Corrie Ndaba
{{short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Corrie Ndaba
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Corrie Richard Ndaba{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Ipswich Town |publisher=English Football League |page=36 |access-date=21 September 2020}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|12|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| height =
| position = Centre-back, left-back
| currentclub = Kilmarnock
| clubnumber = 3
| youthclubs1 = Palmerstown
| youthclubs2 = Cherry Orchard
| youthyears3 = 2016–2019
| youthclubs3 = Ipswich Town
| years1 = 2019–2024 | clubs1 = Ipswich Town | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019 | clubs2 = → Hemel Hempstead Town (loan) | caps2 = 1 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019–2020 | clubs3 = → Chelmsford City (loan) | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2021 | clubs4 = → Ayr United (loan) | caps4 = 13 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2021–2022 | clubs5 = → Salford City (loan) | caps5 = 29 | goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2022–2023 | clubs6 = → Burton Albion (loan) | caps6 = 7 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2023 | clubs7 = → Fleetwood Town (loan) | caps7 = 8 | goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2023–2024 | clubs8 = → Kilmarnock (loan) | caps8 = 26 | goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2024– | clubs9 = Kilmarnock | caps9 = 36 | goals9 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2016 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U18
| nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 11 June 2025
| ntupdate = 10:31, 6 September 2020 (UTC)
}}
Corrie Richard Ndaba (born 25 December 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock.
Ndaba made his professional debut while on loan with Scottish club Ayr United, and was voted as the Supporters Player of the Year while on loan to Salford City, and has also spent time at Burton Albion.
Internationally, Ndaba has played for the Republic of Ireland U18 team, and has also received a call up from Stephen Kenny to the U21 team.
Club career
=Ipswich Town=
Ndaba joined the Ipswich Town Academy as a scholar in 2016.{{cite news |title=Town Announce New Scholars |url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/29551/town-announce-new-scholars |publisher=TWTD |date=27 April 2016 |access-date=6 September 2020}} He featured regularly for Ipswich's U23s during the 2018–19 season as Ipswich won the Professional Development League South Division.{{cite news |title=U23s Confirmed as League Winners |url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/35837/u23s-confirmed-as-league-winners |publisher=TWTD |date=8 April 2019 |access-date=6 September 2020}} He signed his first professional contract in February 2019, signing a three-year deal with the option of an additional year extension.{{cite news |title=Ndaba Signs First Pro Deal |url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/35521/ndaba-signs-first-pro-deal |publisher=TWTD |date=20 February 2019 |access-date=6 September 2020}} Upon signing the contract, Ipswich manager Paul Lambert said that because Ndaba was left-footed, he had a chance to make it at the club if he improved his physique.{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Andy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/ipswich-town-manager-paul-lambert-on-corrie-ndaba-2554572 |title='This club has lost left-footed defenders... it was impossible to lose another' - Lambert on new pro Ndaba |date=21 February 2019 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}}
In November, it was announced that he was to move on loan to National League South team Chelmsford City for one month,{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Stuart |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/itfc-defender-ndaba-joins-chelmsford-2623430 |title=Ndaba joins Cotter on loan at Chelmsford |date=1 November 2019 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} but the move was delayed due to financial difficulties suffered by Chelmsford. Instead, he and teammate Bailey Clements were sent on loan to Hemel Hempstead Town for a month, where they were managed by former Ipswich player Sammy Moore.{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Andy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/loan-move-for-ipswich-town-youngster-2617860 |title=Youngsters Ndaba and Clements make non-league loan move... linking up with a former Ipswich player and a 90s football cult hero |date=8 November 2019 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} After his loan at Hemel Hempstead ended, he finally joined Chelmsford for a month.{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Andy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/corrie-ndaba-loaned-to-chelmsford-city-2630950 |title=Young defender Ndaba heads to Chelmsford on one-month loan |date=6 December 2019 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} In January 2020, he was set to move on loan to Scottish Championship team Ayr United with teammate Aaron Drinan,{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Stuart |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/town-defender-ndaba-training-with-ayr-united-2645858 |title=Ndaba the latest Town player to link up with Ayr United |date=27 January 2020 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} but the move fell through due to his two prior loan spells earlier in the season.{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Andy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/corrie-ndaba-loan-to-ayr-united-falls-through-2646332 |title=Frustration for Ndaba as loan move to Ayr falls through |date=30 January 2020 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}}
