John Mary
John Mary Honi Uzuegbunam (born 9 March 1993) is a professional footballer who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab as a forward. Born in Nigeria, he represents Cameroon internationally.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Mary Honi Uzuegbunam | ||
| Date of birth | 9 March 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Nnobi, Anambra, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Al-Shabab | ||
| Number | 80 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2011 | AS Fortuna Yaoundé | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012 | Buriram United | ||
| 2012–2013 | BCC | ||
| 2013–2014 | Krabi | ||
| 2014 | Prachuap | ||
| 2015–2016 | Vojvodina | 1 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Rudar Velenje | 46 | (26) |
| 2018–2019 | Meizhou Hakka | 43 | (36) |
| 2019–2022 | Shenzhen | 32 | (20) |
| 2021 | → Avispa Fukuoka (loan) | 16 | (5) |
| 2022– | Al-Shabab | 2 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2011 | Cameroon U20 | ||
| 2021– | Cameroon | 1 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 February 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 September 2021 | |||
Club career
Born in the Anambra State in Nigeria, he moved to Cameroon to join AS Fortuna de Mfou Yaoundé's youth team.[1] On 28 March 2012 he was signed by Buriram United in what will be the beginning of three seasons spent in Thai football. His time with Buriram only lasted for a few months before he moved to fourth tier football club Bangkok Christian College on 1 August 2012.[2] A move to second tier club Krabi for the 2013 Thai Division 1 League would follow before ending his time in Thailand with fourth tier club Prachuap.
His advisor Ognjen Karisik would bring him to Europe where he had a trial with Serbian club Vojvodina who signed him on 24 January 2015 on a two-and-a-half year contract.[3] He made his debut in a Serbian Cup game against Kolubara on 28 October 2015 that ended in a goalless draw, before Vojvodina won 5–4 on penalties.[4] He would see very little playing time with the club after suffering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. His contract with Vojvodina was eventually terminated, and on 18 July 2016 he signed a one-year deal with Slovenian side Rudar Velenje.[5]
In January 2018, Mary moved to the China League One side Meizhou Hakka.[6] He made his debut and scored his first goal for the club in a league game against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright on 10 March 2018 that ended in a 2–1 defeat.[7] After winning the golden boot award at the end of the 2018 China League One campaign, Chinese top tier club Shenzhen signed him on 2 July 2019 halfway through the 2019 Chinese Super League season.[8]
On 30 January 2022, Mary joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab.[9]
International career
Despite being born in Nigeria, John Mary was naturalized and played for Cameroon U20 in 2011.
Since 2021 he has been receiving calls for the Cameroon senior team.[10] He made his debut on 6 September 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against the Ivory Coast, a 2–1 away loss. He substituted Moumi Ngamaleu in the 62nd minute.[11]
Career statistics
As of 31 December 2020[12]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vojvodina | 2014–15 | Serbian SuperLiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | Serbian SuperLiga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Rudar Velenje | 2016–17 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 30 | 17 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 18 | ||
| 2017–18 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 16 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 9 | |||
| Total | 46 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 27 | ||
| Meizhou Hakka | 2018 | China League One | 28 | 24 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 24 | ||
| 2019 | China League One | 15 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 12 | |||
| Total | 43 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 36 | ||
| Shenzhen | 2019 | Chinese Super League | 15 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 9 | ||
| 2020 | Chinese Super League | 17 | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 11 | |||
| Total | 32 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 20 | ||
| Career total | 122 | 82 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 83 | ||
Honours
Individual
- Slovenian PrvaLiga Top Goalscorer: 2016–17
- China League One Top Goalscorer: 2018
References
- "The Big Interview: John Mary Honi Uzuegbunam-"I didn't play for USD". kick442.com. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- "เสี่ยต้นบุกถึงเตียงเซ็นเจ.เอ็มร่วมทัพคริสเตียนแล้ว". smmonline.net. 1 August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- "Potpisao Džon Meri" [John Mary has signed] (in Serbian). FK Vojvodina. 24 January 2015. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- "Kolubara vs. Vojvodina 0–0". soccerway.com. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- "Džon Meri prešao u Rudar iz Velenja" [John Mary transferred to Rudar Velenje] (in Serbian). FK Vojvodina. 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- Uredništvo (15 January 2018). "John Mary zdaj pa res prestopil na Kitajsko" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- "China » League One 2018 » 1. Round » Shijiazhuang Ever Bright - Meizhou Hakka 2:1". worldfootball.net. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- "深圳官宣宣布约翰马里加盟 中甲大杀器将战中超". sports.sina.com.cn. 2 July 2019.
- "الشباب يعلن التعاقد مع الكاميروني "جون ماري"".
- John Mary at Soccerway
- "Ivory Coast v Cameroon game report". FIFA. 6 September 2021.
- "John Mary » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
External links
- John Mary at Soccerway