Ibrahim Kasule
{{short description|Ugandan footballer (born 2004)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Ibrahim Kasule
|image = Ibrahim Kasule and Lazar Stefanovic (photo by Djuradj Vujcic) - cropped.jpg
|caption = Kasule in 2023
|fullname = Ibrahim Owen Kasule
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|2|17|df=y}}
|birth_place = Buikwe, Uganda
|height = 1.73 m
|position = Midfielder
|currentclub = New York Red Bulls II
|clubnumber = 82
|youthyears1 = 2020
|youthclubs1 = Kampala Junior Team
|youthyears2 = 2023
|youthclubs2 = Ankara Keçiörengücü
|years1 = 2020-2023
|clubs1 = Wakiso Giants FC
|caps1 = 57
|goals1 = 7
|years2 = 2023–
|clubs2 = New York Red Bulls II
|caps2 = 52
|goals2 = 23
|years3 = 2023–
|clubs3 = New York Red Bulls
|caps3 = 1
|goals3 = 0
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 =
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|medaltemplates =
|club-update = 15 October 2023
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Ibrahim Owen Kasule (born 17 February 2004) is a Ugandan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for MLS Next Pro club New York Red Bulls II.
Club career
=Early career=
Born in Buikwe, Uganda, Kasule began his career with lower league clubs Stars Mbiko, Mbiko United, Athletico Club – Ntinda, Nansana United and Kampala Junior Team (KJT).{{Cite web|url=https://swiftsportsug.com/blog/wakiso-giants-sign-midfielder-kasule/|title=Wakiso Giants sign midfielder Kasule|website=swiftsportsug.com}}
=Wakiso Giants=
In 2020 he signed with Uganda Premier League club Wakiso Giants FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/2/news/new-york-red-bulls-ii-sign-ugandan-midfielder-ibrahim-kasule-to-mls-next-pro-con|title=New York Red Bulls II Sign Ugandan Midfielder Ibrahim Kasule to MLS Next Prop Contract|website=newyorkredbulls.com/2}} On 8 December 2020, Kasule scored his first goal for Wakiso in a 2–2 draw with Kyetume FC.{{Cite web|url=https://chimpreports.com/wakiso-giants-kyetume-share-spoils-in-four-goal-thriller/|title=Wakiso Giants, Kyetume Share Spoils in Four-goal Thriller|website=chimpreports.com}}
Kasule was given the mythical number 10 jersey for the 2022/23 season, and was one of the top players in Uganda scoring five goals and assisting six times during the first half of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://kawowo.com/2023/03/31/new-york-red-bulls-ii-announce-the-signing-of-ibrahim-kasule/|title=New York Red Bulls II announce the signing of Ibrahim Kasule |website= kawowo.com }}
During January 2023, Kasule joined Turkish side Ankara Keçiörengücü, appearing for the clubs U19 side. The move only lasted a month as he had previously signed a pre-contract with New York Red Bulls.{{Cite web|url= https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/ibrahim-kasule-ankara-new-york-red-bulls-on-legal-collision-course-2023021413335961002|title= Ibrahim Kasule: Ankara, New York Red Bulls on legal collision course |website= pulsesports.ng }}
=New York Red Bulls=
On 30 March 2023, Kasule's move to New York was finalized, as he signed with MLS Next Pro side New York Red Bulls II.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/2/news/new-york-red-bulls-ii-sign-ugandan-midfielder-ibrahim-kasule-to-mls-next-pro-con|title=New York Red Bulls II Sign Ugandan Midfielder Ibrahim Kasule to MLS Next Prop Contract|website=newyorkredbulls.com/2}} On 26 May 2023, Kasule scored his first goal with New York Red Bulls II, scoring on a penalty kick, in a 2–1 victory over Huntsville City FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/2/news/match-recap-new-york-red-bulls-ii-win-third-match-in-a-row-defeat-huntsville-cit|title=New York Red Bulls II Win Third Match In a Row, Defeat Huntsville City FC 2-1|website=newyorkredbulls.com/2}} Kasule continued in fine form, and during July 2023 he was awarded Player of the Month for MLS Next Pro. During the month he netted five goals and had one assist in five matches.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulsesports.ug/football/story/watch-how-kasule-found-out-he-was-the-player-of-the-month-2023080508102903849|title=How Kasule found out he was the Player of the Month|website=pulsesports.ug}} At the conclusion of his first season with New York, he was named to the league’s “Best XI” for the 2023 season.
On 30 August 2023, Kasule made his first team and MLS debut for New York Red Bulls, coming on for Dru Yearwood in the 63rd minute in a 0-1 loss to New England Revolution.{{Cite web|url=https://kawowo.com/2023/08/31/delight-for-kasule-as-he-makes-mls-debut/|title=Delight for Kasule as he makes MLS debut|website=kawowo.com}}
On 20 March 2024, Kasule scored his first goal of the season for New York Red Bulls II in a 5-1 victory over Hudson Valley Hammers in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/commentary/_/gameId/699749|title=NYRBII- Hudson Valley (5-1)|first=|last=|website=espn.com}} On 6 April, 2025, Kasule scored his first goal of the season in a 3-2 victory over Chicago Fire FC II.{{cite web |title=New York Red Bulls II Defeat Chicago Fire FC II, 3-2, at MSU Soccer Park|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/2/news/match-recap-new-york-red-bulls-ii-defeat-chicago-fire-fc-ii-3-2-at-msu-soccer-park|website=newyorkredbulls.com |access-date= April 6, 2025 |date= April 6, 2025}}
International career
During September 2023, Kasule received his first callup to Uganda national football team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Niger on 7 September. However, he did not feature in the match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/2/news/ibrahim-kasule-called-in-to-ugandan-national-team-ahead-of-international-friendl|title=Ibrahim Kasule Called in to Ugandan National Team Ahead of International Friendly Matches Against Mali and Zambia|website=newyorkredbulls.com/2}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 02:30, 24 August 2023. (UTC).}}{{Soccerway|ibrahim-kasule/887341}}
| 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|Cup !colspan=2|League cup !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=4|Wakiso Giants FC | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 21 | 2 | |
| 2021-22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 22 | 0 | |
| 2022-23 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 |
| colspan=2|Total
!57||7||0||0||0||0||0||0||57||7 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=4|New York Red Bulls II
|2023 | 25 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 17 |
| 2024 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 8 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| colspan=2|Total
!52||23||1||1||2||2||0||0||55||26 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=1|New York Red Bulls
|2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!110 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 33 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|ibrahim-kasule/887341}}
- {{BeSoccer|i-kasule-1016112}}
- [https://upl.co.ug/player/ibrahim-kasule/ upl.co.ug player profile]
- {{NFT|92818}}
{{New York Red Bulls II squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kasule, Ibrahim}}
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Ugandan expatriate men's footballers
Category:Ugandan expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Category:Ugandan expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Ugandan men's footballers
Category:21st-century Ugandan sportsmen
Category:Men's association football midfielders