Fwiw, I follow Mukwelle on Instagram, and today (and last week), Mukwelle posted an Instagram story of him eating dinner with Minjae Kwak, who appears to be with California United in the NISA. Perhaps MA is trialing there? Their (Kwak and Akale’s) professional lives don’t appear to cross before this. Kwak is a 21 yr old South Korea-born Californian.
ESPN now lists Mukwelle with Central Valley Fuego in USL1 although nothing has been announced quite yet. https://www.espn.com/soccer/team/squad/_/id/21353/central_valley_fuego_fc
Here's the announcement https://www.tormentafc.com/news/202...lle-akale-to-its-2022-usl-league-one-roster/
All technique, no physicality. We're yet to have a little maestro who can control a game, like a David Silva, Modric, Scholes type Obviously this kid ain't it but we'll get one one day
I'd dispute the lack of physicality for those guys. I don't think there's anyone out there anymore who succeeds at the highest levels without both technique and physicality. Our team is simply going to have an increasing and standard, and players with that level of skill are practically worldwide aberrations at this point, not national. My running assumption is that everyone is going to have to have some level of both.
Oh for sure, and I'm sure all those guys get discounted in terms of physicality due to their size...but I don't think the maestro type will ever not be needed. It's the genius we watch the games for, not the running. Like the saying goes, for your 10 outfield players you need piano movers and piano players
Nice piece covering some details of Akale’s journey over the past few years: New from me: I spoke with former U.S. Youth International and Minnesota native, Mukwelle Akale, on his footballing journey. From Villarreal in La Liga to Pafos FC in Cyprus, and now, in @USLLeagueOne with @Tormenta_FC. For @SotaSoc https://t.co/pVFCX6iA6O— Jacob Schneider (@_jacobschneider) September 23, 2022 Gives insight on the Pafos move and really sad circumstances around that situation, and also explains how he joined up with South Georgia Tormenta instead of Central Valley Fuego earlier this year due to an injury. He’s been in the starting lineup a lot since joining and seems to be playing well with a goal and assist so far.
Even though he's in USL1 now, he did make 6 league appearances for Pafos in the Cypriot first tier, so this thread should be finally, mercifully, moved to the main forum. @bungadiri @dark knight
Cheers to the graduation! Feels like I’ve been following this now grown ass man around for so long. Btw Paphos is absolutely beautiful and so is Cyprus. I know he enjoyed.
South Georgia's site says he has 10G/4A for them this season. I have no idea if he has more levels in him or whatever (he's in his mid-20s now, wow time flies) but he could've easily packed it in by now and it seems he's resolved not to, so congrats to him.
Minneapolis’ own Mukwelle Akale has moved up the USL ladder and signed with New Mexico United. ⚽️He previously spent two years with South Georgia Tormenta, where he won the USL League One title. The 26 y/o former USA youth international had 22 goal involvements in 45 games. https://t.co/Ms1wQbhAAk— Dominic José Bisogno (@DJBisogno) January 3, 2024
I vaguely recall it being people saw a ton of potential and a skill set not common for American players while also acknowledging physical limitations he would have to overcome. For this website, that is pretty tame.
Eh, it's the usual business for some here. "He's at Villarreal--like, IN LA LIGA!!--so he's got to be way better than X, Y and Z MLSer!"
What we do know is MLS lifers don't belong anywhere near the USMNT. We also saw Berhalter prove that players X, Y, and Z were actually materially better than the MLS players. Kind of odd to make this statement when MLS fans over rate everyone of their players. Let's switch to another player i was very interested in for similar reasons to Akale in terms potential, non traditional skilset, and physical limitations. I watched Hyndman's game as often as I could. He was close to making it in the Premier league and probably could have caught on in another top 5 league. He chose to come back to MLS and injuries derailed his career. I was a huge fan and the most I ever asked was he get called in and get a shot. Let's compare that to say Matt Turner. Out of the blue, a group of fans completely over rated him and ignored his glaring weaknesses. They didn't want him to just get a chance, their untrained eye declared him the best and should immediately start. It is sad to see that after improving tremendously after getting out of that minor league, he is who he always was. Do you remember when there were people who thought Brendan Aaronson was better than Pulisic? What about when Matt Doyle claimed Mihailovic was going to that up the Eredivisie? We could go on for days. I'd much rather be the guy who gets excited for prospects who might turn into something knowing they might not, than be one of those idiots who think grown men are significantly better than they are. If I remember correctly, there was one guy in here who was pretty vocal about the Villarreal academy/system. To be fair to him, Villarreal is miles ahead of anything in this country.
Just checked in on this thread for the first time in years and I'm happy to see Akale still playing and doing well in the USL lower leagues. Also makes me appreciate this community - where else (other than sifting through the noise of Twitter, perhaps?) would someone like me be able to keep tabs on guys like Akale who we all remember from his Villarreal days. Thanks to those of you who've kept posting updates on his career journey here.
Funny reading back through the thread now… so many Akale truthers. Some highlights were “I think Akale is the best #10 in the pool right now” and “I think Akale has been La Liga ready for a few years already but Villareal are waiting for him to physically mature” - yikes.