Actually, in addition to not leaving the country for more than 6 months, you also need to spend real time in the U.S. It's something like 30 months in 5 years. You can't just spend 3 days a year in the U.S. and still be able to apply for citizenship. At least that's what my lawyer told me.
I doubt it, since Congo was a Belgian colony. Hmmm. The "top 75" thing is only for the UK. Since no top footballer plays in the Welsh league or the Northern Ireland league, that means Scotland and England. Second of all, France gives preferential treatment to those from former French colonies like Senegal and Cameroon. Spain does the same thing, but I don't think they had any colonies in Africa. Portugal had Angola and Mozambique, I think.
In a good or bad way? Ah, those elitist British pansies. Thanks for clarifying that. I thought that it might be an EU thing. So in other words, this doesn't hurt Zakuani at all since he's already a citizen of the UK.
Zakuani made the right move. He's a good player but there's a logjam in our midfield and we have some promising young talent coming up as well.
I'm glad he made a choice and I hope he's happy with it. He'll get to play with his brother and everything. But he's never going to play in a World Cup. Congo haven't qualified since 1974. We don't really have a speedy wing-mf and I think he can still improve quite a bit to become a top class winger.
When they brought much joy to the spectators... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDXkVGpMpc"]YouTube - Brazil -- Zaire, Football WC 1974[/ame]
Zakuani says that the match he played for Congo was not an official match recognized by FIFA, that he is not tied to any one country and has yet to decide what country he wants to represent. “These days as much as it is a pride decision, it's also a footballing decision," he said. "I have to give myself the best chance of advancing my career."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2014054821_zakuanis_international_future.html Interesting, though I'm still doubtful he'll suit up for Team USA. He got his green card in December, and it takes 5 years of permanent residency before you can apply for citizenship, so he'd be eligible in December 2015 at the earliest. He'd be twos months from 28 years old...pretty late to start a national team career. Unless of course he marries an American....then he'd only need 3 years of permanent residency. In which case he'd be eligible by December 2013, in time for the World Cup. Anyone know if he has a girlfriend?
Wow, that's cool that he's still open and available. A guy with his speed and talents, it's hard to tell how far he will go. Even if he has a real shot at playing for US at 28 yr old, I think 1 or 2 WC's is better than 0.
mwanga's dad was a bigwig on the bad side in the civil war... his body has never been located.. presumeably, he's really mia, but who knows... mwanga can be a usa citizen as early as this june... given his stellar grades at oregon state, i'd suspect he can pass the test easily http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...ager_to_build_on_rookie_season_for_Union.html fairly decent article on mwanga
Well many parents were killed during our civil war, I wonder if we had a World cup in 1870 how many Southerners would have refused to play for the USNT. Great way to get around the 5 year wait, I believe it takes 1-3 years for married people to get citizenship. If he did get his green card before last season, I understand that he is under a 3 year contract, so DC/MLS could sell him the summer of 2012 and he would fulfill the 30 month requirement possibly (if not at the end of 2012) Now it is hard for me to believe that you can live overseas and stop in Las Vegas for a weekend every 6 months and be able to get around the 6 months a year requirement. (some one else made that point not you)
does that whole thing about having to be a citizen of the other country (USA), before you play with another country (Congo) affect him though? Or does Green Card=US Citizenship.
No. You must be a citizen. FIFA mandates that. A green card essentially does nothing. Let me correct myself, it does something-----gets you close towards citizenship if you choose to go that route.
If this wasn't considered a match by FIFA, then it would not affect Zakuani. If FIFA does consider it a match, then he would be limited to just Congo-DR or England, I believe.