Emeka Eneli Explained

Emeka Eneli
Fullname:Chukwuemeka Somto Eneli
Birth Date:18 October 1999
Position:Full-back
Currentclub:Real Salt Lake
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:2012–2017
Youthclubs1:Columbus Crew
Youthyears2:2017–2018
Youthclubs2:Ohio Premier
Collegeyears1:2018–2022
College1:Cornell Big Red
Collegecaps1:60
Collegegoals1:20
Years1:2019
Clubs1:Lionsbridge
Caps1:10
Goals1:1
Years2:2022
Clubs2:Flint City Bucks
Caps2:12
Goals2:4
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Real Salt Lake
Caps3:42
Goals3:1
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Real Monarchs
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Club-Update:April 21, 2024

Chukwuemeka Somto "Emeka" Eneli (born October 18, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

Career

Youth and college

Eneli was born in Lansing, Michigan, but moved to Dublin, Ohio was he was eight years old.[1] He attended Dublin Coffman High School, where he played one year of varsity soccer. He also played soccer with the Columbus Crew academy between 2012 and 2017, before spending a season with Ohio Premier, who he helped to the ENPL national title in 2018 and was named to the ECNL All-American and ECNL All-Midwest teams.[2] [3] [4]

In 2018, Eneli attended Cornell University graduating in 2022 with a major in Biological Engineering and a minor in Business. He played college soccer, serving as team captain in his junior and senior year. In four seasons with Big Red, including a canceled 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Eneli made 60 appearances, scoring 20 goals and tallying 17 assists. In 2021, Eneli earned All-Ivy League First Team and Second Team United Soccer Coaches Men's Northeast Region honors. 2022 saw Eneli named a Second Team All-American and helped Cornell qualify for the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time in nearly three decades.[2] Eneli earned 2018 Rookie of the Year for the Ivy League Mens Soccer conference. https://cornellbigred.com/news/2018/11/14/eneli-tabbed-ivy-mens-soccer-rookie-of-the-year-four-named-all-league.aspx. Eneli finished the season second in the Ivy League in points (16) and goals (7).

While at college, Eneli also competed in the USL League Two. He spent 2019 with Lionsbridge FC, scoring one goal in ten games.[5] In 2022, he spent the season with Flint City Bucks, making 16 appearances across the regular season and playoffs, netting four goals and adding a single assist.[6]

Following the 2022 season, Eneli was announced as an eligible player in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.[7]

2023, starting in a 4–0 loss at home to St. Louis City SC.[8] [9]

Personal

Eneli holds both American and Nigerian citizenship.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 10 Questions With Men's Soccer's Emeka Eneli. Jonathan. Harris. September 17, 2018. The Cornell Daily Sun.
  2. Web site: Emeka Eneli - 2022-23 - Men's Soccer. Cornell University Athletics.
  3. Web site: TBT: The Inaugural ENPL National Champions – Ohio Premier Boys ECNL U18/U19. December 6, 2018.
  4. Web site: Soccer: Ohio Premier 19U boys capture national title. FRANK. DIRENNA. The Columbus Dispatch.
  5. Web site: Lionsbridge FC | uslleaguetwo.com. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  6. Web site: Flint City Bucks | uslleaguetwo.com. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  7. Web site: MLS SuperDraft 2023 eligible players | MLSSoccer.com. mlssoccer.
  8. Web site: Trio Of RSL Debutants Reflect On Experience | Real Salt Lake. rsl.
  9. Web site: RSLvsSTL 03-25-2023 | Real Salt Lake. rsl.
  10. Web site: Real Salt Lake Adds First-Round Pick Emeka Eneli To First-Team Roster | Real Salt Lake . rsl.