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Raddy Ovouka

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Raddy Ovouka
Personal information
Full name Raddy Machel Hokemba Ovouka
Date of birth (1999-12-07) 7 December 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth Congo
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Drita Gjilan (loan from Accra Hearts of Oak)
Number 26
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– Accra Hearts of Oak 46 (1)
2022 → New Mexico United (loan) 9 (0)
2023– → Drita Gjilan (loan) 43 (3)
International career
2020– Congo 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 June 2024

Raddy Machel Hokemba Ovouka (born 7 December 1999) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as left-back for Drita Gjilan in the Football Superleague of Kosovo on loan from Ghana Premier League club Accra Hearts of Oak and the Congo national team.[1]

Ovouka joined Accra Hearts of Oak in 2018, he quickly rose through the ranks and helped the club to win the Ghana Premier League and Ghana FA Cup in 2021. His performances also led him to be considered as the best left-back in the Ghana Premier League.[2][3] In 2022, he spent time on loan at USL Championship side New Mexico United before embarking on another loan deal to Kosovo-based club Drita Gjilan.

Ovouka has represented the Congo national team and made his senior international debut in March 2021.

Club career

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Hearts of Oak

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In January 2018, Ovouka joined Accra Hearts of Oak. He was a member of their squad during their GHALCA Top 8 competition, but he did not any appearance. He made his official debut on 24 March 2018, starting in their 3–1 loss to Ashanti Gold during the 2018 Ghana Premier League season. He played 43 minutes before being substituted for Isaac Mensah.[4] That was his only appearance that season as the league was abandoned due to the dissolution of the GFA in June 2018, as a result of the Anas Number 12 Expose.[5] During the 2019 GFA Normalisation Competition, he played two matches as Hearts made it to the championship semi-final playoff.[5] Ovouka had his breakthrough season during the 2019–20 season displacing William Dankyi from the left-back position. He started and played the whole 90 minutes in 12 matches, missing only two matches within that period before the league was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.[5] His performances earned him a nomination for the Congolese footballer of the year in 2020.[6]

In January 2021, Ovouka extended his contract by two years.[7] In the 2020–21 season, Ovouka was Hearts of Oak's first choice left-back in their double winning season. He played 29 league matches, scored one goal and made three assists to help Hearts in winning the 2020–21 Ghana Premier League after a 12-year trophy drought.[5][8] His only goal of the season was his debut goal, which was scored on 7 March 2021 during Samuel Boadu's first game in charge, helping Hearts to a 4–0 victory over West African Football Academy.[9] Ovouka played the full 90 minutes plus extra time in the 2021 Ghana FA Cup final, scoring Hearts' eighth penalty in the penalty shootout to help them complete their domestic double.[10] At the end of the season, he was regarded as the best left-back in the league and was reportedly a target for a Ligue 1 club as well as other African clubs.[3]

New Mexico United

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On 5 January 2022, it was announced that, as a result of a contract dispute, Ovouka would be loaned to USL Championship club New Mexico United.[11][12] On 8 January, New Mexico announced the signing of Ovouka on a one-year loan deal with option for a permanent transfer at the end of the loan spell.[11][13] He made debut on 31 March 2022, coming on in the 90th minute for Sergio Rivas in a 2–2 draw against Oakland Roots.[14] On 6 April, he made his first start for the club in the second round of U.S. Open Cup, scoring the 3rd goal in their 5–0 victory over Las Vegas Legends.[15][16]

Drita Gjilan

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In January 2023, Ovouka joined Football Superleague of Kosovo club Drita Gjilan on a one-year contract which would run until January 2024.[17]

International career

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On the back of his performance in the Ghana Premier League, Ovouka received his first call-up to the Congo national team in March 2020 ahead of the team's 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Eswatini.[18] He made his debut on 26 March 2021 playing the full 90 minutes in their goalless draw against Senegal in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Group I.[19]

Career statistics

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International

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As of match played 18 June 2023[20]
Congo
Year Apps Goals
2021 5 0
2022 3 0
2023 1 0
Total 9 0

Honours

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Hearts of Oak

References

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  1. ^ "Raddy Ovouka earns Congo call up, set to miss Hearts of Oak's season opener". GhanaWeb. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  2. ^ Tahiru, Fentuo (28 June 2021). "'Top Player': Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso awed by Raddy Ovouka's superclash performance". Citi Sports Online. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b Sarbah, Peter (5 July 2021). "Hearts of Oak to reject offers for Raddy Ovuoka". Graphic Online. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Match Report of Accra Hearts of Oak SC vs Ashanti Gold SC - Zylofon Cash Premier League". Global Sports Archive. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Raddy Ovouka - player profile & career statistics". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Hearts of Oak defender Raddy Ovouka nominated for Congolese footballer of the year 2020 award". GhanaSoccernet. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Raddy Ovouka signs two-year contract extension with Hearts of Oak - Reports". GhanaWeb. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  8. ^ Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (17 July 2021). "Hearts of Oak crowned 2020/21 Ghana Premier League champions [Photos]". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  9. ^ "2020/21 Ghana Premier League: Week 17 Match Report - Hearts of Oak 4-0 WAFA". GhanaSoccernet. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Hearts of Oak beats Ashgold on penalties to win MTN FA Cup". GhanaWeb. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  11. ^ a b "New Mexico Acquires Congolese International Raddy Ovuoka". USL Championship. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Hearts defender Raddy Ovouka joins American side New Mexico United for 2022". GhanaWeb. GhanaWeb. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  13. ^ "New Mexico United announces loan deal for Congolese star defender Raddy Ovouka". New Mexico United. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Match Report of New Mexico United vs Oakland Roots SC - 2022-03-31 - USL Championship". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  15. ^ Biddulph, Seth (6 April 2022). "2022 US Open Cup Round 2: New Mexico United dominates Las Vegas to earn first home win". US Open Cup. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  16. ^ Sickenger, Ken (6 April 2022). "It's all United in 5-0 victory in U.S. Open Cup opener". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Congo defender Raddy Ovouka joins FC Drita on loan from Hearts of Oak". Ghanasoccernet. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Hearts of Oak defender Raddy Ovouka earns first Congo national team call up". GhanaSoccernet. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Match Report of Congo vs Senegal – 2021-03-26 – Total Africa Cup of Nations Qualification". Global Sports Archive. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Raddy Ovouka". National Football Teams. 14 September 2023.
  21. ^ Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (17 July 2021). "Hearts of Oak crowned 2020/21 Ghana Premier League champions [Photos]". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
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