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Battery defender Matt Bobo
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9/30/2009 4:23:50 PM
Nelson Akwari and Matt Bobo named to USL-1 All-League First Team
Charleston, SC. United Soccer Leagues announced Wednesday the USL First Division’s 2009 All-League First Team, honoring the top 11 players of the season as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers; Charleston Battery defender’s Nelson Akwari and Matt Bobo were both selected.
The Charleston Battery had one of the best defenses on the year, finishing third in the league in fewest goals allowed at 21 in 30 games. Nelson Akwari played in all 30 USL1 regular season games missing only one half of play the entire campaign. He finished with the fourth-most minutes played in the league for the season.
Akwari previously played in Major League Soccer for five years and joined the Battery in 2008 after a season with the USL-2 Charlotte Eagles. A native of Houston, TX, Akwari attended UCLA; he represented the United States at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels. Akwari Captained the U-17's at the 1999 World Championships and the U-20's at the 2001 World Championships.
Matt Bobo came to the Battery during this past off-season from Atlanta, where he was an All-League Second Team selection in 2006. He helped the Battery balance its run in the US Open Cup with the third-most appearances overall for the team and finished the year with the third-most minutes logged on the team in league play (2,346) over the course of 28 games, scoring twice along the way.
Prior to Atlanta Bobo also had spells with the Richmond Kickers and the Milwaukee Wave United, where he was a member of the championship winning team in 2002. Before turning pro Bobo attended Eastern Illinois University and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Bobo also won consecutive PDL championships with Chicago Soccers.
2009 USL-1 All-League First Team
Goalkeeper of the Year – Steve Cronin (Portland Timbers)
Defender – Nelson Akwari (Charleston Battery)
Defender – Cristian Arrieta (Puerto Rico Islanders)
Defender – Matt Bobo (Charleston Battery)
Defender – David Hayes (Portland Timbers)
Midfielder – Daniel Paladini (Carolina RailHawks)
Midfielder – Ryan Pore (Portland Timbers)
Midfielder – Ricardo Sanchez (Minnesota Thunder)
Forward – Charles Gbeke (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Forward – Mandjou Keita (Portland Timbers)
Forward – Johnny Menyongar (Rochester Rhinos)
www.charlestonbattery.com
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