Abdul Majeed Waris

Majeed Waris

With Spartak in 2013
Personal information
Full nameAbdul Majeed Waris[1]
Date of birth19 September 1991
Place of birthTamale, Northern region, Ghana
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Trabzonspor
Number28
Youth career
2007–2008Right to Dream Academy
2008–2009Hartpury College
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2010–2012BK Häcken63(30)
2013–2014Spartak Moscow15(1)
2014→ Valenciennes (loan)16(9)
2014–Trabzonspor12(0)
National team‡
2012–Ghana19(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 April 2015

Abdul Majeed Waris (Arabic: عبد المجيد واريس‎) (born 19 September 1991)[2] is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig, and the Ghanaian national team.[3]

Career

Born in Tamale, Majeed started his career at the Ghanaian Right to Dream Academy when he was twelve.[4] He moved to England and joined Hartpury College where he would go on to feature in the reserves side at Forest Green Rovers.[5][6]

BK Häcken

In October 2009, he signed a four-year contract with Swedish Allsvenskan side BK Häcken for an undisclosed fee.[7] He made his début in March 2010 as a substitute for Dominic Chatto, in a 4–2 home win against Trelleborgs FF.[8] In May 2012, he netted his first hat-trick, scoring five goals, in a 6–0 home win against IFK Norrköping.[9] As a result, he became the first player in Allsvenskan to score five goals in one match in the 21st century.[9] He also became the first Ghanaian to score five goals in single top-flight game in Europe as well as becoming the leading goalscorer in the Allsvenskan with 12 goals in nine games.[10] In conclusion of the Allsvenskan season, Majeed was named the Swedish Premier League's player of the year, which GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi quoted: "His achievements have brought honour to our country."[11]

His performance at Häcken earned him a transfer speculation by being linked with Bundesliga clubs, such as Werder Bremen,[12] Hamburg,[12] Saint-Étienne,[12] Catania[12] and Arsenal.[13]

Spartak Moscow

Majeed playing for Spartak Moscow in 2013.

In November 2012, Majeed was transferred to Spartak Moscow for an undisclosed fee.[14] He made his RFPL debut on 10 March 2013, coming on as an 82nd minute substitute in Spartak's 3–1 win over FC Terek Grozny. However, his first team chance at Spartak Moscow was limited, due to the dominance of strikers, such as Emmanuel Emenike, Yura Movsisyan, Artyom Dzyuba and Ari.

He scored his first PFPL goal on 8 December 2013, in a 1-0 away victory over FC Rostov, scoring on the 88th minute. After scoring his first goal, Majeed was voted the Russian Premier League player of the week.[15] Following the start of the winter break, Majeed want to leave the club, citing earning a first team place in the World Cup.[16]

Valenciennes (loan)

In January 2014, he was loaned to Ligue 1 club Valenciennes, until 30 June 2014.[17] Upon the move, Majeed received number twenty-nine shirt.[18] Majeed made his debut for the club and scored his first goal for the club, in a 3-2 win over Bastia on 14 January 2014.[19] As a result on his debut, Majeed was named Goal.com Ghana Player of the Week on 14 January 2014.[20] After scoring twice in six appearance, Majeed scored twice on 22 February 2014, in a 2-2 draw against Sochaux.[21] Majeed would scored five times in four consecutive games.

After series of Valenciennes defeat which left the club relegated to Ligue 2, Majeed was in tears because of this.[22] Initially aiming to score eleven goals, Majeed would went on to score nine goals in his loan spell at Valenciennes.[23] Despite the relegation, Majeed expressed desire to stay in France by making the move a permanent one.[24] Majeed would return to Spartak Moscow, but hopes that the club will bounce back to Ligue 1.[25]

Trabzonspor

On 1 September 2014, Waris join Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor for worth €5.5 million on a four-year contract.[26][27] Waris was previously was linked with a move to Lille, but Spartak Moscow rejected a bid from the club.[28]

Waris made his Trabzonspor debut on 14 September 2014, in a 0-0 draw against Fenerbahçe, where he played 90 minutes and as a left wing in attack.[29] Two months later, on 6 November 2014, Waris scored his first goal for the club, which came in the Europa League, in a 1-1 draw against Lokeren.[30]

International career

Majeed was called up to the Ghana squad against Chile in February 2012, replacing the both injured André and Jordan Ayew.[31] He came on as a substitute for Richard Mpong, as Ghana earned a 1–1 away draw at the PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.[32][33] He scored the third goal in Ghana's 4–0 in World Cup Qualifying against Sudan on 24 March 2013 in Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. He also scored a goal against Egypt when Ghana defeated Egypt 6–1 in Kumasi in the first leg of the final World Cup qualifier.

