JC_Ngando
J.C. Ngando
Cameroonian football player
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 | (1999-11-20) 20 November 1999 (age 24) | ||
| 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]
- "Whitecaps FC Select Four Players in 2023 MLS SuperDraft Presented by Adidas". Oursportscentral.com. 21 December 2022.
- "The Vancouver Whitecaps 2023 SuperDraft Review". Lastwordonsports.com. 24 December 2022.
- "Whitecaps trade up to 5th pick to acquire Ngando in MLS draft". Area51sportsnet.com.
- "UNCG's Ngando and Conley drafted in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". Greensborosports.com.
- Karstens-Smith, Gemma (March 9, 2023). "Vancouver Whitecaps trounce Real CD Espana 5-0 in CONCACAF Champions League play". The Canadian Press.
- "MINNESOTA UNITED VS. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 1-1". Soccerway. March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
J.C. Ngando at Soccerway