It took a trip to Ecuador for NYCFC to know for sure they had a special homegrown prospect on their hands.
James Sands, just 16 years old, with not a professional minute to his name, started for NYCFC against Emelec on Feb. 8 in one of South America’s most hostile environments, the newly renovated Estadio George Capwell, in front of 40,000 screaming and jeering fans. Friendly match or not, it’s the type of atmosphere that can shake the calmest vets, but Sands didn’t look the least bit fazed.
“[That game] helped me a lot,” Sands told The Post.