Sebastien Summerfield (born 11 February 2002) is a Zimbabwean footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for FC Kilchberg in Zürich, Switzerland[2][3] as well as the founder of the SRS Foundation, which empowers grassroots footballers in Zimbabwe.
 Sebastien Summerfield with FC Kilchberg | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 February 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Harare, Zimbabwe | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfield/wingback | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | FC Kilchberg | ||
| Number | 13 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2019 | Legends Academy | ||
| 2019–2021 | Gateshead | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Newcastle Blue Star[1][better source needed] | 13 | (7) |
| 2021– | FC Kilchberg | 45 | (10) |
| International career | |||
| 2020– | Zimbabwe U20 | 1 | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life and education
editSummerfield was born and raised in the Newlands suburb of Harare.[4] He was schooled in his home country Zimbabwe.[5] He began playing football at a very early age[6] and started playing academy football at Celebration Centre aged 6. He attended Harare International School till 2020. While there, Summerfield was coached by former Zimbabwe Warriors Player, Alan Johnson.[7]
International career
editAt age 17, Summerfield was scouted by former Bafana Bafana player and Newcastle FC midfielder; Matty Pattison to join Gateshead F.C., located in Gateshead, a location across the river from Newcastle upon Tyne (in the United Kingdom). Summerfield moved to Newcastle in 2019. While at Gateshead, Summerfield caught the eye of Zimbabwe U-20 National team Coach Tonderai Ndiraya.[8] who selected him to represent Zimbabwe at the 2020 COSAFA Tournament held in Nelson Mandela Bay.[9][10] Whilst at COSAFA, Summerfield was handpicked by FC Kilchberg in Zürich, Switzerland.[11] Summerfield made his Swiss debut in October 2021.[12]
Zimbabwe's FIFA Ban
editEarly in 2023, Summerfield added his voice[13] to the growing outcry by prominent players such as Bill Antonio and Tino Kadewere over Zimbabwe's indefinite suspension on the international playing field since February 2022[14] citing the bans' stunting of young Zimbabwean talent.[15]
Philanthropic work
editSummerfield has hosted a series of Under-16 scouting tournaments in the low income areas of Harare, Zimbabwe[4] where he has helped scout talent from low income areas.[16] The grassroots football project has held tournaments in Dzivarasekwa, Mabvuku and Mbare.[17] Summerfield is the founder of the SRS foundation Zimbabwe. A grassroots football foundation which empowers footballers through education and professional opportunities in the football world. Summerfield has also been appointed as Sporting Director of Bulawayo based Football team, Ajax Hotspur FC.
Career statistics
edit| Club | Season | League | National | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Assists | Division | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Zimbabwe National Team | November–December 2020 | COSAFA U-20 National Tournament | |||||||
| FC Kilchberg-Ruschilkon | 2021–23 | 45 | 10 | 15 | |||||
| Gateshead | 2020–21 | U-20 | 3 | 0 | 2 | ||||
| Newcastle Blue Star | 2020–21 | 13 | 7 | 7 | |||||
| Dynamos FC | 2020, 2021, 2022 | Zimbabwe Premier League | |||||||
| FC Winterthur | U-21 Pre-Season Training | ||||||||
| FC Schaffhausen | U-21 Pre-Season Training | ||||||||
| FC Thalwil | U-21 Pre-Season Training | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Zimbabwe To Scotchy".
- ^ "Young Warrior using football to rebuild lives". herald.co.zw.
- ^ "Young Warrior Summerfield on the move". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ a b "NEW: Summerfield's undying love for the ghetto". The Sunday Mail. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Countries show high interest in Zimbabwe at Dubai Expo". The Chronicle. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Sebastien Summerfield's Men's Soccer Recruiting Profile". ncsasports.org. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "Johnson marvels at HIS products' success". The Standard. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ "When we were kings… Zim's dominance in the Super Diski fades". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "Three Bulawayo boys leave Under 20 camp". The Chronicle. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Foreign-based players in provisional Zim U20 squad". Soccer24. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Nkosi, Joseph (6 February 2023). "Sebastien Summerfield biography, age, education & career - The Nation". Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "Young Warrior Summerfield on the move". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ "Fifa Ban: Zim Youth Footballer Speaks Out". ZimSeen. 23 March 2023. p. 9.
- ^ Matiashe, Farai Shawn. "FIFA's Zimbabwe ban shatters dreams of women soccer players | Context". context.news. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Muchinjo, Enock. "Will Zimbabwe be allowed to play international football again?". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "NEW: Football talent takes youngster from Domboshava to Mbare". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Summerfield hosts 4-team academy tourney". NewsDay. Retrieved 7 February 2023.