James Musa Named Swope Park Rangers MVP Award
Stone Sports Management congratulates James Musa for capping off a special 2017 season with the Swope Park Rangers MVP Award. As a team leader, Musa, led the Ranger’s to a 4th place finish in the USL’s Western Conference regular season and embarks on its attempt to better its 2nd place Playoff finish last year. Musa signed with Swope Park Rangers after two seasons with Saint Louis FC with the goal of developing throughout the year and integrating into the Sporting KC structure, which he accomplished when Sporting KC promoted him to its first team. Musa would make his MLS debut a day later against the Seattle Sounders starting and going the distance, leading all players with 68 successful passes.
Musa dominated the defensive central midfield position for Swope Park Rangers dictating play from his deep-lying position and defensively helped cover in front of the backline that was one of USL's best. The defensive group kept 12 clean sheets in his 24 starts, including 5 straight during the start of summer. Although signed as a hybrid between defensive midfield and a central defneder, Musa would earn USL's Team of the Week (2) at central defense before playing all other minutes in midfield. Remarkbly since Musa missed several matches due to International Call-Ups and playing with Sporting KC, Musa ended the USL season top ten in passes (1639). In his 24 starts, Musa played in every minute showing his reliability and is expected to feature for them in the 2017 USL Playoffs. James made once during the year. His USL Season Stats:
Musa also returned to the International Stage, as New Zealand Head Coach Anthony Hudson called up Musa to play for his National team for the first time since 2015. Musa featured in the all-important Oceania World Cup Qualifiers against the Solomon Islands helping them advance with a win and tie.
Congratulations again to James Musa on this award and all the best in the MLS and USL Playoffs!