Matthew Mbuta

Matthew Mbuta
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Andongcho Mbuta
Date of birth	21 December 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth	Bamenda, Cameroon
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder / winger
Senior career*
Years	Team
2004–2006	PWD Bamenda
2006	DPMM FC
2007–2008	Crystal Palace Baltimore
2008–2009	New York Red Bulls
2009	→ Richmond Kickers (loan)
2009	→ Crystal Palace Baltimore (loan)
2010	Crystal Palace Baltimore
2012	Syrianska
2012–2013	Army United
2013–2014	Duhok SC
International career‡
2011–2012	Cameroon
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 March 2013; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 December 2011

Matthew Andongcho Mbuta (born 21 December 1985) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Iraq Division One club Duhok SC.

Career[edit]

Africa and Asia[edit]

Mbuta began his career with PWD 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 Notts County

United States[edit]

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 amongst the United States top-flight clubs.

Mbuta was signed by New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer on 15 September 2008 and made his debut against Colorado Rapids on 27 September 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.^[1] 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 24 October.

He was released by New York prior to the 2010 season.^[2] Shortly thereafter he re-signed with Crystal Palace Baltimore.^[3] In March 2011, the club was dissolved.

Europe[edit]

During the 2011–12 season, Mbuta signed with FC Dinamo București in Romania. In April 2012 Mbuta signed with Syrianska of the Swedish top-flight Allsvenskan.^[4] His Nordic stay lasted only a few months and by summer 2012 he was out of contract.

Asia[edit]

Mbuta joined Army United F.C. of the Thai Premier League during the 2012–13 season. For the 2013-14 campaign, Mbuta signed with Duhok SC in the Iraqi Premier League.

Career statistics[edit]

(correct as of 26 September 2010)

Club	Season	League			Lamar Hunt US Open Cup			Play-offs			CONCACAF			Total
Club	Season	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[edit]

^ USL-2 news Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Red Bulls Part Ways with Four Players". 12 February 2010.
^ http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/mbuta-returns-to-crystal-palace-baltimore.1350827/ ^{[dead link]}
^ "SuperSport".

External links[edit]

MLS player profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 2 October 2008)
Matthew Mbuta at Soccerway

[1] USL-2 news Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine

[2] "Red Bulls Part Ways with Four Players". 12 February 2010.

[3] ttp://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/mbuta-returns-to-crystal-palace-baltimore.1350827/ ^{[dead link]}

[4] "SuperSport".

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