Gambian-born Kekuta Manneh moved to Austin at a young age, went to Lake Travis High, and lived with a host family while he transitioned from there directly to the PDL Austin Aztex and quickly a pro contract. Now he’s back in town as Austin FC’s latest signing, still only 26 years old, but with seven years of MLS experience under his belt.
Eight years ago, after seeing him play in one game, I described Manneh as “really a treat to watch: fast enough to blow past defenders, and with crazy ball skills and balance.” And it turned out he was a great guy, as well. A season in PDL didn’t dampen my enthusiasm, and added to a lot of other peoples’ – by year’s end, while still 17 years old, he had signed an MLS contract under the Generation Adidas program, and was off to Vancouver.
After four successful seasons there, he’s wandered a bit over the past four – three other MLS teams, a U.S. National Team Camp, and brief stints in the Mexican and Swiss first divisions – before signing with AFC today as a free agent. “I am really excited to be joining Austin FC and can’t wait to give everything I have for the Club and for this city,” he said in the signing announcement. “This city gave me everything when I first arrived in this country and I want to be able to give back.”
Welcome home.
(PS: This signing comes a day after this year’s MLS Super Draft, where AFC got five new signees, including the top overall pick, Daniel Pereira, one of this year’s Generation Adidas players, plus defenders Freddy Kleeman and Aedan Stanley, midfielder Daniel Steedman, and goalkeeper Noah Lawrence. Much more on all of this in next week’s print issue.)
This article appears in January 22 • 2021.