Ndaba made his first-team debut for Ipswich on 5 September 2020, featuring as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 home win over Bristol Rovers in the EFL Cup.{{cite web |last=Claydon |first=Russell |url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/ipswich/sport/ipswich-town-get-new-campaign-off-to-an-impressive-start-in-carabao-cup-9122057/ |title=Ipswich Town cruise through Carabao Cup tie against Bristol Rovers to open season in style at Portman Road |date=5 September 2020 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} On 7 January 2021, Ndaba joined Ayr United on loan from the remainder of the 2020–21 season.{{cite web |title=Ndaba Joins Ayr on Loan |date=7 January 2021 |url=https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2021/january/corrie-ndaba-joins-ayr-on-loan/ |publisher=Ipswich Town FC |access-date=7 January 2021}} He made his debut for Ayr on 23 January, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw away at Dunfermline Athletic.{{cite web |title=Dunfermline Athletic 0 – 0 Ayr United |work=BBC Sport |date=23 January 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55685942 |access-date=23 January 2021}} Ndaba was one of several Ayr defenders described by manager David Hopkin as "embarrassing" following a 3–0 defeat to Dundee on 6 April.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Stuart |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/david-hopkin-blasts-ayr-uniteds-23866796 |title=David Hopkin blasts Ayr United's 'embarrassing' defending as Dundee ease to Somerset Park win |date=7 April 2021 |access-date=1 September 2021 |work=Daily Record}} He made 14 appearances during his loan spell at Ayr.{{soccerbase season|119941|2020|accessdate=6 September 2020}} Ndaba described his time at Ayr as "a good experience for me", adding that the football was "very physical up there and as a young centre-half it's good for me to experience that".{{Cite web |last=Dollery |first=Paul |url=https://www.the42.ie/corrie-ndaba-joins-salford-city-5528498-Aug2021/ |title=League Two loan move for young Irish defender Corrie Ndaba |date=21 August 2021 |access-date=10 May 2022 |work=The42}}
{{quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote=It's been unbelievable for me, I don't really have words to describe it. The love they've shown throughout the whole season, I've never experienced anything like this, so I can only thank them. Chanting my name every game, even in the town, it's just unbelievable. |source=—Ndaba talking about being a fan favourite at Salford City{{cite web |url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/42683/ |title=Ndaba, Morris and Tete on Target |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=Those Were The Days}}}}
==Salford City (loan)==
On 21 August 2021, Ndaba moved on loan to League Two team Salford City.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58292967 |title=Ipswich's Ndaba joins Salford on loan |date=21 August 2021 |access-date=21 August 2021 |work=BBC Sport}} On 27 August, he signed a new two-year contract with Ipswich, extending his stay at the club until 2023 with the option of an additional one-year extension.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58354185 |title=Corrie Ndaba: Ipswich defender agrees new deal with League One club |date=27 August 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |work=BBC Sport}} Speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times, Ndaba said his loan move was necessary for experience; "I'm physically ready but there are a lot of things you need to learn. This loan will benefit me and give me a better chance", and noting that the football played is "physical but we try to play as well... it's a mixture of that and it's going to benefit me".{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Andy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/ipswich-town-defender-corrie-ndaba-interview-8339212 |title=Ndaba on Salford, Neville's advice, his brush with Ronaldo-mania and his goal of reaching the Ipswich Town first-team |date=21 September 2021 |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} On 3 April 2022, he scored his first senior goal, the opening goal in a 2–0 away win against Hartlepool United.{{cite web |last=Bacon |first=Mike |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/corrie-ndaba-goal-8801254 |title=On-loan Ipswich star hammers home his first senior goal |date=3 April 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} At the end of Salford's season, Ndaba was voted as the Supporters' Player of the Year.{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Stuart |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/corrie-ndaba-named-salford-supporters-poty-8935786 |title=Ndaba named Salford City Supporters' Player of the Year |date=2 May 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} In total, he made 30 appearances in both his natural position of centre-back and at left-back, where he earned rave reviews,{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Andy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/corrie-ndaba-impressing-at-town-8891534 |title=Ndaba has had three failed cracks at the Town first-team... he's better equipped than ever for attempt four |date=12 April 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} and scored two goals.