On 12 May 2014, Majeed was named in a provisional 26-man squad in the 2014 FIFA World Cup by Ghana manager James Kwesi Appiah.[34] Then on 2 June 2014, Majeed made the cut to be named in the 23-man squad.was named in Ghana's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[35]

Club

As of 8 March 2014
Club Season League Cup Other Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Trabzonspor 2014–15 110330051194
Total 11 0 3 3 0 0 5 1 19 4
Career Totals 11 0 3 3 0 0 5 1 19 4

Personal life

Majeed is a Muslim, and prays Salat before and after every game.[36]

Honors

Club

BK Häcken

References

  1. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 11 June 2014. p. 17. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Terneborn, Erik (22 April 2012). "Bönerna bakom styrkan på plan". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Majeed Waris SvFF profile" (in Swedish). Svenkfotboll.se. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Vodafone Ghana (26 July 2011). "Vodafone's partnership with Right to Dream Football Academy produces world class footballers". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Ex-Hartpury College footballer Abdul Majeed Waris in frame for World Cup call-up". Gloucestershire Echo. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "From Hartpury to Brazil: Waris’ extraordinary journey". Gloucestershire Gazette. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Lundgren, Henrik (15 October 2009). "Häcken värvar afrikansk talang". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Häcken i topp inför usel publiksiffra". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lindström, Håkan (16 May 2012). "Waris bjöd på målfyrverkeri". Sveriges Television (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Graduates Waris and Boateng Reach for the Stars!". Right to Dream Academy. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "Abdul Waris's player of the year award 'honours' Ghana". BBC Sport. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "Hamburg, Werder Bremen bid for Ghana striker Waris". Ghana Soccernet. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Hacken coach prefers Arsenal move for in-form Ghana striker Waris". Ghana Soccernet. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  14. ↑ ""СПАРТАК" И "ХЭКЕН" ДОСТИГЛИ СОГЛАШЕНИЯ О ПЕРЕХОДЕ УОРИСА". spartak.com. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  15. ↑ "Majeed Waris voted Russian Premier League player of the week". Spy Ghana. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Ghana striker Abdul-Majeed Waris set to leave Russia league ahead of 2014 World Cup". Ghana Soccernet. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "Officiel : Abdul Majeed Waris prêté au VAFC !" (in French). Valenciennes. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Ghana striker Abdul Majeed Waris handed No.29 jersey at Valenciennces". Ghana Soccernet. 4 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "Valenciennes 3-2 Bastia". ESPN Soccernet. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Ghana Player of the Week: Abdul Majeed Waris - Valenciennes". Goal.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "These four will count" [Football Ligue 1 26e journée Valenciennes-Sochaux, 20 heures Ces quatre-là vont compter] (in French). L'Equipe. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Waris: I wept after Nantes game". Goal.com. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  23. ↑ "Waris sets 11-goal target in Ligue 1". Goal.com. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  24. ↑ "Waris: I want to stay in France". Goal.com. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Waris backs relegated Valenciennes to make quick Ligue 1 return". Goal.com. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Ghanaian Waris and Malian Yatabare join Trabzonspor". BBC Sport. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  27. ↑ "Ghana’s Waris joins Trabzonspor". Goal.com. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  28. ↑ "Transfert Ni Waris, ni Yatabaré à Lille" (in French). L'Equipe. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  29. ↑ "Trabzonspor 0-0 Fenerbahçe" (in Turkish). Hurriyet Website. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  30. ↑ "KSC Lokeren 1-1 Trabzonspor". ESPN. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  31. ↑ Mensah, Kent (29 February 2012). "Ghana FA confirms Ayew brothers are out of Chile friendly". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  32. ↑ Gabriel, Kerith (1 March 2012). "Exciting night for Ghana, Chile at PPL Park". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  33. ↑ MTNfootball (1 March 2012). "Ghana share spoils with Chile in friendly". Mtnfootball.com. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  34. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Jeffery Schlupp selected in 26-man squad". BBC Sport. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  35. ↑ "Ghana World Cup 2014 squad". The Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  36. ↑ "Prayers behind the strength of the plan" [Bönerna bakom styrkan på plan] (in Swedish). expressen.se. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

External links