James Musa

Wellington Phoenix (2010 – 2011)

Scouted by the Phoenix as one of the club's mandatory Under-21 players, Musa, a schoolboy at Wanganui High School, signed a professional contract with the Wellington outfit in June 2010 prior to the start of the 2010-11 A-League season. Musa made his first team début on 27 November 2010 at home against Melbourne Victory, a game he started at left back in place of the suspended Ben Sigmund. It made him the 50th player to take the field for the Phoenix and also their 3rd youngest debutant behind Kosta Barbarouses and Marco Rojas. Following the 2010/11 A-League season, Musa was released from the Phoenix.

Waitakere City (2011)

Musa signed for Waitakere City in the Northern League, New Zealand in June 2011 to help prepare himself before the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup Following a successful 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup for the New Zealand U-20 team, he was linked with Bradford City in England. Despite early reports that Musa had signed a two-year deal with the Bantams, the deal fell through when the manager, Peter Jackson offered his resignation to the club. In 2012 Musa again played for Waitakere City where he was able to get competitive games before the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Team Wellington (2011 – 2012)

On 20 October 2011 Musa signed for Team Wellington to play in the ASB Premiership. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 last gasp win against Waikato FC on 5 February 2012. Musa helped Team Wellington to…

Musa was selected for the New Zealand U-20 team to compete in the 2011 OFC U-20 Championship in April 2011 and the Suwon Cup in Korea. During the OFC U-20 championship he played in all four matches, scoring a hat-trick during the group stage and helping the Junior All Whites win the tournament and secure qualification to the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup at which he played all three games against Cameroon, Uruguay and Portugal. In February 2012, Musa was selected in New Zealand's 20 man squad to play two friendly matches against Saudi Arabia, coached by former FC Barcelona Manager Frank Rijkaard in Melbourne, Australia in preparation for the 2012 OFC Men's Pre-Olympic Football Tournament to be held in Taupo, New Zealand. On 25 March 2012 the New Zealand U-23 men's team secured qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London with a 1–0 win over Fiji with a coolly finished penalty from Greg Draper. Musa played a big role in defence during the qualifying campaign with the New Zealand U-23 team going through unbeaten. He also scored 2 goals during the tournament. On 21 June 2012, Musa was named as one of the 6 defenders in Neil Emblen's 18-man squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, with Ryan Nelsen named as captain and as one of the three overage players. Musa made one appearance for the New Zealand U-23 team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He came on at left back in the 1–1 draw against Egypt in place of the injured Ian Hogg in the 63rd minute at Old…

Born in Plymouth, England, of South African Xhosa, Zimbabwean Shona and Afrikaner descent, Musa and his family moved to New Zealand in 1999. Musa described New Zealand as "a good place to grow up", he still visits family in Zimbabwe.