Oumar Ballo (footballer)

Oumar Ballo (born 2 April 1991) is a Malian footballer.

For the basketball player, see Oumar Ballo (basketball).
Oumar Ballo
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-04-02) April 2, 1991
Place of birth Bamako, Mali
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Baltimore Boys
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 CCBC-Essex Knights 15 (2)
2012–2014 UMBC Retrievers 65 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Baltimore Bohemians 21 (0)
2014 Reading United 7 (1)
2015 Houston Dynamo 0 (0)
2015 → Charleston Battery (loan) 0 (0)
2016–2017 Swope Park Rangers 41 (1)
2018 Northern Virginia United 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 May 2018

Career

College and amateur

Ballo began his college soccer career at Community College of Baltimore County in 2011, before transferring to University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2012.[1]

Ballo also played in the Premier Development League for Baltimore Bohemians in 2012 and 2013, and Reading United A.C. in 2014.[2][3]

Professional

On January 15, 2015, Ballo was selected in the second round (30th overall) in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Houston Dynamo and signed a professional contract with the club on February 23, 2015.[4][5]

Ballo signed on loan with United Soccer League side Charleston Battery on March 24, 2015.[6] However, Ballo was waived by Houston on April 23, 2015 without having made a first team appearance for either club.[7] He trialled with D.C. United following his release, but wasn't signed by the Major League Soccer club.[8]

On January 11, 2016, Ballo was signed by United Soccer League side Swope Park Rangers.[9]

On November 30, 2017, Ballo was announced as one of Nashville SC's first signings ahead of their inaugural 2018 United Soccer League season.[10] However, the team later announced that Ballo would not be joining the team due to visa issues.[11]

Ballo spent 2018 with National Premier Soccer League side Northern Virginia United FC, making two regular season appearances and a single play-off appearance for the club.[12]

Personal

Ballo moved to the United States from Mali when he was nine-years-old, settling with his father and step-mother in Baltimore, Maryland. His father's wife at the time, Audrey Haskins, was instrumental in guiding Oumar's education and introduction to soccer in America[13]

References
  1. 18 Oumar Ballo (1991-04-02). "Oumar Ballo - UMBC". Umbcretrievers.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  2. "Oumar Ballo". SoccerStats.us. 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  3. "Player Stats". Uslpdl.com. 2011-07-13. Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  4. "Former Curley and UMBC soccer star Oumar Ballo selected in the MLS SuperDraft". Baltimore Sun. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  5. "sign 2015 MLS SuperDraft selections Oumar Ballo, Rob Lovejoy and Taylor Hunter". Houston Dynamo. 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  6. "loan Oumar Ballo, Memo Rodriguez to Charleston Battery". Houston Dynamo. 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  7. "waive defender Oumar Ballo". Houston Dynamo. 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  8. "D.C. United transfer news and rumors: UMBC product Oumar Ballo on trial with the Black-and-Red". Black And Red United. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  9. "Swope Park Rangers add Oumar Ballo and Ualefi Rodrigues dos Reis | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  10. SC, Nashville (2017-11-30). "Nashville SC Signs MLS Cup Champion Matt Pickens As First-Ever Player". Nashville SC. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  11. SC, Nashville (2018-01-23). "Former Nashville SC Developmental Player, Two Midfielders Round Out Initial 2018 Roster". Nashville SC. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  12. "National Premier Soccer League".
  13. "Video: SPR defender Oumar Ballo drafted from UMBC in 2015 MLS SuperDraft | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
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