Mukwelle Akale and Max Stiegwardt Called into U.S. U-15 National Team Camp
Mukwelle Akale (left) and Max Stiegwardt (right) at a US Soccer U-14 training session last winter.
Mukwelle Akale from DeLaSalle High School and the Minnesota Thunder Academy (MTA) and Max Stiegwardt also from MTA have been called into the US U-15 National Team camp. Both players have participated regularly with the U-14s but this is their first U-15 camp as head coach Tony Lepore has called 36 players into the week long training camp which will run from Oct. 16-23 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Akale, a freshman, was the top goal scorer in the Minnesota State High School League this fall and finished the season with 38 goals before his DeLaSalle team took an early exit in sectional play.
Akale and Stiegwardt will be in camp with US National Team Coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s son, Jonathan Klinsmann who plays goalkeeper.
U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team Roster by Position: GOALKEEPERS (4): Cameron Keys (Philadelphia Union; Whitehill, Pa.), Jonathan Klinsmann (Strikers FC; Newport Beach, Calif.), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; Alamo, Calif), Parker Siegfried (Newark Area SA; Granville, Ohio)
DEFENDERS (10): Billy Abdallah (Fullerton Rangers; Monterey Park, Calif.), Guillermo Bermudez (Albion SC; San Diego, Calif.), David Chavez (Juventus Forza; Redwood City, Calif.), Yosimar Hernandez (South Bay Gunners; Huntington Park, Calif.), Malcolm Jones (Chivas USA; Chino Hills, Calif.), Jean Orvil Jr. (West Pines United; Miramar, Fla.), Pablo Pelaez (Albion SC; San Diego, Calif.), Tommy Redding (FC America Premier; Oviedo, Fla.), Peter Schropp (Omaha FC; Omaha, Neb.), Max Stiegwardt (Minnesota Thunder Academy; Maple Grove, Minn.)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Amir Bashti (San Jose Earthquakes; Cupertino, Calif.), Ivan Canales (West Coast FC; Santa Ana, Calif.), Chet Castellaw (Real So Cal; Hidden Hills, Calif.), Cameron Lindley (Indiana United Fire Academy; Carmel, Ind.), Martin Salas (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Orestis Sousonis (New York Red Bulls; Dover, N.J.), Benny Swanson (Crew Soccer Academy; Grove City, Ohio), David Villegas (Elk Grove Everton; Sacramento, Calif.), Sean Wilson (PDA; Bethlehem, Pa.), Gedion Zelalem (Olney Rangers; Bethesda, Md.)
FORWARDS (12): Mukwelle Akale (Minnesota Thunder Academy; Minneapolis, Minn.), Marc Calderon (South Bay Gunners; Huntington Park, Calif.), Coy Craft (Fusion FC; Glade Springs, Va.), Malcolm Dixon (New York Red Bulls; Glenridge, N.J.), Stephen Elias (New York Red Bulls; Rye, N.Y.), Collin Fernandez (Chicago Fire; Downers Grove, Ill.), Jacob Hernandez (Solar Chelsea SC; Mesquite, Texas), Nicholas Hinds (Plantation FC; Plantation, Fla.), Rey Ortiz (Carlsbad Lightning; San Diego, Calif.), Remington Pimm (IMG Academy; Tarpon Springs, Fla.), Amirgy Pineda (Fullerton Rangers; Santa Ana, Calif.), Alejandro Vergara (LA Galaxy; Long Beach, Calif.)
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Looks like a lot is being written on this kid. Who really is he?
Go watch him play and you’ll see.
Have you seen him PK?
Lots, my son plays with him.
Mukwelle is the best talent i’ve seen on a field close to me at the U15 age. Absolutely from another planet.
I had the honor of playing against mukwelle numerous times in State cup, he truly is amazing, i have never seen such talent in such a young kid
Well, I need to go see him play. Sure is not some Freddy Adu scenario here?… playing with kids far younger than he is?.
Careful there duse. First, if you are going to make that accusation about Adu than prove it first. This site unlike some sites does not allow people to make wild accusations about something they have no proof of.
Secondly you know nothing about this situation yet it seems you are inferring that there could be an age thing going on because he has an African name. Sounds a bit like profiling to me. Just to set the record straight, his father Ralf has been in the Twin Cities coaching for years. I’m not sure but I think before Mukwelle was born.
Let’s keep the conversation on track here, can we?
I played with his father, Ralf, back in the mid-late 90′s in Minnesota when Mukwelle was a baby/toddler. No issues about his age or where he is from. His talent was pretty obvious even as a 3 year old running around with a ball stuck to his foot. I haven’t seen either of them for years but I’m not at all surprised to see Mukwelle is developing so well and getting so much attention.
It is great to see MN kids excel in soccer. To me MN players have a “handicap” coming from a state that does not eat, sleep and drink soccer like they do in California and other states with warmer climates. It also seems like the timing of the “summer season” hinders our players exposure–especially on a national team level. I also think that this is go news for MTA–they have certainly done a good job in developing top-notch players–and I will admit I have been skeptical of MTA in the past.
Good luck Mukwelle Akale!
“Secondly you know nothing about this situation yet it seems you are inferring that there could be an age thing going on because he has an African name.”
I don’t recall duse saying a word about his ethnicity. BQ, you are making assumptions a habit.
I’m making assumptions a habit? Really? Secondly, read his comment Mike. There is not a lot of gray area there is there?
Fake names, fake email address. I guess your done again for a while Michigan Mike.
Good for you BQ!
People do not know this kid at all and making assumption about him
Yes my son plays with and against him, he is by far every bit as good as advertised. Very good individual player but what make this kid great is that he excelled even greater as team player too. Dad is also an awesome player back in his days
Not surprise of where he is heading but sure is nice to see a kid represnting where where he came from. And this local talent is for real. Congrats to Mukwelle and Max you guys are awesome!
@Duse Go see these two boys play for yourself I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, and he has a very nice dad
I have played against him multiple times and he is that good. He is just so quick