Sydney Wathuta
{{Short description|Canadian soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Sydney Wathuta
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|6|11}}
|birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
|position = Forward
|currentclub = Colorado Rapids 2
|clubnumber = 47
|youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Power FC
|youthyears2 = |youthclubs2 = Calgary Blizzard SC
|youthyears3 = |youthclubs3 = New Frontier SC
|youthyears4 = 2022–2023 |youthclubs4 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC
|collegeyears1 = 2023–2024
|college1 = Vermont Catamounts
|collegecaps1 = 39
|collegegoals1 = 3
|years1 = 2022–2023 |clubs1 = Whitecaps FC Academy |caps1 = 12 |goals1 = 2
|years2 = 2023 |clubs2 = Whitecaps FC 2 |caps2 = 2 |goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2024 |clubs3 = Vermont Green FC |caps3 = 0 |goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2024 |clubs4 = Whitecaps FC Academy |caps4 = 8 |goals4 = 4
|years5 = 2025– |clubs5 = Colorado Rapids 2 |caps5 = 4 |goals5 = 1
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 =
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|club-update = May 30, 2025
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Sydney Wathuta (born June 11, 2004) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for MLS Next Pro club Colorado Rapids 2.
Early life
Wathuta played youth soccer with Power FC, Calgary Blizzard SC and New Frontier SC.{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/vancouver-whitecaps-u19-2022-league1-bc-squad-profile-part-two-midfielders-and-forwards/|title=Vancouver Whitecaps U19 2022 League1 BC squad profile (Part Two – Midfielders and Forwards)|date=May 21, 2022|first=Michael|last=McColl|work=Away from the Numbers}} In 2014, he had a training stint in England with Brentford. In January 2022, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy.{{cite web|url=https://www.nfcalgarysoccer.com/news-media/04-sydney-wathuta-joins-whitecaps-academy-in-vancouver|title=04 Sydney Wathuta Joins Whitecaps Academy in Vancouver|date=January 18, 2022|work=New Frontier SC}}
College career
In 2023, Wathuta began attending the University of Vermont, where he played for the men's soccer team.{{cite web|url=https://uvmathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/sydney-wathuta/11233|title=Sydney Wathuta Vermont profile|work=Vermont Catamounts}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nfcalgarysoccer.com/news-media/sydney-wathuta-joins-the-university-of-vermont|title=Sydney Wathuta joins the University of Vermont|date=September 1, 2023|work=New Frontier SC}} On September 26, 2023, he scored his first collegiate goal in a 1-1 draw against the UMass Minutemen,{{cite web|url=https://uvmathletics.com/news/2023/9/26/-14-mens-soccer-and-umass-settle-for-1-1-draw.aspx|title=#14 Men's Soccer and UMass Settle for 1-1 Draw|first=Ryan|last=Manley|date=September 26, 2023|work=Vermont Catamounts}} which earned him America East Conference Co-Rookie of the Week honours.{{cite web|url=https://americaeast.com/news/2023/10/2/aemsoc-week-6-vermont-extends-unbeaten-streak.aspx|title=#AEMSOC Week 6: Vermont Extends Unbeaten Streak|date=October 2, 2023|work=America East Conference}} At the end of his first season, he was named to the America East Conference All-Rookie Team.{{cite web|url=https://uvmathletics.com/news/2023/11/3/mens-soccer-eight-catamounts-pick-up-all-america-east-honors.aspx|title=Eight Catamounts Pick Up All-America East Honors|date=November 3, 2023|work=Vermont Catamounts|first=Ryan|last=Manley}} Ahead of his sophomore season, he was named to the America East All-Preseason team.{{cite web|url=https://uvmathletics.com/news/2024/8/7/mens-soccer-selected-as-america-east-preseason-favorite-six-catamounts-earn-all-conference-honors.aspx|title=#14 Men's Soccer Selected as America East Preseason Favorite; Six Catamounts Earn All-Conference Honors|date=August 7, 2024|work=Vermont Catamounts|first=Ryan|last=Manley}} That season, he helped Vermont win their first NCAA title and finished the season second in the nation with 14 assists.{{cite web|url=https://americaeast.com/news/2024/12/21/2024-mls-draft.aspx|title=Sydney Wathuta & Max Murray Selected in MLS Draft|date=December 20, 2024|work=America East Conference}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/vermonts-ncaa-mens-champion-soccer-team-comes-with-distinct-canadian-flavour/article_e9f608d2-4cf2-581e-b9d5-5fd0d1c7a1d5.html|title=Vermont's NCAA men's champion soccer team comes with distinct Canadian flavour|date=December 20, 2024|work=Toronto Star|first=Neil|last=Davidson}} At the end of the season, he was named the America East Midfielder of the Year and named to the All-America East First Team and All-ECAC Second Team.{{cite web|url=https://americaeast.com/news/2024/11/12/2024_aemsoc_awards.aspx|date=November 12, 2024|work=America East Conference|title=New Hampshire & Vermont Claim #AEMSOC Major Awards}}
