Joel Kasubandi Explained

Joel Kasubandi
Birth Date:25 May 1993
Birth Place:Kinshasa, Zaire
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Clydebank
Youthyears1:–2007
Youthclubs1:Celtic
Youthyears2:2007–2009
Youthclubs2:Tower Hearts U19
Youthyears3:2009–2011
Youthclubs3:St Mirren
Youthyears4:2011–2012
Youthclubs4:Greenock Morton
Years1:2012
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2015
Years3:2015–2017
Years4:2017–2018
Years5:2018–2020
Years6:2021–
Club-Update:17 October 2018

Joel Kasubandi (born 25 May 1993) is a Congolese footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish club Clydebank.

Having moved to Scotland as a child, he began his professional career with St Mirren before making his senior debut for Greenock Morton in 2012. Moving to junior football, he played for Vale of Clyde before joining Clydebank in 2015. He signed for Kilbirnie Ladeside in August 2018.

Early life

Kasubandi was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1993. When he was 9 years old, his family moved to Glasgow, Scotland, where he grew up in the Sighthill area of the city.[1] Kasubandi attended Cleveden Secondary School in Kelvindale, Glasgow, followed by Reid Kerr College in Paisley.[2] He played youth football for Celtic, where he became a close friend of teammate Islam Feruz, but was released at the age of 14 because he was considered too small.

Career

After starting his career with Tower Hearts U19s,[3] Kasubandi moved to St Mirren where he player for the U19 squad for the 2010–11 season.[4]

After being released by Saints, he signed for local rivals Greenock Morton, and made his début as a substitute on 14 April 2012. He claimed an assist for the first consolation goal as Morton came back from 4–0 down to narrowly lose by a solitary goal.[5] He was released by Morton in a mass clear-out in May 2012.[6]

In July 2012, Joel joined Second Division side Ayr United on trial – with his first appearance being in a 4–0 win over Champions League qualifiers Motherwell of the SPL.[7] He scored in his first start for Ayr, in a 4–1 defeat by Partick Thistle.[8]

Since leaving Ayr he has also played trial matches for the reserve sides of Preston North End and Dumbarton.[9]

In August 2013, Kasubandi signed for Vale of Clyde.[10] He moved to Clydebank two years later.[11]

In 2017, Kasubandi signed with North Ayrshire Junior side Largs Thistle;[12] a year later he moved on to local rivals Kilbirnie Ladeside.[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: Wilson. Fraser. Clydebank striker Joel Kasubandi: I thought world was crashing down on me after Saints axe but Bankies have rekindled my love for game. 14 January 2016. Daily Record. 22 August 2015. Glasgow.
  2. News: Joel Kasubandi. LinkedIn. 6 August 2013.
  3. News: Joel Kasubandi. Muirton A.F.C.. 14 April 2012.
  4. News: U19 – Season 2010-2011. St Mirren F.C.. 14 April 2012.
  5. News: Joel's delight at debut. Greenock Telegraph. 16 April 2012. 16 April 2012. Jonathan. Mitchell.
  6. News: Moore wields his axe. Greenock Telegraph. 9 May 2012. 9 May 2012. Chris. Tait.
  7. News: Ayr United 4-0 Motherwell. Ayr United F.C.. 14 July 2012. 16 July 2012.
  8. News: Ayr United 1-4 Partick Thistle. Ayr United F.C.. 17 July 2012. 17 July 2012.
  9. News: Reserves crash at Hampden. Dumbarton F.C.. 20 November 2012. 21 November 2012. Alan. Findlay.
  10. News: Vale bring in four former Seniors. SPFL. 6 August 2013. 6 August 2013. 8 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130808053324/http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/vale-bring-in-four-former-seniors/. dead.
  11. News: Greenock can't keep a lid on former defender Lyden. Greenock Telegraph. Gary. Pews. 21. 11 January 2016.
  12. https://www.largsthistle.org.uk/player/235 Joel Kasubandi
  13. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-record/20181010/282699048081665 I went from Kilbirnie Ladeside to a hospital bedside when my wife went into labour 10 mins before kick-off