The Tanzanian-American forward for FC Dallas is quickly making a name for himself in Major League Soccer, but before the stadium lights and cheering fans, Kamungo’s world was shaped by his experiences at Nyarugusu Refugee Camp. (Watch the video interview above.)

There, hunger and hardship were part of his daily life — but so was soccer.

“All I knew was soccer,” Kamungo tells me. “I’d love to be a soccer player, but I never knew how I could make that dream possible. … In the refugee camp, nobody had ever become a soccer player.”

As a child, he improvised, playing with makeshift soccer balls made from balloons. Despite the circumstances, he found joy in the game. “I started playing as soon as I could walk,” he said. “That’s the only thing I knew at the time.”

In the refugee camp, improvised soccer was more than just a game. It symbolized a version of freedom he longed for. “If you have a ball, you are in control of how long you want to play for,” Kamungo explains. “There are no referees. It’s just you and your soccer ball. You’re the referee. You get to do anything.”

In 2016, Kamungo’s life changed forever. His family relocated to Abilene, Texas, through the International Rescue Committee, a moment he describes as one of overwhelming hope. “I remember just hearing the news. I couldn’t sleep that night,” he recalled. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt my whole life.”

For Kamungo, coming to America meant more than just new opportunities; it meant the ability to eat every day, to have clothes, to experience stability for the first time.

While his family embraced their new life, Kamungo continued to chase his passion. His soccer skills flourished in Texas, but he never imagined playing professionally — until his brother, Imani, stepped in.

Kamungo credits his brother as a driving force in his journey, recognizing his talent long before he did. With unwavering support, his brother constantly reassured him that he was good enough and had what it took to succeed.

Fueled by that belief, Kamungo took a leap of faith and attended an open tryout for FC Dallas, pursuing a professional career. Not long after, while playing video games with friends, he received a call from an FC Dallas manager inviting him to join the academy for a trial. The moment he shared the news with his brother, he erupted with excitement.

“He was screaming, ‘I told you! I told you!’” Kamungo recalled. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is great.’”

Fast forward to today, and Kamungo has proven he belongs on the professional stage. With eight goals and three assists across all competitions last season for FC Dallas, he has become an undeniable force in Major League Soccer.

“Looking back at how hard it was for me and my family to feed me and my siblings is very tough,” he said. “But soccer helped me to find joy.”

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