There is an old adage that talent can come from anywhere, as the best soccer players are not always reared in prestigious academies. In order to take full advantage of the potential talent pool, footballing nations must provide avenues to enter the system, develop abilities, and advance up the ladder. After immigrating to the United States, Bernard Kamungo was able to break into the professional game through an open tryout, taking full advantage of his opportunities. The 21-year-old FC Dallas attacker is currently the subject of a minor tug of war between two national team programs.
Born in the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Kigoma, Tanzania after his parents escaped civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kamungo grew up playing soccer with wadded-up bags, hospital gloves, and old clothes – occasionally skipping school to work as a salesperson to earn money – before relocating to Abilene, Texas with his family at the age of 14; the move enabled him to receive proper nutrition for the first time in his life.