Mustapha Dumbuya

Mustapha Dumbuya
Personal information
Full nameMustapha Sima Michael Dumbuya[1]
Date of birth7 August 1987
Place of birthSierra Leone[2]
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[3]
Playing positionRight-back, Winger
Club information
Current team
Notts County
Number2
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2007Wingate & Finchley
2007–2008Maidenhead United
2008–2009Potters Bar Town17(1)
2009–2012Doncaster Rovers36(0)
2012→ Crystal Palace (Loan)2(0)
2012–2013Portsmouth23(0)
2013Crawley Town15(0)
2013–Notts County50(0)
National team
2012–Sierra Leone7(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:39, 12 April 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Mustapha Sima Michael Dumbuya (born 7 August 1987) is a Sierra Leonean professional footballer who plays as a defender for League One side Notts County.

Early life

Born in Sierra Leone, Dumbuya was five years old when he fled his country to start a new life in England along with his mother and brother after his country was on a Civil War. His father was in the country working for the army. He said:"I was born in Sierra Leone and came here when I was five. With the civil war happening all around us, my mum got me out. I went to London to live with my mum and brother. Obviously everything has settled down now over there and it’s a beautiful country. My dad is still over there, though. He works for the army. We came to England and had to build a new life – it has been tough – but now I have the opportunity to play for my country."[4]

Club career

Non-League

Dumbuya started his career in the English non-League circuit. He began with Wingate & Finchley before moving on to Conference South side Maidenhead United. In 2008 he joined Isthmian League team Potters Bar Town making 17 appearances and scoring one goal in his season with "The Scholars".

Doncaster Rovers

Dumbuya joined Doncaster Rovers in August 2009 from Isthmian League club Potters Bar Town.[5] He also had trials and trained with Grays Athletic, Gillingham, Hereford United and Fulham before joining Doncaster. He made his Football League debut on 3 October 2009 for Doncaster Rovers in the 1–1 away draw with Sheffield United, replacing John Spicer in the 90th minute as a substitute. In his three seasons at the Keepmoat Stadium he made 36 appearances without scoring. He was signed by Sean O'Driscoll and played 3 games in his first season (2009–10). The next season he played regularly in the first team making 23 appearances. In September 2011 Doncaster sacked O'Driscoll and replaced him with then Wrexham manager Dean Saunders. Dumbuya made just 10 appearances for Saunders a the 2011–12 Championship season. At the end of the season, Doncaster were relegated to the League One after a 4–2 home defeat to Portsmouth, and he was released shortly after.[6]

Crystal Palace (loan)

On 6 January 2012, Dumbuya signed on loan to Crystal Palace, on a one-month deal.[7] He received the No. 41 jersey, and made his debut in the following day, against Derby County.[8] On 14 January, Dumbuya made his league debut, against Leeds United.[9] He only made one more appearance against Blackpool before returning to Doncaster.

Portsmouth

In June 2012 it was announced that Dumbuya joined Portsmouth on trial.[10] Due to "Pompey" not being able to sign any players as they could not afford the wages he could only train with the blues and not sign. He was one of over twenty other footballers who were on trial with the club. Dumbuya played in pre-season matches in Spain and Gibraltar. He took part in the two matches played out there. The first game he took part in was in a 4–0 loss to the Gibraltar National Football Team and the second was against Brighton & Hove Albion. Back in England Dumbuya played in a further three pre-season matches in wins against Bolton at Fratton Park and two matches away from home against Aldershot Town and AFC Wimbledon. On 16 August, Dumbuya signed a one-month contract with Portsmouth.[11] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw at home to Bournemouth in League One. During his first month at Fratton Park he impressed and gained the respect of the fans with some great performances,[12] including a fantastic solo run in a game against Colchester United dashing from his own box to the opposition setting up Jordan Obita for Portsmouth to pick up a 90th minute equaliser. He was released alongside four players on 15 January 2013.[13]

Crawley Town

After his release from Portsmouth, Dumbuya joined fellow League One side Crawley Town a week later on 22 January 2013, on a six-month contract.[14] He made his debut on 2 February, against Swindon Town.

Notts County

On 2 July 2013 Dumbaya agreed a two-year contract with Notts County.[15]

International career

Dumbuya was called up to the Sierra Leone squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against São Tomé and Príncipe, however a mix up with tickets meant it was too late for him to join up with the squad. Dumbuya said; "Obviously I’m a bit gutted to miss out but the next qualifier is in June and I hope to be called up again then."[16] He was called up again in August 2012 for the qualifier against Tunisia. [17]

On 14 October, he finally made his debut for Leone Stars, in the second tie against Tunisia.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Dumbuya, MSM (Mustapha)", English National Football Archive
  2. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 465. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ↑ "Mustapha Dumbuya Profile". NottsCounty.co.uk.
  4. ↑ "Pompey star poised to fulfil international dream". Portsmouth News. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Season Archive for 2008/09". Potters Bar Town's official website. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Doncaster Rovers release James Hayter and John Oster; BBC Sport, 18 May 2012
  7. ↑ Crystal Palace sign Egan & Dumbuya ; extend Martin stay; BBC Sport, 6 January 2012
  8. ↑ Derby 1–0 Crystal Palace; BBC Sport, 7 January 2012
  9. ↑ Crystal Palace 1–1 Leeds United; BBC Sport, 14 January 2012
  10. ↑ "Dumbuya on trial at Portsmouth". South Yorkshire Times. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  11. ↑ New Faces At Fratton; Portsmouth FC's official website, 16 August 2012
  12. ↑ "Dumbuya: There will be no Blues exodus". Portsmouth News. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Portsmouth confirm six players have left the club". BBC. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "Crawley Town sign Mustapha Dumbuya and Connor Essam". BBC. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  15. ↑ http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/article/notts-secure-dumbuya-signing-890278.aspx
  16. ↑ "Dumbuya forced to withdraw from Sierra Leone squad". Doncaster Free Press. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  17. ↑ "Sierra Leone pick Nigerian to face Tunisia". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "Dumbuya commended for impressive performance on Leone Stars debut". Sierra Leone Football. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.

External links