today in how everyone's taken this tragic news."He was quiet, he was humble, and even in training he was very unassuming. But when the lights went on and the game started, he just became a different person. Entertaining, electrifying, creative and was a great injection of spirit combined with humility."Asked about how he processed the news, Zavagnin added:"Another moment of compartmentalizing. It hurts down to my heart knowing him as a person, which was a much better version than what he was as a player. And he was a pretty darn good player. So that part hurts, as much as you want to admit that we can't escape change and we can't escape what the ultimate is for all of us, it's difficult on a day like today."

WHAT SPORTING MANAGER KERRY ZAVAGNIN SAID

Sporting return to the pitch on May 24 against the New England Revolution.

KANSAS CITY'S NEXT MATCH

Gadi Kinda, former Sporting KC midfielder, dies at 31 | Goal.com

The 31-year-old passes away after a &quot;complex medical battle&quot; that left him hospitalized over recent weeks

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