Danny Mwanga facts for kids
Mwanga with the Philadelphia Union in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | July 17, 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, Zaire | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2010 | Westside Metros | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010–2012 | Philadelphia Union | 61 | (12) |
| 2012 | Portland Timbers | 18 | (3) |
| 2013–2014 | Colorado Rapids | 19 | (0) |
| 2014 | → New York Cosmos (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2015 | Orlando City SC | 4 | (0) |
| 2016 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 5 | (0) |
| 2016 | → Ottawa Fury (loan) | 7 | (1) |
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Danny Mwanga, born on July 17, 1991, is a former professional soccer player. He is Congolese-American and played as a forward, which means he was usually trying to score goals.
Contents
Danny Mwanga's Soccer Journey
Early Life and Youth Soccer
Danny Mwanga was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). His early life was challenging. His father passed away when Danny was young during a difficult time in his home country. His mother had to make tough choices to keep the family safe.
In 2006, Danny moved to the United States. He reunited with his mother and settled in Portland, Oregon. He went to Jefferson High School. He also played club soccer for the Westside Metros Soccer Club.
College Soccer Success
After high school, Danny played college soccer at Oregon State University (OSU). In his first year, 2008, he started 11 games. He scored four goals and was named the best freshman player in the Pacific-10 Conference.
The next year, 2009, he was even better. He scored 14 goals in 18 games. He was named the player of the year for his conference. He was also chosen as a second team All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country.
Professional Soccer Career
Danny Mwanga was a top young player. In 2010, he was the very first player chosen in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He was picked by the new team, Philadelphia Union.
Starting with Philadelphia Union
Danny made his first professional appearance in the opening game of the 2010 MLS season. On May 15, he scored his first goal for the Union. It was a goal in the final minutes of the game. This helped his team get a 1–1 tie against FC Dallas.
Two weeks later, he scored another late goal. This time, it helped the Union win 3–2 against Houston Dynamo. In his first season, he scored seven goals in 24 games. He was named "Rookie of the Year" by Soccer America. He was also a finalist for the official MLS Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2011, Danny continued to play well. He scored two goals in a big 6–2 win against Toronto FC. He was even nominated for the MLS All-Star Game. He scored the winning goal in a 3–2 game against Chivas USA. His second season ended with 5 goals in 28 games. His team made it to the playoffs but lost to Houston.
Moving to Other Teams
In June 2012, Danny was traded to the Portland Timbers. He played 18 games for them and scored 3 goals.
Before the 2013 season, he was traded again. This time, he went to the Colorado Rapids. He played 13 games for them in 2013. In August 2014, he was loaned to the NASL club New York Cosmos. He helped the Cosmos get a tie in his first game. He scored his first goal for the Cosmos in his next game. He finished the 2014 season with one goal and one assist in eight games for the Cosmos.
After 2014, Colorado decided not to keep him. He was then picked by Orlando City SC in a special draft for new teams. In December 2015, Danny signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. They played in the North American Soccer League. In August 2016, he was loaned to another NASL team, Ottawa Fury.
Playing for His Country
Danny Mwanga became a US citizen on June 24, 2013. He has said he would be proud to play for the U.S. national team. He told Goal.com that playing for the U.S. in a World Cup would be an amazing chance.
See also
In Spanish: Danny Mwanga para niños
