After taking up D.C. United as head coach, Wayne Rooney vowed to focus on the homegrown expertise on the roster. He promised to rejuvenate the squad, and take into accounts the academy expertise that lengthy fashioned a part of the D.C. United group.
On Saturday night time, Rooney adopted by way of. The pinnacle coach began 15-year-old defender Matai Akinmboni in opposition to Actual Salt Lake.
“I believe I’m a person of my phrase,” Rooney grinned after the match. “What I stated to the gamers after I got here in was ‘Should you carry out properly in coaching, you’ll get your probability to play.’ He [Matai] has been glorious in coaching and he deserved to come back in.”
His time on the pitch noticed Akinmboni grow to be the third-youngest participant in league historical past to make his MLS debut at 15 years outdated, and the fourth participant to start out a match earlier than his sixteenth birthday to affix Freddy Adu, Alphonso Davies and Obed Vargas on the listing. And it’s solely the beginning.
“He’s 15 and I’ve to guard him. However I simply felt he was prepared to come back in and play. Is he going to play each sport? In fact not. He’s nonetheless a really younger boy. However for him and for us to see him taking part in in an away sport in troublesome circumstances and performing the way in which he did as a 15-year-old — he’s bought a really vibrant future,” added Rooney.
“I bought the whole lot I wished from the 45 minutes that he performed tonight that I wished to see. I’ll maintain making an attempt to develop him as a participant and hopefully be seeing extra of him on this season and for years to come back.”
His begin comes simply weeks after the defender signed an official contract with the membership on August 31, however his standout performances in coaching and with USL Championship aspect Loudon United propelled him in direction of a spot on Rooney’s squad.
However the night time wasn’t all celebratory.
D.C. United’s 0-0 draw leaves the membership in final place of the Jap Convention desk, and formally guidelines them of competition for the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs. With 4 video games left to be performed earlier than the tip of the season, Rooney maintained he expects gamers to provide it their all on the pitch.
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