Matthew Mbuta

Matthews Mbuta

Personal information
Full name	Andongcho Mbuta
Date of birth	December 21, 1985 (1985-12-21) (age 25)
Place of birth	Yaoundé, Cameroon
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Attacking Midfielder/Forward
Club information
Current club	Crystal Palace Baltimore
Number	14
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2006	PWD de Bamenda
2006	DPMM FC	8	(3)
2007–2008	Crystal Palace Baltimore	33	(7)
2008–2010	New York Red Bulls	12	(2)
2009	→ Richmond Kickers (loan)	1	(0)
2009	→ Crystal Palace Baltimore (loan)	3	(2)
2010–	Crystal Palace Baltimore	25	(2)
National team‡
2011–	Cameroon	1	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 25, 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of May 21, 2009

Andongcho "Matthew" Mbuta (born December 21, 1985 in Yaoundé) is a Cameroonian footballer currently playing for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.

Career

Africa and Asia

Mbuta began his career with PWD de Bamenda of the Cameroon Première Division. In his first season with the club he striker scored 12 goals in 20 appearances, and emerged as the third best player of the championship. Thanks to his play, PWD qualified for the CAF Cup, where the club reached the quarterfinal stage, with Mbuta netting five goals in four continental matches.

In 2006 Mbuta signed with Brunei DPMM, which represented Brunei Darussalam in the Malaysian Super League. Mbuta was a pivotal player in the DPMM attack, playing either as an attacking midfielder or as a second striker. Following his impressive season in Malaysia, Mbuta had trial spells with West Ham United and Arsenal of the Premier League, but was not signed to a contract with either team.^[1]

United States

In 2007 Mbuta moved to the United States to play for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USL Second Division. In his first season with Baltimore he was named in the USL-2 All-League First-Team for scoring 5 goals in 16 games and also recording 7 assists. In his second season with Baltimore he was named in the USL-2 All-League Second-Team. His play with Crystal Palace Baltimore, especially during the 2008 US Open Cup where Mbuta faced Major League Soccer opposition, helped generate interest among the United States top-flight clubs.

After a trial spell with the New York Red Bulls, Mbuta was acquired by the Major League Soccer club on September 15, 2008 and made his debut against Colorado Rapids on September 27, 2008, in which he managed to score a goal in the 5-4 loss. He was loaned to his old club Crystal Palace Baltimore in May, 2009. After his two goal weekend while on loan to Crystal Palace Baltimore, Mbuta was named the USL-2 Player of the Week.^[2] The second time he scored for the Red Bulls was the last goal ever at Giants Stadium. He successfully converted a penalty kick in second half stoppage time to cap a 5–0 victory over Toronto FC in the 2009 regular season finale on October 24.^[3] Mbuta was waived by New York on February 12, 2010.^[4] On March 2, 2010 Baltimore announced the return of Mbuta for the 2010 season.^[5]

International

Mbuta made his debut with the full Cameroon national team in a friendly match against Macedonia in Skopje on February 9, 2011, and scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory.^[6]

Career statistics

(correct as of 26 September 2010)

Club	Season	League			Lamar Hunt US Open Cup			Play-Offs			CONCACAF			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Crystal Palace Baltimore	2007	16	5	7	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	17	5	7
Crystal Palace Baltimore	2008	17	2	2	3	1	0	2	0	0	-	-	-	22	3	2
Total	2007–present	33	7	9	4	1	0	2	0	0	-	-	-	39	8	9
New York Red Bulls	2008	2	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	0
New York Red Bulls	2009	10	1	0	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	11	1	0
Total	2008–2009	12	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	13	2	0
Richmond Kickers (loan)	2009	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0	0
Total	2009	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0	0
Crystal Palace Baltimore (loan)	2009	3	2	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	2	0
Crystal Palace Baltimore	2010	25	2	0	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	26	2	0
Total	2010–present	25	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	26	2	0
Total	2007–present	75	13	9	5	1	0	2	0	0	-	-	-	82	14	9

References

1. ^ cameroon-one.com
2. ^ USL-2 news
3. ^ Butler, Dylan. "Red Bulls close Giants Stadium in style," MLSnet.com, Saturday, October 24, 2009.
4. ^ "Red Bull New York waives four players," Red Bull New York media relations, Friday, February 12, 2010.
5. ^ "MBUTA RETURNS TO CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE". NASL.com. http://www.nasl.com/news.php?id=84. Retrieved 2010-03-09. ^{[dead link]}
6. ^ Indomitable Lions sink Macedonia

External links

• MLS player profile

Persondata
Name	Mbuta, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 21, 1985
Place of birth	Yaoundé, Cameroon
Date of death
Place of death