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Michael Dokunmu

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Michael Dokunmu
Personal information
Full name Michael Folabi Dokunmu[1]
Date of birth (2006-04-09) 9 April 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Kimberley, South Africa[1]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Vitesse
Number 29
Youth career
0000 Little Kickers
0000 Old Parks
0000 Randburg FC
0000 SuperSport United
2020– Vitesse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Vitesse 1 (0)
International career
2023– South Africa U17 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 August 2024

Michael Folabi Dokunmu (born 9 April 2006) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dutch Eerste Divisie side Vitesse.

Early life

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Dokunmu was born in Kimberley, South Africa, to a Nigerian father and a South African mother.[2]

Club career

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Dokunmu started his career at a number of youth clubs in South Africa before joining professional side SuperSport United.[2] In December 2019, his mother accepted a job in the Netherlands, and Dokunmu's family moved to the country.

The following summer, he went on trial with Eredivisie side Vitesse, before being accepted into their academy.[2] He signed his first professional contract with the club in August 2022.[2][3] He became Vitesse's third-youngest debutant, behind Brahim Darri and Mitchell van Bergen, when he appeared in a friendly game against SC Heerenveen.[2]

International career

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Eligible to represent South Africa and Nigeria through his parents, as well as the Netherlands, he was called up to the under-17 side of the latter for a training camp in January 2023.[2][4] However, in April of the same year, he switched his international allegiance to South Africa, and was called up to their under-17 side ahead of the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.[5] He stated that he had chosen to represent South Africa as it was his birthplace, and that he hoped to represent the nation's senior squad in future.[5]

Personal life

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His brother, Ethan, is also a footballer, and currently also plays in the academy of Vitesse.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Michael Dokunmu at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Michael Dokunmu groeit bij Vitesse" [Michael Dokunmu is growing at Vitesse]. vitesse.nl (in Dutch). 29 March 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. ^ Droog, Julian (19 August 2022). "Zuid-Afrikaans talent tekent eerste contract bij Vitesse" [South African talent signs first contract with Vitesse]. gelderlander.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (13 January 2023). "Netherlands make move to beat Nigeria, South Africa to talented Vitesse midfielder". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b Qoshe, Yolulwe (18 April 2023). "EXCLUSIVE: Michael Dokunmu ' Why I chose South Africa over Nigeria'". thesouthafrican.com. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
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