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Cameroonian football player From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jean-Claude "J.C." Ngando Mbende (born 20 November 1999) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Las Vegas Lights on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jean-Claude Ngando Mbende | ||
Date of birth | 20 November 1999 | ||
Place of birth | Douala, Cameroon | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Las Vegas Lights (on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps) | ||
Number | 26 | ||
Youth career | |||
Amiens | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2021–2022 | UNC Greensboro Spartans | 38 | (9) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2017–2020 | Amiens II | 36 | (3) |
2020 | Paris FC II | 1 | (0) |
2022 | South Georgia Tormenta 2 | 11 | (5) |
2023– | Vancouver Whitecaps | 8 | (0) |
2023– | Whitecaps FC 2 | 13 | (1) |
2024– | → Las Vegas Lights (loan) | 7 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 May 2023 |
Born in Douala, Cameroon, Ngando moved to France at the age of seven where he would go on to play second team football for Paris FC and Amiens SC.[1][2] With football in Europe suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic and no professional contract he evaluated his options and decided to look for a new opportunity which he later called “the best decision of my life”.[3] He then attended University of North Carolina Greensboro after being assisted into a scholarship by the FFFUSA programme.[4] He was named the 2021 South Conference Freshman of the Year, and in 2022 was the South Conference Player of the Year, and he was chosen for both the NCAA Division I All American First Team and All-South Region First Team. In 2021 he had scored 5 goals in 15 appearances, and in 2022 in 23 matches Ngando scored 4 goals and was credited with 14 assists.[5]
At the 2023 MLS SuperDraft Vancouver traded with Houston Dynamo the No. 13 pick as well as $225,000 in General Allocation Money ($125,000 in 2023, $100,000 in 2024) in order to get the No. 5 pick with which they chose Ngando.[6] He was given a Generation Adidas contract and had the honour of being the highest ever drafted player from the UNCG programme.[7]
Ngando made his Vancouver debut against Real C.D. España, in a 2023 CONCACAF Champions League home round-of-16 tie which Vancouver won 5-0 on March 9, 2023.[8] He made his MLS debut appearing as a substitute away at Minnesota United in a 1–1 draw with Vancouver on March 25, 2023.[9]
On 6 March 2024, Ngando joined USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights on loan for their 2024 season.[10]
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