Minnesota Soccer Players Making Their Marks Outside the State

Several Minnesotans have been making their mark in the soccer world this spring.

Max Stiegwardt and Mukwelle Akale
Max Stiegwardt from (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Mukwelle Akale (Minneapolis, Minn.), both from the Minnesota Thunder Academy have been called up again to the US U-14 Boys National Team.

The duo will suit up for the U.S. for a training camp from May 1-8 at the Home Depot Center. Head Coach Manny Schellscheidt has called upon 38 players, including 20 from U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs, as the team comes together for the first time since a trip to Mexico in January.

Katie Bethke
IMS reported in February that former Gopher midfielder and captain Katie Bethke had signed with WPS team the Atlanta Beat. The Gophers now have a second alumni playing in the WPS.

Jennie Clark
Norwalk, Iowa native Jennie Clark has signed with Sky Blue FC of the WPS. The Former All-Big Ten defender signed a free-agent contract with Sky Blue of WPS who are located in New Jersey.

Kylie Kallman
According to the Minnesota Daily, Kylie Kallman, was also extended a WPS contract offer, but declined in order to finish school.

Bethke and Clark have both made National Team appearances for the U-23s.

Adam Osman
Mankato East senior Adam Osman signed a letter of intent last week to play for Division I college team Western Illinois. Osman won the Class A Mr. Soccer Award this past fall and was selected First Team All-State. He becomes the first player ever from Mankato to play Division 1 college soccer.

Greg Rosenthal
St. Paul native and UW Milwaukee senior Greg Rosenthal has signed a professional contract with a Division II (4th tier) team in Sweden. Rosenthal who graduated from St. Paul Central and was captain of the Division I UW Milwaukee Panthers, had trials with both Sporting KC and with the Minnesota Stars. Youssef Darbaki, coach of the NPSL Twin Stars and Prairie Seeds Academy High School, helped to arrange the trial for Rosenthal with Gamla Upsala Sportklubb. The team is located about an hour’s drive north of Stockholm.

Rosenthal had one trial before the team chose to sign the central defender. He has already started and gone 90 minutes in 2 games.

IMS conducted an interview with Rosenthal this week and should have the detailed story up next week.

Alex Nyom
Cameroon goalkeeper Alex Nyom, who had played for the NPSL Twin Stars from 2008 through the spring of 2010, is playing again this year in Rovaniemi, Finland for RoPS. Nyom played for the Finnish second division side last season as a backup but was promoted to starting keeper and did so well he not only kept his spot but was named MVP of the league in 2010. RoPS were promoted and now are playing in the Finnish First Division.

Ansu Toure
Former Minnesota Thunder, Atlanta Silverbacks, Miami FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps player Ansu Toure has signed a contract with Swiss first division team FC Lugano. Toure has played in 3 games and has scored 3 goals for his team.

The 29-year-old Toure, a Liberian international who moved to the Twin Cities at age 14, was recently called up to the Liberian National Team.

Moussa Toure
Ansu’s younger brother Moussa Toure signed a professional contract this week with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League.

Moussa played the 2010 season with the Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, which plays in the PDL Southeast Division. Toure appeared in six games last season, scoring three goals.

Toure, 25, played in seven games for the Atlanta Blackhawks of the PDL in 2009, scoring three goals. The 5-foot-11 midfielder also played at the NPSL level with the Minnesota Twin Stars, notching five goals in 12 games with the club.

Teal Bunbury of Prior Lake, Minn., continues to have a good start to his MLS season with Sporting KC. The speedy forward  has 3 goals to his account in 4 games.

Ben Sippola of Northfield, Minn., saw 90 minutes of action last week in a reserve match for his MLS team, the Columbus Crew.

Former NSC Minnesota Stars defender Scott Lorenz has made one appearance for Sporting KC this spring and has also seen a full 90 minutes with his reserve team.