SJ INTERVIEW WITH DANNY MWANGA – PHILADELPHIA UNION STRIKER

in MLS SJ Interviews by Itai — August 1, 2010 at 8:32 pm | 4 comments

Danny Mwanga was the first overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, and plays striker for the Philadelphia Union.  This 19 year-old rookie made an impact immediately after arriving in Major League Soccer for the league’s newest team.  We here at Soccer Jones had the chance to ask this Rookie of the Year candidate a few questions in an exclusive Soccer Jones interview.

You were born in Zaire and eventually made your way to the U.S. in 2006. What was the transition like for you coming to the States?

The transition was really hard for me since I didn’t know anything about the American culture and langauge.  Also, it was just hard moving away from my home country where I have all of my friends and family.

You netted your first MLS goal earlier this season against FC Dallas. How did that feeling compare to other goals you’ve scored?

It was a great feeling.  Scoring a goal in a professional football match was something that I had always dreamed of.  It was basically a dream that came true.

If you weren’t playing soccer right now for the Philadelphia Union, what do you think you would you be doing?

That’s a hard question.  Soccer is my life and I can’t imagine what I could be without it.  But if I wasn’t playing soccer right, I would probably be in school and working on getting my degree.

You scored 53 goals in 9 games at Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon. That’s insane. Who taught you how to score like that and when did it all start?

Well, first of all, my skill is a gift from God.  However, my uncle who was a professional soccer player as well, did help me a lot. Everything started in my backyard, kicking the ball against the wall, and playing one vs one with my uncle.  The next step was just playing in the street with friends.

You played for Real Salt Lake’s U-18 squad prior to making your way to the pro’s. How did playing on that team prepare you for life in Major League Soccer?

It was a great opportunity.  I got a chance to travel to Europe and compete against some of their best teams. It was a wonderful experience and gave me a pretty good idea of what to work on in order to make it to the next level.

Lastly, what superstitions do you have on gameday or when you take the field before a match?

I usually just play the whole game out through my head on game day.  When taking on the field, I usually picture myself scoring and having a great game!

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