Nelson Akwari

Personal information
Full name	Nelson Ndukwe Akwari
Date of birth	February 4, 1982 (1982-02-04) (age 27)
Place of birth	Houston, Texas, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Charleston Battery
Number	2
Youth career
2000–2002	UCLA Bruins
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002	MetroStars	7	(0)
2003–2004	Columbus Crew	30	(0)
2003	→ Cincinnati Riverhawks (loan)
2005–2006	Real Salt Lake	41	(0)
2007–2008	Charlotte Eagles	20	(0)
2008–	Charleston Battery	59	(0)
National team‡
	United States U-20
	United States U-23
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 October, 2009. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 April, 2009

Nelson Akwari (born February 4, 1982 in Houston, Texas) is an American soccer player of Nigerian heritage who currently plays for Charleston Battery in the USL First Division.

[edit] Career

[edit] Youth and College

Akwari attended Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, a private school in Houston known for its prestigious soccer program, before attending USSF's Bradenton Academy, where he trained with other Under-17 national teamers like Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, and Bobby Convey.

Although he considered turning pro, Akwari instead went to UCLA to play college soccer. He stayed at UCLA two years, starting every game as a freshman in 2000, and being named second-team All Pac-10 as a sophomore.

[edit] Professional

Akwari left college after his sophomore year to pursue opportunities in Europe, but when nothing came of them, he signed a Project-40 contract with MLS late in the 2002 season. Akwari was put into a lottery, which the MetroStars won; although Akwari appeared in seven games, he was not particularly impressive, and was traded during the offseason to the Columbus Crew. Akwari saw little playing time in 2003, appearing in 11 games but starting only five for a mediocre Crew team, while spending a lot of time on loan to A-League's Cincinnati Riverhawks. However, in his third year in the league, Akwari began to show much more of the promise that he had as a youth national teamer - he took possession of the starting right back position midseason, and remained there for the rest of the year, ending the season with 16 starts as the Crew won the MLS Supporters' Shield.

After the 2004 season, Akwari was selected tenth overall by Real Salt Lake in the Expansion Draft, reuniting him with old coach John Ellinger. Akwari played 41 games over the 2005 and 2006 seasons, but was waived by RSL during the 2007 pre-season.

Akwari signed for USL Second Division side Charlotte Eagles in April 2007, and scored on his debut against Crystal Palace Baltimore on April 20, 2007; he then signed for Charleston Battery in early 2008.

[edit] International

Akwari has represented the United States at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels, playing at the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina, but has not played any games for the teams since 2002.

[edit] External links

• Charleston Battery bio
• MLS player profile