- Danny Mwanga
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Danny Mwanga Personal information Full name Jean-Marie Daniel Mwanga Date of birth July 17, 1991 Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Playing position Forward Club information Current club Philadelphia Union Number 10 Youth career 2008–2009 Oregon State Beavers Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2010– Philadelphia Union 52 (12) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 20, 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).Jean-Marie Daniel "Danny" Mwanga (born July 17, 1991 in Kinshasa) is a Congolese-American footballer who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.
Contents
Career
Youth
Mwanga's father, who was an adviser to former Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, was killed during the nation's civil war in 1997,[1] and his mother had to leave him and his sisters behind with their grandmother. Mwanga eventually moved to the United States in 2006, reuniting with his mother and settling in Portland, Oregon. He attended Jefferson High School,[2] and played club soccer for Westside Metros Soccer Club[3] before playing college soccer at Oregon State University (OSU).[4] At OSU he started 11 matches as a freshman, scoring four goals, and was named the 2008 Pacific 10 Conference Freshman of the Year. The next year he was the player of the year in the conference after scoring 14 goals in 18 games, and was also selected as a second team All-American.[4][5]
Professional
Mwanga was drafted the 1st overall pick of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft in the 1st round by Philadelphia Union[6] and made his professional debut on March 25, 2010, in the opening game of the 2010 MLS season against Seattle Sounders FC.[7] On May 15, 2010, he had his first MLS goal at Lincoln Financial Field against FC Dallas in stoppage time to earn the club a draw. He also scored a second consecutive stoppage time goal on May 29, 2010, against Houston Dynamo for the Union to win 3-2.[8] In 2010, Mwanga was also a finalist for the MLS Rookie of the Year Award. He had a two goal performance at Toronto FC in Philadelphia's 6-2 win on May 28, 2011.[9] On June 8, Mwanga was named a nominee for the MLS All-Star Game.[10] He scored the game-winning goal for the Union to win 3-2 against Chivas USA on June 25.[11] This goal was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week and placed second.[12]
International
While not yet a citizen, Mwanga has expressed an interest in representing the United States at the international level (instead of his native DR-Congo), telling Goal.com, "It would be an honor to represent the United States. Playing for the U.S. in a World Cup would be a wonderful opportunity".[13]
Career statistics
All-time club performance Club Season 
Major League SoccerUS Open Cup MLS Cup Playoffs CONCACAF Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals Philadelphia Union 2010 24 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 25 7 2011 28 5 1 0 2 0 0 0 31 5 Club Total 52 12 2 0 2 0 0 0 56 12 See also
References
- ^ Congolese Soccer Player Scores for Oregon College
- ^ "Player Bio: Danny Mwanga". Oregon State University. http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/mwanga_danny00.html. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
- ^ http://www.westsidemetros.com
- ^ a b Suzuki, Toshio (March 24, 2010). "Danny Mwanga, Philadelphia Union ready for MLS debut". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/03/danny_mwanga_philadelphia_unio.html. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ Suzuki, Toshio (January 14, 2010). "Danny Mwanga picked No. 1 by Philadelphia Union in MLS SuperDraft". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/01/danny_mwanga_picked_no_1_by_ph.html. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ 2010 MLS SuperDraft
- ^ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/gamecast?id=289675&cc=5901&league=USA.1
- ^ http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2010/05/recap-union-top-dynamo-3-2
- ^ http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/05/recap-union-find-goal-scoring-touch-rout-toronto
- ^ http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/06/fan-ballot-launched-att-mls-all-star-game-0
- ^ http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/06/union-defense-picked-attack-does-heavy-lifting-vs-chivas
- ^ http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/06/vote-mwanga-mls-goal-week
- ^ Hickey, Keith (July 11, 2010). "MLS Comment: Danny Mwanga Ready To Add To Immigrant Contributions To U.S. Soccer". goal.com. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2010/07/11/2019936/mls-comment-danny-mwanga-ready-to-add-to-immigrant-contributions-. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
External links
Categories:- 1991 births
- Living people
- Democratic Republic of the Congo footballers
- Oregon State Beavers men's soccer players
- Oregon State University alumni
- Philadelphia Union players
- People from Portland, Oregon
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States
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