The last time most Houston Dynamo Fans saw Forward Joseph Ngwenya was after MLS Cup 2007, a game in which he scored the equalizer and helped Houston win their 2nd Title in two years. After that game Joseph decided the time was right for a move to Europe to ply his trade. Apparently he had some interesting experiences in the last few years.
I caught up with Joseph Ngwenya after the Houston Dynamo – LA Galaxy game last Saturday and we talked about his journey in the last two years.
Offe: Joe, the last time we saw you here in Houston was after you won MLS Cup 2007 with a big smile on your face obviously. Can you tell us a bit about what happened after that?
JN: Yeah, you know I wanted a change in scenery and it’s every Players dream to go play in Europe whether it works out or doesn’t. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t but I wanted to give it a shot and it did not work out as I had planned it to be. It was a great experience and I learned quite a bit and I am just back now.
Offe: When you initially left Houston you trialed with Alemania Aachen in Germany?
JN: Yeah
Offe: And then you actually had a chance at a trial with Bayern Muenchen, how was that environment there?
JN: It was really absolutely incredible, the Players and the Facilities were great. World Class Players.
Offe: So it was like a dream come true just to be there?
JN: Yeah, just unbelievable.
Offe: That was the feeling many of us had here when we saw the pictures of you there. After that you signed with SK Kaernten in Austria?
JN: No, I actually signed with them before.
Offe: So you signed with Kaernten before the trials?
JN: Yeah, I signed a six month contract with them and after that I signed in Turkey.
Offe: With Antalyaspor correct? How was that experience?
JN: It was a good place to play but you know, Turkish teams have their problems with finances and so on.
Offe: Are there many problems with finances in the Turkish League?
JN: Yeah it just did not work out.
Offe: When you were in Austria what happened there?
JN: It was ok, I signed only on a six month contract but after my first game the Coach was fired and the new Coach came in.
Offe: Right, the Coach that signed you was Schachner I think and then Schinkels came in?
JN: Yeah, Schinkels did not have me in his plans and since it was only a six month contract so I just rode it out.
Offe: We were all wondering what happened since you practically disappeared after 53 Minutes in that first game, even the Kaernten fans were speculating what happened. Different Coach different mentality I suppose?
JN: Yeah, but that’s Football you know?
Offe: And then the move to Antalyaspor were you say there were problems with the finances. Does that happen a lot in Turkey when the Club is smaller than say Galatasaray or Fenerbace?
JN: Actually it was funny because Frank Ribery played in Turkey and also he had problems with Galatasaray so it happens.
Offe: But you got to follow your dreams and try to make it happen…
JN: Exactly, that’s life. You take what life gives you, ups and downs. Just like you said, we just won the MLS Cup so I was up and then I was down.
Offe: What did you do when you left Turkey?
JN: I just left now and it has been a legal battle just to get free so that’s what’s been happening and I trained for a little while with Carolina.
Offe: Carolina Railhawks?
JN: Yeah, I went through the Pre Season with them….
Offe: Just to get back in shape?
JN: Yeah, you have to get back in shape.
Offe: So how is the Trial here going?
JN: It’s good and it’s nice to be back and see the guy’s and the Coaching Staff. We will see what happens.
I caught up with Joseph Ngwenya after the Houston Dynamo – LA Galaxy game last Saturday and we talked about his journey in the last two years.
Offe: Joe, the last time we saw you here in Houston was after you won MLS Cup 2007 with a big smile on your face obviously. Can you tell us a bit about what happened after that?
JN: Yeah, you know I wanted a change in scenery and it’s every Players dream to go play in Europe whether it works out or doesn’t. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t but I wanted to give it a shot and it did not work out as I had planned it to be. It was a great experience and I learned quite a bit and I am just back now.
Offe: When you initially left Houston you trialed with Alemania Aachen in Germany?
JN: Yeah
Offe: And then you actually had a chance at a trial with Bayern Muenchen, how was that environment there?
JN: It was really absolutely incredible, the Players and the Facilities were great. World Class Players.
Offe: So it was like a dream come true just to be there?
JN: Yeah, just unbelievable.
Offe: That was the feeling many of us had here when we saw the pictures of you there. After that you signed with SK Kaernten in Austria?
JN: No, I actually signed with them before.
Offe: So you signed with Kaernten before the trials?
JN: Yeah, I signed a six month contract with them and after that I signed in Turkey.
Offe: With Antalyaspor correct? How was that experience?
JN: It was a good place to play but you know, Turkish teams have their problems with finances and so on.
Offe: Are there many problems with finances in the Turkish League?
JN: Yeah it just did not work out.
Offe: When you were in Austria what happened there?
JN: It was ok, I signed only on a six month contract but after my first game the Coach was fired and the new Coach came in.
Offe: Right, the Coach that signed you was Schachner I think and then Schinkels came in?
JN: Yeah, Schinkels did not have me in his plans and since it was only a six month contract so I just rode it out.
Offe: We were all wondering what happened since you practically disappeared after 53 Minutes in that first game, even the Kaernten fans were speculating what happened. Different Coach different mentality I suppose?
JN: Yeah, but that’s Football you know?
Offe: And then the move to Antalyaspor were you say there were problems with the finances. Does that happen a lot in Turkey when the Club is smaller than say Galatasaray or Fenerbace?
JN: Actually it was funny because Frank Ribery played in Turkey and also he had problems with Galatasaray so it happens.
Offe: But you got to follow your dreams and try to make it happen…
JN: Exactly, that’s life. You take what life gives you, ups and downs. Just like you said, we just won the MLS Cup so I was up and then I was down.
Offe: What did you do when you left Turkey?
JN: I just left now and it has been a legal battle just to get free so that’s what’s been happening and I trained for a little while with Carolina.
Offe: Carolina Railhawks?
JN: Yeah, I went through the Pre Season with them….
Offe: Just to get back in shape?
JN: Yeah, you have to get back in shape.
Offe: So how is the Trial here going?
JN: It’s good and it’s nice to be back and see the guy’s and the Coaching Staff. We will see what happens.
Offe: Thanks for the time Joe and the best of luck with the trial.
JN: Danke schoen!
Since then it has been confirmed that the Dynamo have made an offer to bring Joseph back to the team once the paperwork is finalized.
Welcome back Joe, full circle indeed!!
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