Tunde Owolabi is probably not a familiar name unless follow the English non-league scene. Then, you will know exactly who he is.
Supporters in Scotland could be about to find out as well, as Owolabi has been given an opportunity to play as a trialist for Hamilton Academical of the Scottish Premiership.
The striker featured in Hamilton’s pre-season friendly against Rangers on Friday. Ronan Hughes gave Hamilton the lead but Rangers went on to win the game 2-1, via goals from Calvin Bassey and Alfredo Morelos.
Tunde Owolabi Given Trial at Hamilton Academical
Who is Tunde Owolabi?
Owolabi currently plays for FC United of Manchester. The club was formed in 2005, as a protest against Malcolm Glazer’s takeover of Manchester United. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division – the seventh tier of English football.
During the 2019/20 season, Owolabi received plenty of rave reviews. He scored 35 goals in all competitions last season, a magnificent tally, but this statistic is even more impressive when you realise two things.
First, the 2019/20 non-league season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, giving the striker even less time to increase his goal tally. Second, because Owolabi only joined FC United on August 31st 2019. He missed their first few games of the season, once again giving him less time than he could have had. His performances have earned him the FotMob Northern Premier League Player of the 2019/20 Season award. The votes were cast by readers of the Non-League Paper.
Chance Meeting at an Airport
Owolabi, who is 24 years-of-age, joined FC United from Victoria Hotspurs of Malta. His spell at Victoria Hotspurs was very brief, but it gave him the opportunity to play professionally.
He had finished the 2018/19 season as Radcliffe FC’s top scorer, thereby helping the Manchester-based club to promotion from the eighth tier of English football.
This earned him the chance to move to Malta. However, a chance sighting of Owolabi at Manchester Airport led to his transfer to FC United.
Having been alerted to Owolabi’s return to Manchester, Neil Reynolds – the manager of FC United – offered him the opportunity to sign. Reynolds was on the hunt for a new striker following injuries to key players. This coincidence is much in the same vein as Sean Dyche recently admitting that he signed Peter Crouch after the pair met at the Isle of Wight music festival.
Such is the talent of Owolabi that FC United offered him a contract in November 2019. There’s nothing too unusual about a footballer accepting a contract, except that FC United only offer contracts to players in “very specific circumstances, where players meet a number of criteria”.
Life Before FC United
Originally the product of the Manchester Football Academy, Owolabi had previously played for FC United’s Development Team during the 2013/14 season. He has also represented Hyde United and New Mills AFC-both are clubs based in the Greater Manchester area.
Owolabi moved to the UK from Belgium, where the name Owolabi is well-known. This is because Ganiyu Owolabi, Tunde’s father, played professionally for Royal Antwerp. Ganiyu also featured for Belgian sides Berchem Sport and FC Denderleeuw, plus various other clubs worldwide.
It is yet unknown whether Hamilton will offer Owolabi a permanent contract. Regardless, it seems that Tunde Owolabi is one to watch, as he seems destined to be playing at a higher level than next season’s Northern Premier League.
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