Danny Mwanga

[juanes]

Club:Philadelphia Union

Nationality:Congo DR

Age:19

Height:1.88 m / 6.17 ft

Weight:79 kg / 173 lbs

Position:Striker

 

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Danny Mwanga is one of the brightest prospects in the MLS and the man that could lead the Philadelphia Union  attack for years to come – unless of course he is snapped up by top side in Europe, which we at IMScouting believe is a real possibility.

 

Mwanga is a quick, powerful striker who has an excellent shot with both feet. He is also a versatile forward, who can play in almost any attacking position. 

 

He has a tragic personal story, which makes his development into a top MLS player all the more impressive.

 

His father, Belmond Mwanga, was adviser to Joseph-Desire Mobutu, a dictator who ruled the Democratic Republic of the Congo - called Zaire during Mobutu's reign - with an iron fist for almost 32 years before being overthrown in 1997. Following Mobutu's exile, Belmond "disappeared," as most dictators' cronies tend to do after a coup.

 

Following the tragedy, Mwanga's mother flew over to the US and settled there, and in 2006, Danny joined her after being granted refugee status.

 

It didn't take long for Mwanga to be discovered as a future football star, and at the age of 15 he was offered to play professionally for the second-tier Portland Timbers.

 

However, he was told he would be better off conserving his college eligibility and playing in the youth system, so he started playing for the Westside Metro Club U-16s.

 

He had tough start though at Metro since he barely spoke any English and had problems with communicating and adapting to his new surroundings.

 

Metro coach Monty Hawkins was a huge help. He gave Mwanga rides to practice and assisted his family with everything they needed.  Hawking become like a father figure for Danny off the field, which helped his development on it.

 

Mwanga dominated club and high school soccer, at one point scoring an astonishing 53 goals in nine games for Portland's Jefferson High School.

 

"It was obvious that this was a pro soccer player playing with 15-year-old kids," Hawkins said.

 

In 2008, Mwanga started to play for Oregon State Beavers, where he scored four goals in 11 games and was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. Everybody then began to understand that he was a very special talent.

 

Mwanga himself wanted to play in France, and trials were arranged with French first division clubs Auxerre and Lille, as well as French second division club Strasbourg. He was also offered a traineeship by Blackburn Rovers in England.

 

But after deep consideration, Mwanga decided to opt for the proximity of his family and the chance of immediate first-team football, and signed a two-year deal with two additional mutual option years with the MLS on a Generation Adidas contract.

 

In 2010, he was number 1 pick for the MLS super draft and he was chosen for the new team, Philadelphia Union .

 

Mwanga, only 18, has begun the season is brilliant fashion, scoring five goals in his first nine games.

 

He made a particular impression in a game against Houston.

 

Mwanga came off the bench when the score was 1-1, and it wasn't looking too good for Union as four minutes after Mwanga's introduction, the side went 2-1down.

 

But three minutes later, he set up Sebastian le Toux to equalize, and in the 93 minute, Mwanga scored the winner.

 

Mwanga has already displayed skills of the highest caliber in his first season. He is a regular star and a serious candidate for rookie of the year award along with past IMScouting Player-to-Watch Andy Najar.

 

Philadelphia expects him to stay at the club for many years to come, but Mwanga himself has greater ambitions.

 

"I grew up wanting to play in France, I'd like to play for Marseille," he recently said. "And it's a dream for me to play for Chelsea."

 

And this youngster certainly isn't aiming too high.

[Tito Ortiz™]

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