Ismael Athuman

Ismael Said Athuman Mbaga (born 1 February 1995) is a professional footballer who plays for UD Las Palmas and the Kenya national team. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a defensive midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Athuman and the second or maternal family name is González.
Ismael Athuman
Personal information
Full name Ismael Said Athuman Mbaga
Date of birth (1995-02-01) 1 February 1995
Place of birth San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Spain[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Las Palmas
Number 13
Youth career
Maspalomas
0000–2011 Vecindario
2011–2014 Las Palmas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Las Palmas C
2014–2017 Las Palmas B 14 (0)
2016 → Cacereño (loan) 14 (0)
2017 Granada B 6 (0)
2017–2018 Fuenlabrada 12 (0)
2018–2019 Las Palmas B 20 (1)
2020 Las Palmas B 8 (2)
2020– Las Palmas 3 (0)
National team‡
2016– Kenya 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 December 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 June 2019

Club career

Athuman was born in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, to a Kenyan father and a Spanish mother, and played youth football with CD Maspalomas, UD Vecindario and UD Las Palmas. He had unsuccessful trials at Manchester City in 2013.[2]

After making his senior debut with Las Palmas' C-team in the regional leagues during the 2014–15 campaign, Athuman subsequently started to appear for the reserves in both Segunda División B and Tercera División. On 5 December 2015, he agreed to a loan deal with third division side CP Cacereño until the end of the season.[3]

Athuman subsequently returned to Las Palmas B in July 2016, but rescinded his contract the following 31 January,[4] and subsequently signed for Granada CF's reserves in the third tier.[5] On 13 July 2017, he moved to fellow league team CF Fuenlabrada.[6]

On 22 August 2018, Athuman returned to Las Palmas and their B-side, now also in the third division.[7] He left the club in the following July, but rejoined the side on 2 January 2020.[8]

On 5 October 2020, after playing for the main squad during the entire pre-season, Athuman was promoted to Las Palmas' first team in Segunda División.[9] He made his professional debut on 5 December, starting in a 0–0 away draw against SD Ponferradina.[10]

International career

Athuman received his first call from Kenya in mid May 2016, for a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Congo the following month. He made his debut on 31 May 2016 in a friendly with Sudan.[11]Represented the national team at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.[12]

Personal life

Athuman's father, Said Ali Athuman Mbaga, known as Billy, is a Kenyan contortionist and acrobat, who lives in Gran Canaria.[2]

References
  1. "Athuman" (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. "Billy, un artista de goma y de la UD" (in Spanish). La Provincia. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  3. "El central Ismael, cedido al Cacereño" [Stopper Ismael, loaned to Cacereño] (in Spanish). Tinta Amarilla. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  4. "Ismael, baja en el filial y el portero David, cedido al Estrella" [Ismael, departure in the reserves and goalkeeper David, loaned to Estrella] (in Spanish). Tinta Amarilla. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  5. "Nauzet García e Ismael Athuman, nuevos fichajes del Granada B" [Nauzet García and Ismael Athuman, new signings of Granada B] (in Spanish). Ideal. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  6. "Harambee Stars defender signs for Spanish side". Goal.com. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  7. "Ismael Athuman, nuevo fichaje de Las Palmas Atlético" [Ismael Athuman, new signing of Las Palmas Atlético] (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  8. "Ismael Athuman, nueva incorporación de Las Palmas Atlético" [Ismael Athuman, new addition of Las Palmas Atlético] (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  9. "Cristian Cedrés e Ismael Athuman, inscritos en el primer equipo" [Cristian Cedrés and Ismael Athuman, registered in the first team] (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  10. "Los palos y un gran Álex Domínguez evitaron los goles en El Toralín" [The post and a great Álex Domínguez avoid the goals at the El Toralín] (in Spanish). Marca. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  11. "Harambee Stars rallies to draw Sudan in friendly". Soka. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  12. https://footballkenya.org/harambee-stars-sebastien-migne-final-afcon-squad/
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