Bernard Kamungo is a 21-year-old attacker, mostly deployed as a right-winger, who plays for F.C Dallas in MLS. Kamungo was born in a Tanzanian refugee camp but has represented the United States at U-23 level internationally. Kamungo did not play in an MLS academy, only getting his professional chance after he impressed at an open try-out in 2021 with F.C Dallas’ reserves (he chose to try out with them because it was the cheapest option available to him). Since becoming professional Kamungo’s career has taken off like a rocket. He was a standout in USL League 1 and later MLS Next Pro and is currently averaging over 1 goal contribution per 90 minutes with F.C Dallas’ first team.
Kamungo is not a ball-dominant player, he makes his impact through short bursts of activity. Mainly what he does to make that impact is cut inside! That’s pretty much what he does every time he gets on the ball. But he is very good at cutting inside. Kamungo is fast and he has flair. He’s not necessarily the most reliable dribbler but he has the capacity to pull out something unexpected. He’s also really good at using his body to shield the ball and win fouls. So even though he’s small and not very physically strong it is quite difficult to get the ball off of him. Kamungo’s first touch is also really excellent which helps him maximise the small number of involvements he has in each game. Unlike a lot of low-touch players, he isn’t purely a goal-poacher. To be sure, he does score a fair number of close-range one-touch finishes. But he also gets a lot of his limited touches from receiving the ball in the final 3rd and running at defences. Although he does not touch the ball that often, he’s so efficient that it doesn’t matter. So far, in MLS play, Kamungo is mostly a goal scorer. His xG dwarfs his xA. But he has gotten a lot of assists at lower levels and in cup competitions. Kamungo seems to have a good eye for underlapping runs but his ability to play that killer pass is a little under-developed. He tends to get the timing or the weight just a little off. But this could improve as he gets used to the faster pace of MLS compared to MLS Next Pro. Kamungo is also an excellent ball-striker which is helpful for both crossing and shooting. Defensively Kamungo was not necessarily the most active but he is quite good at pouncing on loose balls. His speed and tactical intelligence mean he is often well-positioned to snap up an inaccurate pass and then do his thing in possession. Despite his small frame, Kamungo is not afraid of physical battles. He doesn’t necessarily win very many but he doesn’t shy away from physical contact.
Kamungo will turn 22 as the calendars change over to 2024. So reaching the top-5 leagues seems like a long shot at this stage. But he could be a very good addition for a top team in the next tier down. Kamungo is particularly enticing because he is still on an entry-level contract. So a team like Ajax or Club Brugge could afford to give him a significant raise, something that isn’t always true of top MLS players. First, he will likely have to show he can be a high-impact MLS player over a longer time period. But I believe he has the ability to do that.
Target Scouting 