Colorado Springs, CO (December 6th, 2021) – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced today that winger Michee Ngalina will return from loan to the roster for the 2022 season.
Ngalina, who played 21 games for the Switchbacks during the 2021 season, spent the second half of 2021 with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Football Club, on a loan that included a purchase option. At the end of the season LAFC announced they were allowing Ngalina's contract to expire, and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC re-signed him.
"Michee [Ngalina] coming back to this team can’t be overlooked. It might be the biggest signing or resigning of the off season," said Head Coach Brendan Burke on the importance of bringing Ngalina back into the fold. "Michee is a unique talent for this league and an even better person. We cannot wait to welcome him back to our locker room and watch him play in the springs next season."
From Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ngalina came to the United States as part of the elite Montverde Academy with the support of Rainbow Sports Global and was signed in 2018 by Bethlehem Steel, where he first worked with General Manager and Head Coach Brendan Burke. He was named to USL’s 20 Under 20 list in both 2018 and 2019 prior to signing a first team contract with Philadelphia. Ngalina has also been part of the DR Congo youth national team setup, where he was the leading scorer for his country’s U17 team in the 2016 cycle. While playing with the Switchbacks, Ngalina was named to USL Championship's 'Team of the Week' three times in his tenure with the Switchbacks. He notched eight goals and eight assists in his 21 games, making him the team's highest assist holder and 2nd highest goal maker.
Ngalina spoke about his excitement in rejoining the Switchbacks next season, "I'm so excited. I'm so happy, I had a good season last year, even if it didn't end with the group, it was still great – to get to score 8 goals and 8 assists, that's something I'm really proud of. I'm ready to get back to Colorado Springs, to get ready for the next season. I can't wait to prove myself even more for my next season with them [The Switchbacks] and to help the team to get a trophy hopefully, so I'm so happy to get back there."
The Switchbacks season will begin sometime in early 2022, and a detailed schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
Colorado Springs, CO (December 6th, 2021) – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced today that winger Michee Ngalina will return from loan to the roster for the 2022 season.
Ngalina, who played 21 games for the Switchbacks during the 2021 season, spent the second half of 2021 with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club, on a loan that included a purchase option. At the end of the season LAFC announced they were allowing Ngalina’s contract to expire, and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC re-signed him.
“Michee [Ngalina] coming back to this team can’t be overlooked. It might be the biggest signing or resigning of the off season,” said Head Coach Brendan Burke on the importance of bringing Ngalina back into the fold. “Michee is a unique talent for this league and an even better person. We cannot wait to welcome him back to our locker room and watch him play in the springs next season.”
From Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ngalina came to the United States as part of the elite Montverde Academy with the support of Rainbow Sports Global and was signed in 2018 by Bethlehem Steel, where he first worked with General Manager and Head Coach Brendan Burke. He was named to USL’s 20 Under 20 list in both 2018 and 2019 prior to signing a first team contract with Philadelphia. Ngalina has also been part of the DR Congo youth national team setup, where he was the leading scorer for his country’s U17 team in the 2016 cycle. While playing with the Switchbacks, Ngalina was named to USL Championship’s ‘Team of the Week’ three times in his tenure with the Switchbacks. He notched eight goals and eight assists in his 21 games, making him the team’s highest assist holder and 2nd highest goal maker.
Ngalina spoke about his excitement in rejoining the Switchbacks next season, “I’m so excited. I’m so happy, I had a good season last year, even if it didn’t end with the group, it was still great – to get to score 8 goals and 8 assists, that’s something I’m really proud of. I’m ready to get back to Colorado Springs, to get ready for the next season. I can’t wait to prove myself even more for my next season with them [The Switchbacks] and to help the team to get a trophy hopefully, so I’m so happy to get back there.”
The Switchbacks season will begin sometime in early 2022, and a detailed schedule will be released in the coming weeks.