Yonis Abdirizak Farah (Somali: Yonis Cabdirisaaq Faarax; born 4 September 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a left back for Isthmian League South Central Division club Kingstonian. Born in England, he represents the Somalia national team.

Yonis Farah
Personal information
Full name Yonis Abdirizak Farah[1]
Date of birth (1999-09-04) 4 September 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth London, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
0000–2018 Southend United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Leatherhead 3 (0)
2019 Trysil FK 19 (1)
2020 Ytterhogdals 12 (1)
2021–2022 Eskilstuna City 11 (0)
2023 Banbury United 1 (0)
2023 Arlesey Town
2024 Kingstonian 4 (0)
International career
2019– Somalia 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:49, 6 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:50, 3 April 2022 (UTC)

Club career

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Farah played youth football for English club Southend United, before being released in May 2018.[2] In 2019, Farah signed for Norwegian club Trysil FK.[3] Ahead of the 2020 season, Farah joined Swedish Division 2 side Ytterhogdals, making his debut on 28 June against Piteå.[4]

On 28 July 2021, Farah returned to Sweden to join Division 2 side Eskilstuna City.[5]

In July 2023, Farah returned to England, joining National League North club Banbury United.[6] Following a short spell with Arlesey Town,[7] he joined Kingstonian in March 2024.

International career

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On 5 September 2019, Farah made his debut for Somalia in a 1–0 win against Zimbabwe, marking Somalia's first ever FIFA World Cup qualification victory.[8]

Personal life

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Farah has been described as a cousin of Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah.[9][10] Yonis Farah's father, Abdirizak, is currently chairman of Somali First Division club Elman.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Spillerstalln". Trysil FK (in Norwegian).
  2. ^ "Blues Confirm Retained/Released List". Southend United F.C. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Yonis Abdirizak Farah" (in Norwegian). Norges Fotballforbund. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Ytterhogdals IK - Piteå IF". svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). 28 June 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Vänsterbacken Yonis Farrah förstärker City!". facebook.com (in Swedish). 28 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Somalian international player signs for Banbury". www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  7. ^ @ArleseyTownFC (15 December 2023). "📣NEW SIGNING 📣 We welcome Yonis Farah to Arlesey Town. @cooney07 has been very busy but said this about Yonis. #ArleseyTown #NonLeague" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 March 2024 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Somalia vs. Zimbabwe". National Football Teams. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Southend United's Yonis Farah inspired by cousin Mo Farah's Olympic gold medal display". Basildon Echo. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Sir Mo Farah reveals he was trafficked to the UK as a child". BBC News. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Four football club bosses in Djibouti to encourage Ocean stars". Somali Football Federation. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
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