Osayamen Osawe

Osayamen Osawe

Osayamen Osawe playing for Hallescher FC
Personal information
Full name	Osayamen Osawe
Date of birth	(1993-09-13) 13 September 1993
Place of birth	Benin City, Nigeria[1]
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current team	1. FC Kaiserslautern
Number	35
Youth career
????–2010	Manchester City
2010–2012	Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2013	Blackburn Rovers	0	(0)
2012	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)	2	(0)
2013	→ Hyde (loan)	1	(0)
2013–2014	Southport	41	(6)
2014–2016	Hallescher FC	70	(17)
2016–	1. FC Kaiserslautern	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 05:03, 30 August 2016 (UTC).

Osayamen Osawe (born 13 September 1993) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for 1. FC Kaiserslautern. In addition to holding his Nigerian Citizenship, Osawe also holds British citizenship^[2]

Career

Career in England

Born in Benin City, Nigeria, Osawe moved to England and raised in Manchester, England, where he grew up in Cheetham Hill.^[3] Osawe was previously at Manchester City Academy before joining Blackburn Rovers on a two–year contract in 2010,^[4] where he progressed through the academy and the reserve team.^[5]

He made his first appearance for Blackburn's first team when he appeared on the substitute bench in a pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley in July 2011.^[6] A year later, on 26 October 2012, Osawe joined Accrington Stanley on a one month loan deal.^[7] Three days later, on 29 October 2012, Osawe made his Accrington Stanley debut, coming on as a substitute for Will Hatfield in the 59th minutes, in a 1–0 win over Bristol Rovers.^[8] After making two more appearance, Osawe returned to his parent club.

On 30 January 2013, Osawe was loaned out again when he joined Hyde on a one month loan deal.^[9] Osawe made his Hyde debut on 2 February 2013, where he played 17 minutes in the match, as Hyde lost 2–1 to Woking.^[10] This turns out to be his only appearance before returning to his parent club. At the end of the season, Osawe was released by the club.^[11]

On 9 August 2013, Osawe signed for Southport following his release from Blackburn Rovers.^[12] Osawe made his Southport, where he came on as a substitute for Paul Rutherford in the 88th minutes, in a 1–0 win over Luton Town.^[13] Osawe scored his first Southport goal on 31 August 2013, in a 1–0 win over Aldershot Town,^[14] followed up by scoring in the next game on 7 September 2013, in a 4–1 loss against Tamworth.^[15] Osawe played 41 first team games and scoring some important goals, including addding four more goals later in the season against Alfreton Town,^[16] Grimsby Town,^[17] Dartford^[18] and Macclesfield Town.^[19]

Hallescher FC

After a season at Southport, Osawe moved abroad to Germany when he signed for Hallescher FC on a two–year contract in July 2014.^[20] Osawe previously went on a trial at Hallescher and impressed the club’s management that convinced him a contract.^[21] Upon moving abroad, Osawe admitted hesitant to move to Germany because he was on his own, but managed to overcome the fear.^[3]

Osawe made his Hallescher debut, in the opening game of the season, in a 3–0 loss against Chemnitzer on 26 July 2014.^[22] Seven days later, on 2 August 2014, Osawe scored his first goals, in a 5–1 win over Arminia Bielefeld.^[23] However, Osawe suffered a goal drought for the most part of the season until he scored his first goal since August on 14 March 2015, in a 3–1 win over Energie Cottbus.^[24] Osawe also scored four more league goals against Rot-Weiß Erfurt,^[25] Holstein Kiel,^[26] Jahn Regensburg^[27] and 1. FSV Mainz 05 II.^[28] Osawe also scored twice in the final of Saxony-Anhalt Cup, in a 6–0 win over VfL Halle 1896.^[29] In his first season at Hallescher FC, Osawe made thirty–two appearance and scoring seven times.

As Osawe became the club’s fan favourite among supporters, the club started open a contract negotiation with Osawe.^[30] Osawe then scored his first goal of the season on 16 August 2015, in a 2–1 loss against FC Magdeburg.^[31] By September, Osawe added two more goals against Stuttgart^[32] and Rot-Weiß Erfurt.^[33] Osawe scored his first hat–trick of his professional career, in a 6–2 win over Werder Bremen,^[34] which followed up when he scored two goals in two matches against Chemnitzer^[35] and Fortuna Köln^[36] Osawe added two more goals against Holstein Kiel^[37] and Sonnenhof Großaspach.^[38] Osawe, once again, scored and set up a goal, in the final of Saxony-Anhalt Cup, in a 2–1 win over FC Magdeburg.^[39]

1. FC Kaiserslautern

In May, Osawe signed a pre-contract agreement with 2.Bundesliga outfit 1. FC Kaiserslautern.^[2] Osawe was previously linked with a move to Paderborn^[40] and Ingolstadt 04.^[41] Osawe also revealed that he could have played in 2.Bundesliga or returned to England before joining 1. FC Kaiserslautern.^[42]

Osawe made his 1. FC Kaiserslautern debut in the opening game of the season, where he made his first start, in a 4–0 heavy defeat to Hannover 96.^[43]

Style of play

Manager Sven Köhler described Osawe as quick and eager to score.^[44]

Career statistics

As of 4 February 2013

Personal life

Osawe, who is single speaks English and German, having been taking German classes at the recommendation from Sven Köhler. Osawe’s family moved from Nigeria to England in 2002 and has two brothers and sisters. Growing up, Osawe supported Manchester United.[45]

In August, Osawe’s car was dismantled after being involved in a car collision.^[46] This came after weeks when his car was vandalised with graffiti with racial words.^[47]

Honours

• Saxony-Anhalt Cup
  • 2015, 2016

References

External links

• Osayamen Osawe career statistics at Soccerbase
  
• Port Online Player Profile