Frisco, Texas (May 24, 2022) – North Texas SC General Manager Matt Denny and Forward Bernard Kamungo became U.S. citizens after taking the Oath of Allegiance during their naturalization ceremony Citizenship at the Plano Event Center Tuesday morning.
To apply for naturalization to become a U.S. citizens applicants must be able to read, write, and speak basic English. Demonstrate good moral character, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government, and demonstrate loyalty to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Once approved, applicants attend a required naturalization ceremony. At the naturalization ceremony the Oath of Allegiance must be recited and once finalized, they become U.S. citizen. The citizens are then encouraged to register and vote once they receive their voters registration card.
General Manager Matt Denny assumed the role of General Manager for North Texas SC in 2019 during the inaugural season. A Nottingham, England native, Denny began working in soccer as a coach abroad in the U.S. He worked in Chicago as a full-time coach before moving to Texas and working for FC Dallas.
“I felt a little more emotional than I thought I would. I have probably spent more of my life in America than I have in England now.” Denny said. “Most my adult life has been in America so it feels like home. I've got wife and kids, at the end of the day, this is my home. I’ll always be English, but it just feels good to be kind of like a part of the country that I live in and love.”
Forward Bernard Kamungo was signed by North Texas SC on March 25, 2021 after attending an open tryout. Kamungo, who was born in Kasulu, Tanzania, moved to the United States as a refugee in 2016 and arrived in Abilene, Texas as a 14-year-old. He attended Abilene High School where he was a standout star for the varsity soccer program.
“When you are a refugee, you must choose to either follow your passion or not. You can't get to do anything you want because you are limited to stuff you can do,” Kamungo said. “It was tough to be a refugee, I was young. I could see all that my family was going through, so it was really tough on them. I'm pretty sure they will be so proud of me when I tell them that I am a finally a United States citizen.”