Club career
In 2022, Wathuta began playing with the Whitecaps FC Academy in League1 British Columbia.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/whitecaps-fc-announce-rosters-for-league1-bc|title=Whitecaps FC announce rosters for League1 BC|date=May 17, 2022|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}} In 2023, he made two appearances for Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/who-will-be-the-next-cyle-larin-akron-s-emil-jaaskelainen-phoenix-rising-s-pape-mar-boye-among-top-names-to-watch-in-2025-mls-superdraft/blt1189d14907b27870|title=Who will be the next Cyle Larin? Akron's Emil Jaaskelainen, Phoenix Rising's Pape Mar Boye among top names to watch in 2025 MLS SuperDraft|date=December 19, 2024|first=Jacob|last=Schneider|work=Goal}}
In 2024, he joined USL League Two side Vermont Green FC for their 2024 U.S. Open Cup matches in March and April.{{cite web|url=https://vermontgreenfc.com/two-vermont-green-players-selected-in-2025-mls-superdraft/|title=Two Vermont Green Players Selected In 2025 MLS SuperDraft|date=December 20, 2024|work=Vermont Green FC}} He then subsequently returned to the Whitecaps FC Academy for the 2024 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2024-league1bc-season-preview|title=League1 BC Season Preview: What you need to know|date=April 24, 2024|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}} On July 14, 2024, he scored a hat trick in a 4–3 victory over Burnaby FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/league1-bc-men-s-side-clinches-playoff-spot|title=League1 BC: Men's side clinches playoff spot|date=July 14, 2024|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC|first=Alistair|last=Burns}}
At the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, Wathuta was selected in the first round (16th overall) by the Colorado Rapids.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mynbc5.com/article/wathuta-murray-become-next-university-of-vermont-stars-drafted-into-the-mls/63253124|title=Wathuta, Murray become next University of Vermont stars drafted into the MLS|date=December 20, 2024|work=WPTZ|first=Noah|last=Cierzan}} In January 2025, he signed a professional contract with their second team, Colorado Rapids 2, in MLS Next Pro.{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/rapids2/news/colorado-rapids-2-sign-forward-sydney-wathuta-to-mls-next-pro-contract|title=Colorado Rapids 2 sign forward Sydney Wathuta to MLS NEXT Pro contract|date=January 16, 2025|work=Colorado Rapids}} On March 7, 2025, he made his debut in a match against Austin FC II.{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/rapids2/news/recap-colton-swan-records-brace-but-rapids-2-fall-to-austin-fc-ii-4-2-in-2025-season-opener|title=Recap: Colton Swan records brace, but Rapids 2 fall to Austin FC II, 4–2, in 2025 season opener|date=March 7, 2025|work=Colorado Rapids}} He scored his first goal on May 18, 2025, in a 2–1 victory over the Real Monarchs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/rapids2/news/recap-colorado-rapids-2-top-real-monarchs-2-1-thanks-to-last-minute-winner-from-kimani-stewart-baynes|title=Recap: Colorado Rapids 2 top Real Monarchs 2–1 thanks to last-minute winner from Kimani Stewart-Baynes|first=Peter|last=Cohen|date=May 18, 2025|work=Colorado Rapids}}
Career statistics
{{updated|July 14, 2024}}{{soccerway|sydney-wathuta/904758}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Whitecaps FC Academy
|2022 |rowspan=2|League1 British Columbia |2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2023
|10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 4 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 | |
| Whitecaps FC 2
|2023 |2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Vermont Green FC
|2024 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| Whitecaps FC Academy
|2024{{cite web|url=https://league1bc.ca/player/6768794-sydney-wathuta/|title=Sydney Wathuta 2024 L1BC Stats|work=League1 British Columbia}} |8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 4 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!22 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 8 |
Honours
Vermont Catamounts
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|sydney-wathuta/904758}}
{{2025 MLS SuperDraft}}
{{Colorado Rapids 2 squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wathuta, Sydney}}
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Colorado Rapids draft picks
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:League1 British Columbia players
Category:Whitecaps FC 2 players
Category:Whitecaps FC Academy players
Category:Vermont Green FC players
Category:Vermont Catamounts men's soccer players
Category:Soccer players from Calgary
Category:Colorado Rapids 2 players
Category:Canadian people of Zambian descent