Oumar Ballo (born 2 April 1991) is a Malian footballer.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | April 2, 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Bamako, Mali | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Baltimore Boys | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011 | CCBC-Essex Knights | 15 | (2) |
| 2012–2014 | UMBC Retrievers | 65 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2013 | Baltimore Bohemians | 21 | (0) |
| 2014 | Reading United | 7 | (1) |
| 2015 | Houston Dynamo | 0 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Charleston Battery (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Swope Park Rangers | 41 | (1) |
| 2018 | Northern Virginia United | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 May 2018 | |||
Career edit
College and amateur edit
Ballo began his college soccer career at Community College of Baltimore County in 2011, before transferring to University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2012.[1]
Ballo also played in the Premier Development League for Baltimore Bohemians in 2012 and 2013, and Reading United A.C. in 2014.[2][3]
Professional edit
On January 15, 2015, Ballo was selected in the second round (30th overall) in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Houston Dynamo and signed a professional contract with the club on February 23, 2015.[4][5]
Ballo signed on loan with United Soccer League side Charleston Battery on March 24, 2015.[6] However, Ballo was waived by Houston on April 23, 2015 without having made a first team appearance for either club.[7] He trialled with D.C. United following his release, but wasn't signed by the Major League Soccer club.[8]
On January 11, 2016, Ballo was signed by United Soccer League side Swope Park Rangers.[9]
On November 30, 2017, Ballo was announced as one of Nashville SC's first signings ahead of their inaugural 2018 United Soccer League season.[10] However, the team later announced that Ballo would not be joining the team due to visa issues.[11]
Ballo spent 2018 with National Premier Soccer League side Northern Virginia United FC, making two regular season appearances and a single play-off appearance for the club.[12]
Personal edit
Ballo moved to the United States from Mali when he was nine-years-old, settling with his father and step-mother in Baltimore, Maryland. His father's wife at the time, Audrey Haskins, was instrumental in guiding Oumar's education and introduction to soccer in America[13]
References edit
- ^ 18 Oumar Ballo (1991-04-02). "Oumar Ballo - UMBC". Umbcretrievers.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Oumar Ballo". SoccerStats.us. 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "Player Stats". Uslpdl.com. 2011-07-13. Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "Former Curley and UMBC soccer star Oumar Ballo selected in the MLS SuperDraft". Baltimore Sun. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "sign 2015 MLS SuperDraft selections Oumar Ballo, Rob Lovejoy and Taylor Hunter". Houston Dynamo. 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "loan Oumar Ballo, Memo Rodriguez to Charleston Battery". Houston Dynamo. 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "waive defender Oumar Ballo". Houston Dynamo. 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "D.C. United transfer news and rumors: UMBC product Oumar Ballo on trial with the Black-and-Red". Black And Red United. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "Swope Park Rangers add Oumar Ballo and Ualefi Rodrigues dos Reis | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ SC, Nashville (2017-11-30). "Nashville SC Signs MLS Cup Champion Matt Pickens As First-Ever Player". Nashville SC. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- ^ SC, Nashville (2018-01-23). "Former Nashville SC Developmental Player, Two Midfielders Round Out Initial 2018 Roster". Nashville SC. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- ^ "National Premier Soccer League".
- ^ "Video: SPR defender Oumar Ballo drafted from UMBC in 2015 MLS SuperDraft | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-05-09.