==Burton Albion, Fleetwood and Kilmarnock loans==
On 27 July 2022, Ndaba signed a new three-year contract with Ipswich Town. {{cite web |url=https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/corrie-ndaba-signs-new-contract-at-ipswich-town/ |title=NEW CONTRACT FOR CORRIE|website=www.itfc.co.uk |date=27 July 2022 |access-date=28 July 2022}} On 19 August 2022, Ndaba signed for Burton Albion on a season-long loan.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62606728 |title=Burton sign Ipswich defender Ndaba on loan |date=19 August 2022 |access-date=19 August 2022 |work=BBC Sport}} On 31 January 2023, Ndaba's loan was terminated and he joined Fleetwood Town until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2023/january/ndaba-loan-move-to-fleetwood-town/ |title=Corrie Ndaba joins Town on loan until the end of the season |website=www.fleetwoodtownfc.com |date=31 January 2023 |accessdate=31 January 2023}} On 22 June 2023, Ndaba joined Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on loan until the end of the 2023-24 season.{{cite web| url=https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2023/june/22/corrie-makes-loan-move/| title=Corrie makes loan move| work=Ipswich Town FC| date=22 June 2023| access-date=27 February 2025}}
=Kilmarnock=
On 30 July 2024, Ndaba signed for Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock on a three-year deal.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz5rze5re5do#:~:text=Corrie%20Ndaba%20has%20returned%20to,Premier%20League%20club%20since%202016.| title=Ndaba chooses Kilmarnock return on permanent deal| publisher=BBC Sport| date=30 July 2024| access-date=27 February 2025}}
International career
Born in Ireland, Ndaba is of South African descent.{{Cite web |url=https://www.snl24.com/kickoff/worldnews/english-premier-league/manchester-city-to-sign-south-african-born-star-20211116|title=Manchester City to sign South African-born star? |first=Kyle |last=Lewis |website=KickOff|date=16 November 2021 }} He won one cap for the Republic of Ireland U18 side in 2016. In March 2019, he was called up by Stephen Kenny to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for European Championships qualifiers.{{cite news |title=Cotter, Ndaba and Drinan in Irish U21s Squad |url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/35660/cotter-ndaba-and-drinan-in-irish-u21s-squad |publisher=TWTD |date=13 March 2019 |access-date=6 September 2020}}
Style of play
Ndaba began his career as a centre midfielder at Cherry Orchard, but was converted to a centre defender upon signing for Ipswich. He is a quick player, who uses his strength and good positional sense to perform well in defence.{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Andy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/corrie-ndaba-offered-professional-ipswich-town-contract-2543954 |title=Young defender Ndaba offered professional deal by Ipswich Town |date=4 February 2019 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} He is a left-footed player, and was a captain in youth football due to his vocal nature.{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Andy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/paul-lambert-to-give-corrie-ndaba-an-ipswich-town-debut-2559786 |title='I have to see what he can do... he will definitely get his chance' - Lambert ready to give Ndaba an Ipswich debut |date=17 April 2019 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} His manager at Ayr United, Mark Kerr, described him as "a big, strong, athletic defender who is quick and good on the ball",{{cite web |last=Apicella |first=Liam |url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/ipswich/sport/ipswich-defender-leaves-on-loan-9147616/ |title=Ipswich Town defender Corrie Ndaba heads to Ayr United on loan |date=7 January 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |work=Suffolk News}} and his manager at Salford, Gary Bowyer, described him similarly as a player with "great pace, he's a ball-playing centre-half, but he's competitive as well". Former Ipswich manager Paul Cook praised his willingness to get involved, saying "he's naturally aggressive, he wants to engage and have contact".{{cite web |url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/40926/cook-ndaba-has-been-doing-really-well |title=Cook: Ndaba Has Been Doing Really Well |date=27 August 2021 |access-date=10 May 2022 |work=Those Were The Days}} In 2021, Ndaba described himself as "a modern day centre-half. I can play, I'm aggressive, I'm tall, so I have a bit of everything really".
Career Statistics
=Club=
{{Updated|match played 1 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|530211|access-date=6 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="7"|Ipswich Town
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2019-20
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020-21
|League One |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name="EFT"|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2021-22
|League One |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2022-23
|League One |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023-24
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Hemel Hempstead Town (loan)
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Chelmsford City (loan)
|National League South |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Ayr United (loan)
|13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Salford City (loan)
|29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name="EFT"}} | 0 | 31 | 2 | ||
| Burton Albion (loan)
|7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name="EFT"}} | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Fleetwood Town (loan)
|League One |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Kilmarnock (loan)
|28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 1 | |||
| Kilmarnock
|Scottish Premiership |27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name="UECL"|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 1 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!113 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 136 | 4 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Salford City
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.itfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/corey-ndaba/ Corrie Ndaba profile] at the Ipswich Town F.C. website
- {{Soccerbase|119941}}
- {{Soccerway|530211}}
{{Kilmarnock F.C. squad}}
{{Salford City F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ndaba, Corrie}}
Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Irish people of South African descent
Category:Black Irish sportspeople
Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players
Category:Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. players
Category:Chelmsford City F.C. players
Category:Ayr United F.C. players
Category:Salford City F.C. players
Category:Burton Albion F.C. players
Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players
Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players