David Nshizirungu Shines at Amlima FC with Dream Pursuit

In a mid-season match, Amlima FC and Syracuse FC battled in a stalemate at Nottingham High School until a pivotal moment arrived. Early on, Amlima had a golden opportunity to seize the lead from the penalty spot, but Thomas Nimineh’s miss drifted the hope away.

As the referee blew the whistle for Amlima’s next sub, David Nshizirungu came off the bench.

Just two minutes after his arrival, he made his presence felt down the right wing, weaving through a congested defense before slipping a precise pass to Zayne Thorkmorton. Sensing the chance to break the deadlock, Thorkmorton fed the ball back into Nshizirungu’s path as he cut toward the center. Without a moment’s hesitation, the 17-year-old Academy standout unleashed a thunderous chip that sailed over the goalkeeper and nestled into the net.

“When he scored that goal to win us the 3 points, I was proud to know he was able to go face to face with an opportunity like that and come out on top,” Amlima’s coach, Daniel Anderson, said. 

Nshizirungu’s late-game winner not only secured a vital three points for Amlima FC but also reinforced his growing reputation: in four academy appearances, he’s already amassed four goals and two assists, all while lending his vigor and ambition to the senior squad.

David Nshizirungu was born in Kigali, Rwanda, where soccer is more than just a sport—it's a way of life. Surrounded by older brothers and uncles who played whenever they could, he quickly learned the basics of touching and dribbling. Weekend matches against older competitors became his training ground, where he improved his skills under the guidance of his uncle and siblings.

“They took me to train, and took notes while watching me play with older guys,” Nshizirungu said.

His favorite team was—and still is—FC Barcelona. Whenever the topic came up, he would proudly talk about how Lionel Messi, Barca’s legend, danced through Real Madrid’s defense to score a winning goal. That moment inspired him more than any local game.

Amlima defeated Syracuse FC 1-0 on June 11, 2025.

“My goal is to make it as a soccer player. I want to go to college and play for an MLS team or club eventually.”

Sideline Digital Photo

In 2018, the Nshizirungu family moved to Upstate New York, bringing new challenges, especially with language barriers. During his early years at Nottingham High School, he faced tough times on the boys’ soccer team, where he was not called up to the varsity during his freshman and sophomore years and played only on the junior varsity team. Despite playing fewer minutes than he had hoped, he relied on family support and showed a willingness to adapt by playing multiple positions as needed.

“My motivation for playing soccer was my family,” he said. “They pushed me to be a better person and a soccer player.”

That opportunity came in fall 2024. As a junior, David made the varsity team under coach Claude Tuyishimire, scoring eight goals and assisting three. His role was key to Nottingham’s 19–1 record and their first sectional title in 37 years.

Eager to develop further, David joined Amlima FC’s UPSL team this summer. Despite being the youngest, he was named U-17 captain, bringing his high school experience to the Academy while playing with the senior team on the UPSL field. 

David Nshizirungu during UPSL Academy game

“I expect David to be a player for the future. He’s something special, and we will do our best to keep developing him at Amlima.” Amlima’s head coach, Daniel Anderson.

Sideline Digital photo

“Seeing him play, I already knew he could be playing with us at the UPSL level,” Amlima’s head coach, Daniel Anderson, said. “I expect David to be a player for the future. He’s something special, and we will do our best to keep developing him at Amlima.”

As he headed into the playoffs with Amlima, Nshizirungu’s main focus was simple: work hard, stay hydrated, and recover well between matches to be in top form for the playoff push. His immediate goal is to make a strong impact on the field, while his long-term dream keeps him motivated.

“My goal is to make it as a soccer player. I want to go to college and play for an MLS team or club eventually.”