Union's Mwanga finding rhythm in second season

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Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Posted: 11 a.m.

By Ryan Bright
CSNPhilly.com Contributor

CHESTER, Pa. -- When he was drafted first overall by the Union in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, the teams first-ever selection, Danny Mwanga was viewed as a special player, overflowing with potential. If he could tap into that promise, the African-born striker would easily become a game-changing offensive force.

With goals in back-to-back games for the first time in his career and headlining the Eastern Conference-leading Union in goals with four, its evident that for the 19-year old, that time is now.

When you get drafted No. 1, people expect you to come in and help right away, said Mwanga, who had seven goals in his rookie campaign. Being able to do it late last season, and this year, I started kind of slow but things are coming together. Its a great feeling, but at the same times works as motivation and pushes me to work even harder.

While Mwangas potent effect on the Union attack came delayed, as he failed to score in his first seven games, the young star is catching a groove and developing a flair for the dramatic. On April 9, coming off the bench and the contest slated for a draw against the New York Red Bulls, Mwanga stole a pass at the top of the box and dished to Roger Torres for the game-winning goal. Similar to that play, on May 11 against the LA Galaxy, Mwanga picked another pass in the waning minutes and scored to force a draw with the mighty Galaxy. His latest heroic endeavor came just last Saturday against the Colorado Rapids, when trailing by one, he ripped a shot from the top of the box for the late-game tie.

Thats our expectation, yet we know he has a lot more to give, said assistant coach and youth development coordinator John Hackworth. At the same time, while we have high expectations, we are patient with his development. Knowing that he'll go through stages where he will be very confident and at the top of his game and there will be stretches where he wont hit the back of the net. You have to balance it in the right way, the goals will come and the goals will disappear.

Much of Mwangas 2011 success can be attributed to experience meeting talent, however, physical maturity has played a part as well. After coming into the league as a lean 6-2, 175 pounds, Mwanga has since bulked up, put in extra work at the gym and gained some mass to his frame. The extra muscle has brought extra confidence, which has been put on display as he has felt comfortable playing the ball in traffic and shrugging off incoming defenders.

Last year, at the beginning, I was getting pushed around, said Mwanga. One of my goals was to go into the off-season and get stronger. The trainer sent out a program to each one of us to be ready for next season and its something I tried to follow, along with doing extra stuff on my own.

Yet, while Mwanga is on the path to stardom in the MLS, still a teenager, he isnt without fault and is far from a finished product. According to Hackworth, Mwanga is a work in progress but wouldnt elaborate on specifics.

We talk to Danny all the time about areas of his game he has to get better on," said Hackworth. "Because if he gets better in those areas, we know the player hes capable of being. He is a good student of the game, very coachable. He listens and tries to execute what the staff is telling him. Thats a part of it.

Being coachable, as Hackworth put it, means its essential that Mwanga has a good relationship with coach Peter Nowak. That positive alliance between teacher and student was evident on Saturday, when after scoring the game-tying goal, Mwanga headed right for the sidelines to hug Nowak in celebration.

Coming into the league, I owe it to coach Peter. Hes the one who drafted me and brought me in, said Mwanga. At the beginning, when things werent going well, he had faith in me and pushed me to work even harder. The reason why Im here now and the success Im having, Peter is a big part of it.

With the coaches in his corner, the club patient with his progress and oozing with unadulterated talent, the success that Mwanga mentions could be just the start of great things to come.

E-mail Ryan Bright at ryanbright13@gmail.com

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