By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

HANDWALLA BWANA SELECTED TO ROSTER FOR 2019 MLS HOMEGROWN GAME PRESENTED BY ENERGIZER®

PER SOUNDERS PRESS RELEASE

MLS Homegrown Team to take on Chivas Guadalajara U-20 Squad on July 30 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida; Bwana is Seattle’s first selection since Morris and Kovar in 2016

Major League Soccer today announced that Sounders FC winger Handwalla Bwana has been selected to the roster for the 2019 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer®, as players from the youth national teams of the United States and Canada represent the league in the annual showcase. The team, coached by Orlando City SC Academy Director Marcelo Neveleff, features some of the league’s most accomplished young stars who will take on Chivas de Guadalajara’s U-20 club on Tuesday, July 30 at 2:00 p.m. PT (TUDN / Twitter.com) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida.

Bwana has earned his first Homegrown Game selection. He joined Sounders FC academy in 2015 before signing a Homegrown Player contract with the club on January 11, 2018. The Kenya-born forward played two seasons at the University of Washington before signing a professional contract. Bwana scored two goals and notched one assist in 12 appearances during his debut MLS season in 2018. Thus far in 2019, Bwana has totaled one goal in 10 appearances for the club in regular season action.
The MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer® is part of an exciting night of action at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. As part of a dual-event ticket, fans are able to enjoy both the MLS Homegrown Game, followed by the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by Target at 5:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available for purchase at: www.MLSsoccer.com/AllStar. The following evening features the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, with Seattle midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro on the MLS roster facing the 10-time La Liga champions Atlético Madrid at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Wednesday, July 31 (5:00 p.m. PT / FS1, UniMas, TSN and TVA Sports).
Joining a list of formidable opponents to participate in the MLS Homegrown Game, Chivas de Guadalajara’s U-20 team brings an accomplished track record to the match. The club captured the Liga MX Clausura 2019 U-20 title and features numerous players that have received time with both the Chivas reserve squad and the First Team side that has captured three titles over the previous three years. The Chivas U-20 traveling roster is being named at a later date.
Seattle Sounders FC (9-5-5, 32 points) returns to action on Sunday, July 14 against defending MLS Cup champion Atlanta United FC at CenturyLink Field (12:55 p.m. PT / ESPN, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). Brian Schmetzer’s club then continues its busy stretch of three home matches in eight days with an international friendly against German power Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, July 17 (7:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV) before returning to action against Cascadia rival Portland Timbers on Sunday, July 21 (6:30 p.m. PT / FS1, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
2019 MLS HOMEGROWN TEAM ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake), Mason Stajduhar (Orlando City SC)
 
DEFENDERS: Aboubacar Keita (Columbus Crew SC), Daniel Kinumbe (Montreal Impact), Erik McCue (Houston Dynamo), Donovan Pines (D.C. United), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids)
 
MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union), Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City), Edwin Cerrillo (FC Dallas), Mathieu Choinière (Montreal Impact), Noble Okello (Toronto FC), Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas), Brandon Servania (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS: Theo Bair (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Handwalla Bwana (Seattle Sounders FC), Omir Fernandez (New York Red Bulls), Benji Michel (Orlando City SC), Justin Rennicks (New England Revolution)

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