Manneh moves closer to becoming eligible

Kekuta Manneh, the 22-year-old Gambian-born winger called up to the USA’s January camp, moved one step closer to becoming eligible to play for the senior national team when he became a U.S.

“It’s been a long process,” Manneh told reporters after the national team’s first practice on Wednesday, “We’ve been doing it for years.

Manneh moved to the USA from Gambia at the age of 15 on multi-state Rush Soccer’s exchange program and was eventually adopted by a family in Texas.

Manneh needs a waiver from FIFA because foreign-born players must have lived in their new country for five years after their 18th birthday before they can represent at the senior level.

Manneh played briefly for Georgia Rush, then moved to Texas Rush and finally Lonestar, based in Austin, Texas.