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Malik Owolabi-Belewu

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Malik Owolabi-Belewu
Personal information
Full name Abdulmalik Timmy Owolabi-Belewu
Date of birth (2002-07-03) 3 July 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth London, England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Forge
Number 81
Youth career
Junior Red Spartans
Whitecaps London
2018–2020 Toronto FC
2020–2021 SPAL
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 SPAL 0 (0)
2022– Forge 34 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 30, 2023

Abdulmalik Timmy Owolabi-Belewu (born 3 July 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League.

Early life

Born in London, England, Owolabi-Belewu began playing youth football with the Junior Red Spartans.[1] When he was 13, he moved to London, Ontario, Canada with his family.[1] He began playing with Whitecaps London SC, later being invited to try out for the official Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy, however, due to an injury, he was unable to make the team.[2] In 2018, he joined the Toronto FC Academy.[2] In 2020, he returned to England.[2] In June 2020, he was invited to trial with English club Chelsea,[3] however was unable to attend due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.[4] He also had interest from English clubs Crystal Palace and Sunderland, Italian club AS Roma, German club Hertha Berlin, Belgian club Anderlecht, and French club OGC Nice.[5][6][7] In 2020, he had been set to join Phoenix Sports F.C. in the English eighth tier Isthmian League, however, before officially signing, Italian club SPAL invited him for a trial.[2]

Club career

Owolabi-Belewu with Forge in 2022

In 2020, he signed for Italian Serie B side SPAL.[8] He spent the majority of the time with the U19 squad, making the bench for the first team for two cup matches, but not making an appearance.[9]

In April 2022, he signed for Canadian Premier League club Forge FC.[10] On 14 May 2022, Owolabi-Belewu debuted for Forge FC during a 1–1 draw with Atlético Ottawa.[11] He scored his first goal on 1 October 2022 against York United.[12] He won the CPL title with the club in 2022.[13][14]

International career

At international level, he is eligible to represent England through birth, Canada through residency, and Nigeria through his parents.[15]

In 2017, he attended a camp with the Canada U15 national team.[1]

In 2019, he was invited to a camp with the Nigeria U17 team, but was unable to accept the call-up.[16]

In 2020, he committed to representing Nigeria at international level.[17][18]

Career statistics

As of October 14, 2023[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
SPAL 2020–21 Serie B 0 0 – 0 0 – 0 0
Forge FC 2022 Canadian Premier League 18 1 3 0 2[a] 0 0 0 23 1
2023 16 0 1 0 1 0 — 18 0
Total 34 1 4 0 3 0 0 0 41 1
Career total 34 1 4 0 3 0 0 0 41 1
  1. ^ Includes appearance in the 2020 Canadian Championship final (played in 2022)

References

  1. ^ a b c Malik Owolabi-Belewu at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ a b c d Lammie, Freddie. "Malik Owolabi-Belewu: Out Of The Blue". Secret Scout.
  3. ^ Ibikunle, Olasunkanmi (June 13, 2020). "Chelsea invited highly-rated Nigerian defender to train with club". Football Flakes.
  4. ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (March 9, 2021). "'There was very strong interest' - SPAL CB Owolabi-Belewu opens up on failed Chelsea transfer". All Nigeria Soccer.
  5. ^ Cusick, Aiden (September 14, 2020). "Report: Teen set to sign 4-year deal at 2nd tier club after Palace and Sunderland interest". HITC.
  6. ^ "HPA Student Signs 4 Year Contract in Italy". Holy Cross Catholic Academy. October 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "Chelsea Invite Nigerian Defender For Trial Despite Strong Interest From Belgium Club". 9jaflaver. June 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Maschio, Tommaso (September 14, 2020). "SPAL, in arrivo il difensore Owolabi-Belewu. Era stato in prova al Chelsea" [SPAL, the defender Owolabi-Belewu is on the way. He had been on trial at Chelsea] (in Italian).
  9. ^ "Forge FC sign English defender Owolabi-Belewu & development player Caldeira". Forge FC. April 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Jacques, John (April 8, 2022). "Two Teenage Additions Join Forge FC". Northern Tribune.
  11. ^ Malik Owolabi-Belewu at Soccerway
  12. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (October 1, 2022). "Sights & Sounds: Forge FC 2-0 York United". Canadian Premier League.
  13. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (14 April 2023). ""I learned quite a lot": Malik Owolabi-Belewu looking to build on strong debut season". Canadian Premier League.
  14. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (May 16, 2023). "'It makes Canada feel more like home': Familiar faces helping CPL's Londoners thrive in new environments". Canadian Premier League.
  15. ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (March 16, 2021). "SPAL CB reveals why he has committed international future to Nigeria over England". All Nigeria Soccer.
  16. ^ "Malik Owolabi Snubs England And Canada And Pledges His International Allegiance To Nigeria". Sports Central Nigeria.
  17. ^ "Owolabi-Belewu: I Want To Make My Parents Proud By Playing For Nigeria". Mega Sports Arena. September 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "Owolabi-Belewu commits international future to Nigeria". First News Online. September 24, 2020.
  19. ^ Malik Owolabi-Belewu at Soccerway
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