John Mary Explained

John Mary
Fullname:John Mary Honi Uzuegbunam[1]
Birth Date:9 March 1993
Birth Place:Nnobi, Anambra, Nigeria
Height:1.81 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Meizhou Hakka
Clubnumber:28
Youthyears1:2000–2011
Youthclubs1:Fortuna Yaoundé
Years1:2012
Years2:2012–2013
Years3:2013–2014
Clubs3:Krabi
Years4:2014
Years5:2015–2016
Clubs5:Vojvodina
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2016–2018
Caps6:46
Goals6:26
Years7:2018–2019
Caps7:43
Goals7:36
Years8:2019–2022
Clubs8:Shenzhen
Caps8:32
Goals8:20
Years9:2021
Clubs9:Avispa Fukuoka (loan)
Caps9:16
Goals9:5
Years10:2022
Caps10:6
Goals10:1
Years11:2022–2023
Clubs11:Avispa Fukuoka
Caps11:9
Goals11:0
Years12:2023–2024
Clubs12:Çaykur Rizespor
Caps12:16
Goals12:7
Years13:2024
Clubs13:Manisa
Caps13:12
Goals13:2
Years14:2024–
Clubs14:Meizhou Hakka
Caps14:4
Goals14:1
Nationalyears2:2021
Nationalteam2:Cameroon
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:23 July 2024

John Mary Honi Uzuegbunam (born 9 March 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chinese Super League club Meizhou Hakka F.C.. Born in Nigeria, he played for the Cameroon national team internationally.

Club career

Born in the Anambra State in Nigeria, Mary moved to Cameroon to join AS Fortuna de Mfou Yaoundé's youth team.[2] On 28 March 2012, he was signed by Buriram United in what will be the beginning of three seasons spent in Thai football. His time with Buriram only lasted for a few months before he moved to fourth tier side Bangkok Christian College on 1 August 2012.[3] A move to second tier club Krabi for the 2013 Thai Division 1 League would follow before ending his time in Thailand with fourth tier club Prachuap.

His advisor Ognjen Karisik would bring him to Europe, where he had a trial with Serbian club Vojvodina who signed him on 24 January 2015 on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[4] He made his debut in a Serbian Cup game against Kolubara on 28 October 2015 that ended in a goalless draw, before Vojvodina won 5–4 on penalties.[5] He would see very little playing time with the club after suffering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. His contract with Vojvodina was eventually terminated, and on 18 July 2016 he signed a one-year deal with Slovenian side Rudar Velenje.[6]

In January 2018, Mary moved to the China League One side Meizhou Hakka.[7] He made his debut and scored his first goal for the club in a league game against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright on 10 March 2018 that ended in a 2–1 defeat.[8] After winning the golden boot award at the end of the 2018 China League One campaign, Chinese top tier club Shenzhen signed him on 2 July 2019 halfway through the 2019 Chinese Super League season.[9]

On 30 January 2022, Mary joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab.[10]

International career

Despite being born in Nigeria, Mary was naturalized and played for Cameroon under-20s.[11]

In 2021, he was called to the Cameroon senior team. He made his debut on 6 September 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against the Ivory Coast, a 2–1 away loss. He substituted Moumi Ngamaleu in the 62nd minute.[12]

Career statistics

[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2014–15Serbian SuperLiga00000000
2015–16Serbian SuperLiga10100020
Total101000000020
Rudar Velenje2016–17Slovenian PrvaLiga3017413418
2017–18Slovenian PrvaLiga16910179
Total4626510000005127
Meizhou Hakka2018China League One2824002824
2019China League One1512001512
Total4336000000004336
Shenzhen2019Chinese Super League15900159
2020Chinese Super League1711001711
Total3220000000003220
Avispa Fukuoka (loan)2021J1 League1651022197
Al Shabab2021–22Saudi Pro League61102192
Avispa Fukuoka2022J1 League901041141
Career total153889163210017093

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Takımımız . . 16 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516192748/https://www.caykurrizespor.org.tr/A-Takimimiz.html . 16 May 2023 . tr.
  2. Web site: The Big Interview: John Mary Honi Uzuegbunam-"I didn't play for USD. kick442.com. 7 December 2019. 31 January 2021. 14 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210214050129/https://www.kick442.com/the-big-interview-john-mary-honi-uzuegbunam-i-didnt-play-for-usd-more%f0%9f%91%87%f0%9f%91%87/. dead.
  3. Web site: เสี่ยต้นบุกถึงเตียงเซ็นเจ.เอ็มร่วมทัพคริสเตียนแล้ว. smmonline.net. 1 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20141028081807/http://www.smmonline.net/news/59510-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B6%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%88%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%A7.html. 31 January 2021. 28 October 2014.
  4. News: Potpisao Džon Meri. John Mary has signed. 1 August 2016. sr. FK Vojvodina. 24 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160623214919/http://www.fkvojvodina.rs/2015/01/potpisao-dzon-meri/. 23 June 2016. dead.
  5. News: Kolubara vs. Vojvodina 0–0. soccerway.com. 28 October 2015. 31 January 2021. 30 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220330095944/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/10/28/serbia/cup/fk-kolubara-lazarevac/fk-vojvodina-novi-sad/2163873/. live.
  6. News: Džon Meri prešao u Rudar iz Velenja. John Mary transferred to Rudar Velenje. 1 August 2016. sr. FK Vojvodina. 18 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170830235356/http://www.fkvojvodina.rs/2016/07/dzon-meri-presao-u-rudar-iz-velenja/. 30 August 2017. dead.
  7. News: John Mary zdaj pa res prestopil na Kitajsko. 15 January 2018. sl. Nogomania. 15 January 2018. Uredništvo. 15 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180115174205/https://nogomania.com/Mednarodni-Nogomet/Igralec/John-Mary/Novica/John-Mary-zdaj-pa-res-prestopil-na-Kitajsko.aspx. live.
  8. News: China » League One 2018 » 1. Round » Shijiazhuang Ever Bright - Meizhou Hakka 2:1. worldfootball.net. 10 March 2018. 31 January 2021. 17 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221017065603/https://www.worldfootball.net/report/league-one-2018-shijiazhuang-ever-bright-meizhou-hakka/. live.
  9. Web site: 深圳官宣宣布约翰马里加盟 中甲大杀器将战中超. sports.sina.com.cn. 2 July 2019. 2 July 2019. 6 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190706152955/https://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2019-07-02/doc-ihytcitk9243480.shtml. live.
  10. Web site: الشباب يعلن التعاقد مع الكاميروني "جون ماري" . 30 January 2022 . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220130154820/https://akhbaar24.argaam.com/article/detail/586210 . live .
  11. Web site: Cameroon's John Mary alleges racial abuse during Chinese match . World Soccer Talk . 9 April 2023 . en . 5 September 2020.
  12. Web site: FIFA. Ivory Coast v Cameroon game report. 6 September 2021. 9 September 2021. 28 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210828031414/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/qualifiers/caf/match-center/400198000. live.
  13. Web site: John Mary » Club matches . worldfootball.net . 30 July 2021 . en . 30 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210730150603/https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/john-mary/2/ . live .