David Mbuyu went from 2024 team player to 2025 Men’s Coach
Image: Anita Milas
Team USA Men’s coach David Mbuyu says he used to struggle with shyness.
“I could never stand up in the front of the class and speak. It's my biggest fear. If I had to present a project or anything like that. I think to this day if I had to present a project in front of a group I'll still be shaking and scared because everybody would be staring at me,” he admits.
To see him on the pitch coaching the USA men’s team at this year’s Homeless World Cup in Oslo, you wouldn’t think had a reluctance to speak up.
Clearly his confidence has grown through his football journey. He credits the personal growth started as a player at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup where he was the epitome of team hype man, garnering supporters wearing the USA flag every day around the tournament.
“In South Korea, when we started chanting ‘USA! USA!’ it kind of like, gave me a different perspective. So I was like, you know what? I got to step up and say I go for my team and my guys, you know, if nobody's going to cheer out, I'm going to do it.”
Mbuyu is a native of Congo who joined the The Street Soccer 658 six years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina. He played soccer with the team for the last five years. Getting the chance to experience the tournament in Seoul and deliver cheerleader like rallying, showed him that he had even more to offer.
“I was told I could actually be a good leader. I didn't even know I had that in me. So, I was like, I appreciate that, but I'm still learning and improving and try to get better.”
He humbly stepped into the role of coach for the men’s team in Oslo and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity. At home he spends time coaching elementary school kids, and also works in construction. He says Street Soccer USA and being a part of a person’s soccer journey, especially the new players who join, is really meaningful.
“We always welcome people with open arms. We try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. So, we might see you walking in the street and we’ll be like, ‘hey, do you want to play soccer?’ Or, ‘hey, you look like you play soccer, we have this place we play every Tuesday at six. If you're interested, you should swing by.’ “
His message for the players in Oslo, no matter the ranking or outcome of the tournament, just let it all sink in.
“Just appreciate every moment, because not everybody gets to enjoy the moments that the tournament gives you. Not everybody could come or go to a different country, we have the opportunity to do this.”
Some of these moments will surely last a lifetime as he celebrates his 25th birthday in Oslo. Mbuyu gets to share the milestone with his soccer family, and actual family, as his younger sister is a player for the women’s team this year.
Street Soccer USA was founded in 2009 by two brothers out of a homeless soup kitchen in Charlotte, NC. That single team has grown into a national non-profit organization in 16 cities (and growing), helping over 75,000 players in some of the country’s most-challenged neighborhoods.
Written by Andi Phillips, Photos by Anita Milas John Anderson