Nashville SC part ways with Handwalla Bwana

NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC announced Tuesday that they have parted ways with winger Handwalla Bwana.

Bwana, 23, was acquired from Seattle Sounders in October 2020 in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money as well as midfielder Jimmy Medranda. Despite making regular appearances immediately after moving to Music City, Bwana’s impact tailed dramatically in 2021. After playing in four of Nashville’s first eight matches, he didn’t make a matchday squad for their final 27 matches, and made just four appearances in all competitions in 2022.

Injuries hampered him, with concussion keeping him out for large portions of 2021. In 2022, an adductor strain suffered in a friendly against Club América prematurely ended his loan spell with Memphis 901 FC.

Bwana struggled to break into Nashville’s team, even with attacking production sorely lacking in wide areas. With the additions Nashville have made in the offseason, trading for Jacob Shaffelburg and Fafà Picault, the path to playing time in 2023 was even more narrow.

UPDATE: Bwana signed with USL Championship side Charleston Battery on January 11, reuniting with head coach Ben Pirmann, who was in charge of Memphis 901 FC during Bwana’s loan stint last season.