Ngwenya Headed to Austria

Continuing the trend of established MLS players going to Europe (seems like there's one a day now), forward Joseph Ngwenya has reportedly left the Houston Dynamo to sign a contract with SK Austria Kärnten. Ngwenya has chosen to leave behind the defending back-to-back MLS champions in favor of a team that is fighting to stay afloat in the Austrian Football Bundesliga. The development was not completely unexpected; Ngwenya has in the past used the MLS offseason as a chance to train with clubs overseas.
"We've been aware of (Ngwenya's) desire to explore his options in Europe," Dynamo president Oliver Luck said. "Some players really believe Europe is the place to be."

Ngwenya, 26, started his career with the LA Galaxy before moving on to Columbus and then eventually Houston. The native of Plumtree, Zimbabwe was a big factor in helping the Dynamo score a second consecutive MLS Cup, providing an offensive spark with seven goals (tied for the team lead with Brian Ching) and 3 assists in 25 games played after being acquired from the Columbus Crew early last season. He has 17 career goals and 10 assists in 95 career games. He scored the tying goal in the 61st minute of MLS Cup 2007 against the New England Revolution, before teammate Dwayne De Rosario put the Men in Orange ahead for good.