![]() ![]() We’ve been able to do all that alongside our partners.” “It’s enabled us to make more and better informed decisions, to have a sense of togetherness, and, ultimately, to raise standards of play. “We couldn’t be happier with the Club Partners that we’ve made so far,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development and Academy Director Marc Nicholls. READ: International clubs interested in Sounders Academy talentįast-forward three years, and Sounders FC now has six Official Youth Partners - Seattle United, Twins City Soccer Association (North Carolina), Spokane SC Shadow, Eastside FC, Central Washington Sounders (Yakima), and Northwest United (Bellingham) - as well as two Youth Affiliate Clubs, PacNW (Tukwila and Renton) and Central California Aztecs.All of this helped charter a pathway for Seattle United players into the Academy and, in the case of Homegrown Player Handwalla Bwana, up to the First Team. “The coaching staff is perfect because Brian Schmetzer is like a dad, he always cares and takes the young guys under his wing and try to make sure they get better.Back in 2015, Seattle Sounders FC announced its first ever Official Youth Club Partner, Seattle United.Īs a result of this symbiotic relationship, the Sounders shared training curriculums, coaching education, youth programming, on-field training sessions with Sounders Academy coaches and other club resources. “At the same time, all the young guys who haven’t signed with an academy, they come train with the first team, so they can see how fast the level is,” he added. If you mess up, they give you again and again until you feel comfortable. “They give you the opportunity to show your talent, not only once but multiple times. He also praised Schmetzer as a father figure across the Sounders’ development network. I’m learning from all the coaches and I’m loving that.” “For me, the most important part, is to develop and continue getting better and Seattle is the perfect place for me because they gave me the opportunity. “Playing at the Sounders has been a great experience because it’s helped in my development,” he said. “We have really good, world-class players in our team, so if someone goes down in injury or the team needs me in the second half, I’m always there to help and provide for the team.”īwana, who featured in Tuesday’s MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer against Chivas’ U-20 team, said playing in Seattle has been a great experience, especially going through the academy when he joined during his junior year in high school. ![]() “I started great, starting a lot of games then coming off the bench,” Bwana recently told. The Kenyan-born player missed an away game on July 3 against New York City FC due to a “family, personal issue” according to coach Brian Schmetzer, and hasn't played for the first team since then.īwana didn’t comment regarding that matter, but is hopeful the opportunity to feature again for the Sounders will come sooner than later. ![]() The 2019 season for Bwana looked promising, after playing 10 out of Seattle’s first 17 games, but since then, his minutes have dwindled. ![]() – Playing time for Seattle Sounders midfielder Handwalla Bwana has been hard to come by recently.Īfter signing a Homegrown Player contract with the Sounders ahead of the 2018 MLS season, consistent playing time has been hard to come by at times. ![]()
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