Handwalla Bwana
Handwalla Bwana (born June 25, 1999) is a Somali professional footballer who plays as a left winger for USL League One club South Georgia Tormenta FC.[1] Born in Mombasa, Kenya, to Somali parents, Bwana holds citizenship in Somalia, the United States, and Kenya, and he represents the Somalia national team internationally.[2] Bwana's early life was marked by displacement; his family fled Somalia's civil war and lived in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya before resettling in Seattle, Washington, in 2007 as refugees.[3] He attended Ballard High School in Seattle, where he excelled in soccer, and later played college soccer for the University of Washington Huskies from 2017 to 2018, earning All-Pac-12 honors and United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First-Team recognition as a sophomore after recording 11 goals and 11 assists in 39 appearances.[4] In 2018, Bwana signed with Seattle Sounders FC as the club's 10th homegrown player, making his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut that year and contributing to their 2019 MLS Cup victory, in which he appeared in 15 matches with 1 goal and 1 assist.[5] He played for Seattle through 2020, logging 32 MLS appearances overall with 4 goals and 2 assists, before being traded to Nashville SC in October 2020.[5] With Nashville, Bwana made 6 MLS appearances across three seasons (2020–2022) and was loaned to Memphis 901 FC of the USL Championship in August 2022, where he scored 1 goal in 4 matches.[6] In January 2023, Bwana joined the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship but missed the entire season due to a knee injury.[7] After becoming a free agent, he signed with Tormenta FC in January 2025, where he has since scored his first goal for the club and contributed 3 goals and 2 assists in 22 matches during the 2025 season.[8] On the international stage, Bwana received his first call-up to the Somalia national team in June 2024 for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, appearing on the bench for four matches without debuting. He earned a second call-up in August 2025 for another FIFA international window, making his debut with 1 appearance and no goals as of November 2025.[9][10]Early life
Childhood in Kenya
Handwalla Bwana was born on June 25, 1999, in Mombasa, Kenya, to a family of Somali descent.[5] His father, a former professional footballer in Somalia, and his mother, Fatima, sought refuge due to the instability stemming from the Somali civil war, which displaced many families in the region.[9] This heritage later influenced his eligibility to represent the Somali national team.[10] In 2004, when Bwana was five years old, his family relocated to the Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya, where they spent the next six years amid ongoing hardships.[3][11] The camp, established in 1992 to house Sudanese refugees but later accommodating many from Somalia, was marked by severe limitations, including overcrowded living conditions in mud huts surrounded by thorn fences and constant threats to safety.[3] Bwana's family endured scorpion stings at night, extreme heat during the day, and the pervasive fear of violence, with his mother often recounting stories to shield the children from the camp's dangers.[3] These experiences instilled a deep resilience in Bwana, shaping his determination from a young age.[12] In the camp, Bwana discovered his passion for soccer through informal play, kicking makeshift balls fashioned from bundled garbage or cloth around the dusty, rocky terrain.[3] With no formal fields or equipment, he and other children played relentlessly, often from dawn until dusk, honing basic skills despite frequent injuries from the harsh environment.[3] This early exposure, inspired partly by his father's background in the sport, fostered Bwana's enduring love for soccer as an escape and a source of joy amid the camp's resource scarcity and instability.[7]Relocation to the United States
In 2010, Handwalla Bwana and his family immigrated to the United States through a refugee resettlement program, fleeing the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya where they had sought safety after leaving Mombasa.[11][3] They initially settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where Bwana, then 11 years old and entering middle school, faced significant adjustment challenges, including language barriers and cultural differences, while his mother worked multiple jobs to support the family.[3][11] Later that year, after just a few months in Atlanta, Bwana relocated with his mother and younger brother to Seattle, Washington, to join distant relatives and pursue better opportunities in a city with a stronger soccer community.[3][11] The move provided access to more resources, though the family continued to face financial hardships, often relying on community support for basics like meals.[11] Bwana enrolled at Ballard High School in Seattle, where he gradually adapted to American schooling despite initial struggles with English proficiency and social integration, eventually becoming the most fluent English speaker in his family by eighth grade.[3][11] On the soccer field, he excelled with the school's team, drawing local attention for his skill and speed as a winger, which helped him secure early trials with prominent youth clubs like Seattle United.[13][11] Throughout high school, Bwana balanced demanding academics—where he worked to overcome early setbacks and meet eligibility requirements—with intensive soccer commitments, using the sport as an outlet amid family pressures and personal adjustments.[11] His dedication earned him recognition as a standout local talent, positioning him for advanced opportunities by graduation in 2017.[14][15]Club career
Youth and college career
Bwana joined the Seattle Sounders FC Academy in 2015 at age 16, competing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and earning recognition as part of the 2015 Washington State Championships Best XI for the Under-18 Boys while with Seattle United prior to his academy move.[13][4] This marked his entry into structured elite youth soccer in the United States, building on his high school foundation at Ballard High School in Seattle.[4] In 2016, Bwana enrolled at the University of Washington, where he played two seasons for the Huskies men's soccer team, appearing in 39 matches, starting 26, and recording 12 goals and 13 assists.[16] As a freshman in 2016, he earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors and was selected to the All-Pac-12 Second Team after contributing significantly to the team's offensive output.[17] His sophomore year in 2017 saw further accolades, including All-Pac-12 First Team and United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I All-Far West Region First Team selections, highlighting his development as a key attacking midfielder.[4] Throughout his college tenure, Bwana balanced dual commitments to the Huskies and the Sounders Academy, which provided early professional-level exposure through academy competitions and helped bridge his amateur development toward a pro career.[18][19]Professional career in MLS
