Cleveland Crunch International Spotlight: Sami Mutemwa

With the Cleveland Crunch’s International Heritage Day at the Wolstein Center now at a close,  the team is proud to showcase some of the international heritage of their own. 

With players coming from four different continents, the cultural melting pot that Cleveland is renowned for also translates into its professional sports teams.

Long-time Crunch veteran Sami Mutemwa has been a seasoned member of Northeast Ohio’s soccer scene. Being one of the many players on the team since its return in 2020, his presence has been tangible to his teammates and fans.

After spending much of his adolescence in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mutemwa’s path to the United States was quite the intriguing one.

“I was here for a wedding, and one of my friends urged me to try out for Lakeland Community College,” he said. With just the small backpack he had brought from overseas for his, what was expected, short trip, Mutemwa tried out and made the team.

With an opportunity to chase a career and an education in the United States, Mutemwa made the decision to leave his home country. 

“Leaving home, an 18-19 hour flight, and not having your family and support system…there are always going to be doubts,” he said.

Despite this, Mutemwa excelled in his career, eventually transferring to Lake Erie College where he earned two All-American selections, an All-Ohio selection, All-Conference, Conference Most Valuable Player award, a Region MVP honors and a Male Athlete of the Year accolade through four seasons across the two different teams.

During this time, Mutemwa was involved deeply in the Cleveland soccer syndicate through playing in leagues at the iconic Lost Nation. 

“Admir [Suljevic] was one of the first people I played with here, and we played in leagues with Mikey Derezic, Dave Jordan, Antonio Manfut, Tom Beck and Ryan Minick. It created a form of competitiveness and comradery.” 

Mutemwa was also playing for teams such as the Cleveland Legacy and the Akron Vulcans.

Sometime down the line, Mutemwa was working with Cleveland Crunch legend Otto Orf for a sort of legends night. 

“I never had the experience of having the Cleveland Crunch be a part of my childhood,” he continued. “I got to see some of the former players and it was sold out…I was awestruck. I got a glimpse of what the Crunch used to be…when you see that as a soccer player or athlete, you gain the dream to relive the experience.”

His newfound affinity for the team and countless connections to many of the teams’ long-time players has given him a remarkable Crunch career so far. In 54 appearances, he has netted 33 goals while assisting 26 more. Sami’s utility to play any position on the pitch, combined with his intensity, direct attacking style, and incredible footskills.

Sami’s contributions on the pitch are not the only thing that makes him such a special player, as who he is as a man blows his time with his boots laced up.

If you have attended any Crunch games, it is easy to pick up on the fact that Sami is one of the first names that comes to the mind of the average fan when asked about fan favorites. When it comes to fan interaction, he is always one of the first to greet fans and the last to leave, giving his signature and his kindness to as many of the Crunch faithful as he can. 

“Even if it is just to make them smile, I want to see the kind of excitement that I once had…it doesn’t take much. You get these little tidbits of the impact you can make, and it makes you want to keep going.”

“Being a part of the [Major League Indoor Soccer] MLIS and seeing the team’s journey, you see the competitiveness growing rapidly and a lot of newer guys coming in…it makes you realize your part in the process.”

You can catch the Crunch at the Wolstein Center on Feb. 21 and March 14 and 15 for Fan Appreciation Weekend. Get your tickets now at theclevelandcrunch.com/tickets!