United happy to add veteran Azira
Team’s new center midfielder brings high level of success in college and pro
Micheal Azira has always been game for new adventures and soccer has provided them.
Rising from humble beginnings in his natvie Uganda, Azira has enjoyed a remarkable journey of collegiate and professional soccer success in America. He’s shared in championships, competed for Uganda’s national team and spent the last six seasons playing at the MLS level.
Azira’s next adventure: playing for New Mexico United.
The 33-year-old center midfielder made it official Monday, discussing his decision to sign with NMU during a Zoom media call. When asked if he’d ever been to Albuquerque, Azira smiled.
“This is my first time,” he said. “I watched a video about the team and they have fans driving four hours to come to games. That’s amazing. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the crowd, so getting to play here is exciting for me.”
United coach Troy Lesesne echoed those sentiments. Lesesne said Monday’s announcement effectively ended a two-year recruitment of Azira.
“Micheal called me in 2019 and I hoped it was because he wanted to come play for United,” Lesesne said. “It turned out he was calling to recommend another player, so I just had to wait. Now he’s finally here and I’m glad to have him. Micheal
is extremely experienced and he’ll bring a lot to our midfield.”
Azira has seen much of North America during his pro career, which has included MLS stints with the Seattle Sounders, Colorado Rapids, Montreal Impact and Chicago Fire. He appeared in 130 combined matches from 2014 to 2020.
It’s been a stunning transformation since his childhood in Kampala, Uganda, where Azira often skipped breakfast to save enough money to buy soccer cleats.
A 2019 Chicago Tribune story, published when Azira was playing for the Fire, detailed his journey from accepting a scholarship at Kentucky’s Lindsey Wilson College through signing with the USL’s Charleston Battery in 2012 and ultimately moving on to an MLS career.
Azira has enjoyed on-field success. He helped Lindsey Wilson College win an NAIA National Championship in 2009 and scored the winning goal in Charleston’s 2012 USL PRO championship final victory over Wilmington.
Azira has also made an impact with humanitarian efforts. He co-founded the Pearl of Africa Organisation, which helps advance education for Ugandan youth through soccer.
During his long career, Azira has gotten to know several current and former United players, including goalkeeper Cody Mizell and defender Josh Suggs. Lesesne admitted to employing them in his recruitment of Azira.
“Coach Troy has been trying to get me for so long,” Azira said with a grin. “I kept telling him, ‘I’d like to play for you when the time is right.’ Now the time is here.”