Handwalla Bwana signed a Homegrown Player contract with Seattle Sounders FC on January 11, 2018, marking his entry into professional soccer after progressing through the club's academy and collegiate career at the University of Washington.[14] He made his Major League Soccer debut on March 4, 2018, as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC at CenturyLink Field, becoming one of the youngest players to feature for the Sounders at age 18.[20] Over three seasons with the Sounders from 2018 to 2020, Bwana appeared in 32 MLS regular-season matches, starting 13 and scoring 4 goals while providing 2 assists.[21] His first MLS goal came on May 9, 2018, a 72nd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory over defending champions Toronto FC, making him the youngest goalscorer in Sounders franchise history at the time.[22] Bwana also contributed in the playoffs, including appearances during the 2018 Western Conference Finals run, and was part of the squad that won the 2019 MLS Cup, though he did not feature in the final against Toronto FC.[23] Additionally, he gained experience with the Sounders' affiliate Tacoma Defiance in the USL Championship, making 16 appearances and scoring 1 goal across 2018–2020.[24] On October 21, 2020, Bwana was traded to Nashville SC in exchange for defender Jimmy Medranda and $225,000 in general allocation money.[25] With Nashville, he made 7 MLS regular-season appearances from 2020 to 2022 without scoring, primarily serving as a depth option during the club's inaugural MLS seasons and playoff runs.[21] In August 2022, Bwana was loaned to Nashville's USL Championship affiliate Memphis 901 FC for the remainder of the season, where he recorded 4 appearances and 1 goal.[6]Professional career in lower divisions
After leaving Major League Soccer, Bwana signed with the Charleston Battery of the USL Championship on January 11, 2023, joining the club on a free transfer to bolster their attacking options.[7] However, he was sidelined for the entire 2023 season due to a season-ending knee injury sustained during preseason, resulting in zero appearances and a prolonged rehabilitation period that lasted approximately 229 days.[8][26] Following his recovery, Bwana remained a free agent throughout 2024 before joining South Georgia Tormenta FC of USL League One on January 28, 2025, marking a fresh start aimed at regaining consistent playing time.[2][8] In the 2025 season, he featured in 22 appearances for the club, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists in 834 minutes.[27] His adaptation to the league has emphasized recovery from injuries and steady contributions on the wing, leveraging prior MLS experience to aid transitions into more demanding roles in lower divisions.[27] Bwana received his first call-up to the Somalia national team in June 2024 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique and Botswana, where he made substitute appearances in both matches without scoring.[9] He earned a second call-up in August 2025 for the September FIFA World Cup qualifying window. Bwana started in the 2–0 away loss to Uganda on September 8 and came on as a substitute in the 0–3 home loss to Guinea on September 5.[10] As of November 2025, Bwana has made 4 appearances for Somalia, all in World Cup qualifiers, with no goals. He was not called up for the November 17 friendly against Bahrain.Career statistics
Club
Handwalla Bwana's club career statistics encompass his professional engagements across Major League Soccer (MLS), USL Championship, and USL League One. The following table details his professional appearances by season, club, and competition, including total appearances, goals, assists, and minutes played (where assists are recorded only when explicitly noted in sources).[28]| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | USL League One Playoffs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2025 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | USL League One | 21 | 3 | 2 | 818 |
| 2025 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | USL Cup | 3 | 0 | 0 | 116 |
| 2022 | Memphis 901 FC | USL Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 2022 | Memphis 901 FC | USL Championship | 4 | 1 | 0 | 130 |
| 2022 | Nashville SC | MLS Cup Playoffs | 2 | 0 | 1 | 64 |
| 2022 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2021 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | 4 | 0 | 0 | 95 |
| 2020 | Nashville SC | Major League Soccer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 41 |
| 2020 | Seattle Sounders FC | US Open Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
| 2020 | Seattle Sounders FC | Major League Soccer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 67 |
| 2020 | Tacoma Defiance | USL Championship | 3 | 1 | 0 | 165 |
| 2019 | Tacoma Defiance | USL Championship | 6 | 1 | 2 | 476 |
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS Cup Playoffs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 58 |
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders FC | Major League Soccer | 15 | 1 | 1 | 567 |
| 2018 | Tacoma Defiance | USL Championship | 4 | 0 | 1 | 242 |
| 2018 | Seattle Sounders FC | US Open Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | Seattle Sounders FC | Major League Soccer | 12 | 2 | 1 | 491 |
International
Handwalla Bwana received his first call-up to the Somalia national team in June 2024 for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers but did not appear; he made his senior debut in 2025, accumulating 4 caps and 0 goals as of November 18, 2025.[9] All of his appearances have come in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches for the 2026 tournament.[29] He made his international debut on September 5, 2025, starting in a 0–3 home defeat to Guinea.[29]| Date | Opponent | Result | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2025 | Guinea (H) | 0–3 | 77 |
| September 8, 2025 | Uganda (A) | 0–2 | 76 |
| October 9, 2025 | Algeria (H) | 0–3 | 67 |
| October 14, 2025 | Mozambique (H) | 0–1 | 78 |