Sadik Balarabe

Sadik Balarabe
Balarabe in action for Birmingham Legion
Personal information
Full name Sadik Olaniyi Salisu Balarabe[1]
Date of birth (1992-06-26) 26 June 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth London, England
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Reading
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Jackson Jets 29 (30)
2013–2014 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 17 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 Chicago Inferno 5 (1)
2014 AO Levante
2015 Iraklis Psachna 13 (1)
2015–2016 Niki Volou 20 (4)
2016–2017 Gil Vicente 0 (0)
2017–2018 Torbalispor 22 (13)
2018 Salihli Belediyespor 7 (2)
2019 Mağusa Türk Gücü 15 (4)
2019–2020 Urraca 20 (11)
2020 Ibiza Islas Pitiusas 5 (3)
2020 Hemel Hempstead Town 3 (2)
2020 Dulwich Hamlet 3 (0)
2021 Cray Wanderers 4 (0)
2021–2022 Mağusa Türk Gücü 25 (7)
2022 Birmingham Legion 12 (2)
2023 Welling United 3 (0)
2023 Erith & Belvedere 0 (0)
2023–2024 VCD Athletic 11
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:55, 4 December 2024 (UTC)

Sadik Olaniyi Balarabe (born 26 June 1992) is an English footballer who plays as a forward.

Career

In 2011, Balarabe headed to America to study at Jackson College, scoring 11 goals in 12 games in his first season [2] and a further 19 goals in his second year.[3] He spent two years studying at Jackson College[4] before finishing his studies with Saginaw Valley State University, who he scored six goals in 17 games for in the 2013 season.[5] He also played in the USL Premier Development League for Chicago Inferno, making five appearances.[6]

In the summer of 2014, Balarabe arrived in Greece to join AO Levante before moving up divisions to join Greek Football League side Iraklis Psachna.[7] in January 2015. He made his professional debut on 26 January, coming on as a 65th minute substitute in a 0–0 draw with Kallithea.[8]

Ahead of the following season, Balarabe joined Gamma Ethniki side Niki Volou in July 2015.[9]

He then joined Portuguese LigaPro side Gil Vicente on a two-year deal in September 2016.[10]

In January 2019, he joined KTFF Süper Lig side Mağusa Türk Gücü after spells in Turkey with Torbalispor and Salihli Belediyespor.[11] Balarabe finished the season with 16 goals in 22 games as he helped lead his side to the league and cup double.[12]

On 10 August 2019, Balarabe joined Tercera División side Urraca.[13] After half a season with Urraca, he joined fellow Tercera División side Ibiza Islas Pitiusas until the end of the season.[14]

In October 2020, Balarabe returned to England to join National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town.[15] He scored on his debut after coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 loss to Eastbourne Borough.[16] The following month, he joined division rivals Dulwich Hamlet, making his debut in a 3–1 defeat against Havant & Waterlooville.[17]

In May 2021, Balarabe joined Isthmian League side Cray Wanderers.[18]

In September 2021, Balarabe returned to Northern Cyprus to rejoin Mağusa Türk Gücü.[19]

In July 2022, Balarabe returned to America for the first time since completing college to join USL Championship side Birmingham Legion.[20] Balarabe scored on his debut coming off the bench against Atlanta United 2. Following the 2022 season, Balarabe was released by Birmingham.[21]

In March 2023, Balarabe joined National League South side Welling United on a deal until the end of the season.[22] Later that day, he scored on his debut against Ebbsfleet United in the Kent Senior Cup.[23]

In February 2023, he joined Ykkönen side FF Jaro on trial, playing one match in the cup.[24]

In September 2023, Balarabe joined Isthmian League side Erith & Belvedere.[25] He made five appearances for the club all in the cup, scoring two goals.[26] He later went on to play for Southern Counties East Football League side VCD Athletic.[27]

Personal life

Balarabe attended Stationers' Crown Woods Academy in Eltham whilst growing up.[4]

