INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced this morning that they have acquired the fourth overall pick in today’s 2013 MLS SuperDraft from Toronto FC in exchange for the tenth overall pick and allocation money. With the fourth overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected Generation adidas striker/winger Kekuta Manneh from Austin Aztex of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL).
Kekuta Manneh – striker/winger
- Youngest player selected in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft
- Member of the Gambia’s U-20 national team
- 12 goals and nine assists in 13 appearances with Austin Aztex
- Scored 58 goals over the last two United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) seasons
Manneh, 18, joins Whitecaps FC after last playing for Austin Aztex in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL). The native of Bakau, The Gambia, was named to the 2012 PDL All-Central Conference team after leading the Aztex with 12 goals and nine assists in 13 matches.
“Kekuta brings great pace out wide and is a natural goalscorer,” said Rennie. “He is a versatile player with a natural ability to play on the left or on the right, which isn’t easy to find. I’m very pleased that we were able to select Kekuta.”
Prior to playing in Austin, Manneh scored 23 goals for Lonestar SC U-17/18 in the 2011-12 United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) season. In the 2010-11 season, the 5-foot-9, 140-pound striker scored 35 goals in 23 games for USSDA club Texas Rush AJ Auxerre U-15/16.
To start his career, The Gambia U-20 national team member played for Steve Biko in the Gambian top flight, where he scored 17 goals in 12 matches in his lone season with the club.
This past December, the young African was in Vancouver to train with Whitecaps FC. Previously, Manneh trained with MLS clubs Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, and Colorado Rapids, as well as clubs in Germany and England.
Kekuta Manneh
Pronunciation: keh-KOO-tuh MY-nay
Position: Striker/winger
Twitter: @Kekuta16
Height: 5-09
Weight: 140 lbs.
Date of Birth: December 30, 1994 in Bakau, The Gambia
Hometown: Bakau, The Gambia
Citizenship: The Gambia, United States (Permanent Resident Card)
Last Club: Austin Aztex (USL PDL)
How Acquired: Signed a Generation adidas contract on January 10, 2013. Selected fouth overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC on January 17, 2013