Career statistics

As of 16 May 2022[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chicago Inferno 2013 PDL 5 1 0 0 — 0 0 5 1
Iraklis Psachna 2014–15 Football League 13 1 0 0 — 0 0 13 1
Niki Volou 2015–16[29] Gamma Ethniki 20 4 0 0 — 0 0 20 4
Torbalispor 2017–18[30] Bölgesel Amatör Ligi 22 13 0 0 — 0 0 22 13
Salihli Belediyespor 2018–19 Bölgesel Amatör Ligi 7 2 0 0 — 0 0 7 2
Mağusa Türk Gücü 2018–19[31] KTFF Süper Lig 15 4 7 12 — 0 0 22 16
Urraca 2019–20 Tercera División 20 11 1[a] 0 — 0 0 21 11
Ibiza Islas Pitiusas 2019–20 Tercera División 5 3 0 0 — 1[b] 0 6 3
Hemel Hempstead Town 2020–21 National League South 3 2 1 0 — 0 0 4 2
Dulwich Hamlet 3 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Cray Wanderers 2021–22[32] Isthmian League Premier Division 4 0 0 0 — 0 0 4 0
Mağusa Türk Gücü 2021–22[31] KTFF Süper Lig 25 7 7 6 — 0 0 32 13
Career total 142 48 17 18 0 0 1 0 160 66
  1. ^ Appearances in Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Appearances in Tercera División play-offs

Honours

Mağusa Türk Gücü

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Sadik Balarabe profile at TFF". Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  2. ^ "2011-12 NJCAA Stats". NJCAA. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Jackson Community College gamelog 2012". NJCAA. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Cardinals Announce 2013 Men's Soccer Recruiting Class". Saginaw Valley State University. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Sadik Balarabe #8 F Saginaw Valley". Saginaw Valley State University. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Sadik Balarabe profile at Soccer Stats". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  7. ^ Sadik Balarabe: It's been quite an adventure so far… englishplayersabroad.com
  8. ^ "KALLITHEA VS. IRAKLIS PSACHNA 0 - 0". uk.soccerway.com. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Παίκτης της Νίκης ο Σαντίκ Μπαλαράμπε". e-thessalia.gr. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  10. ^ "GIL VICENTE NEW BOY BALARABE TARGETS NIGERIA CALL-UP". africanfootball.com. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  11. ^ "MTG turnayı gözünden vurdu". havadiskibris.com. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Sadik Balarabe Informations". ktff.org. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Balarabe İspanya'ya Uçtu..!". arenasporkolik.com (in Turkish). 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Sadik Balarabe refuerza la delantera roja" (in Spanish). CD Ibiza Islas Pitiusas. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  15. ^ @hemelfc (9 October 2020). "WELCOME We're delighted to welcome @SadikBalarabe to the club Memo" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Hemel suffer home defeat". hemeltoday.co.uk. 11 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  17. ^ "HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE VS. DULWICH HAMLET 3 - 1". uk.soccerway.com. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Sadik Balarabe - Welcome to the Wands". Cray Wanderers F.C. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Sadık Balarabe dün akşam geç saatlerde adamıza gelmiş olup bu sezon takımımıza katkı koyacağına inandığımız Sadık'ğa hoşgeldin diyoruz". facebook.com (in Turkish). 19 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Legion FC Signs Forward Sadik Balarabe". Birmingham Legion FC. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Legion FC Announces Year-End Roster Updates".
  22. ^ "WINGS SIGN FORWARD SADIK BALARABE ON DEAL UNTIL END OF SEASON". Welling United F.C. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  23. ^ "KENT SENIOR CUP REPORT EBBSFLEET UNITED 2 WELLING UNITED 3". Welling United F.C. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Järvenlahti klar för inkommande säsong – två testspelare inkommande vecka" (in Finnish). FF Jaro. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  25. ^ @EBTheDeres (3 September 2023). "Deres sign Sadik Balarabe." (Tweet). Retrieved 7 September 2023 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "Erith & Belvedere – Appearances – Sadik Balarabe – 2023-2024". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  27. ^ @vcd_club (30 December 2023). "Full time result 2-0 to VCD" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ Sadik Balarabe at Soccerway
  29. ^ "Sadik Balarabe Player Agent". playeragent.gr. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Futbolcu Bilgileri TFF" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  31. ^ a b "SADIK BALARABE informations" (in Turkish). Cyprus Turkish Football Association. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  32. ^ "Cray Wanderers – Appearances – Sadik Balarabe". footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  33. ^ "MTG ŞAMPİYON". havadiskibris.com (in Turkish). 12 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  34. ^ "MAĞUSA TÜRK GÜCÜ - YENİCAMİ AK match details". ktff.org. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  35. ^ "Futbolda başarılılar ödüllerini alacakKaynak: Futbolda başarılılar ödüllerini alacak". sporyeni.com (in Turkish). 2 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Nicosia Gruop Kıbrıs Kupası Finalinden Notlar". halkinsesikibris.com (in Turkish). 14 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.