Michael Dokunmu

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Michael Dokunmu

|image =

|fullname = Michael Folabi Dokunmu{{WorldFootball.net|michael-dokunmu}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|4|9|df=y}}

|birth_place = Kimberley, South Africa

|height = 1.86 m

|currentclub = Vitesse

|clubnumber = 29

|position = Midfielder

|youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}

|youthclubs1 = Little Kickers

|youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}

|youthclubs2 = Old Parks

|youthyears3 = {{0|0000}}

|youthclubs3 = Randburg FC

|youthyears4 = {{0|0000}}

|youthclubs4 = SuperSport United

|youthyears5 = 2020–

|youthclubs5 = Vitesse

|years1 = 2024– |clubs1 = Vitesse |caps1 = 1 |goals1 = 0

|nationalyears1 = 2023–

|nationalteam1 = South Africa U17

|nationalcaps1 = 2

|nationalgoals1 = 1

|club-update = 9 August 2024

|nationalteam-update =

}}

Michael Folabi Dokunmu (born 9 April 2006) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dutch {{Dutch football updater|VitesseAr}} side Vitesse. He is regarded as a promising young player in South Africa.

Early life

Dokunmu was born in Kimberley, South Africa, to a Nigerian father and a South African mother.{{cite web|url=https://www.vitesse.nl/nieuws/2023/michael-dokunmu-groeit-bij-vitesse|title=Michael Dokunmu groeit bij Vitesse|trans-title=Michael Dokunmu is growing at Vitesse|date=29 March 2023|accessdate=3 May 2023|website=vitesse.nl|language=Dutch}}

Club career

Dokunmu started his career at a number of youth clubs in South Africa before joining professional side SuperSport United. In December 2019, his mother accepted a job in the Netherlands, and Dokunmu's family moved to the country.

The following summer, he went on trial with Eredivisie side Vitesse, before being accepted into their academy. He signed his first professional contract with the club in August 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/vitesse/zuid-afrikaans-talent-tekent-eerste-contract-bij-vitesse~a1744cb1/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D%2522Michael%2BDokunmu%2522%26rlz%3D1C1CHBF_en-GBGB916GB916%26sxsrf%3DAPwXEdebhVMXD07zoaOtsnn1-mLDgfwmlA%3A1683122224244%26ei%3DMGhSZITEDr6EhbIPndWlgAs%26start%3D50%26sa%3DN%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiEnKjyptn-AhU-QkEAHZ1qCbA4KBDw0wN6BAgDEA8%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D601%26dpr%3D1.5|title=Zuid-Afrikaans talent tekent eerste contract bij Vitesse|trans-title=South African talent signs first contract with Vitesse|first=Julian|last=Droog|date=19 August 2022|accessdate=3 May 2023|website=gelderlander.nl|language=Dutch}} He became Vitesse's third-youngest debutant, behind Brahim Darri and Mitchell van Bergen, when he appeared in a friendly game against SC Heerenveen.

International career

Eligible to represent South Africa and Nigeria through his parents, as well as the Netherlands, he was called up to the under-17 side of the latter for a training camp in January 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=46059|title=Netherlands make move to beat Nigeria, South Africa to talented Vitesse midfielder|first=Ifeanyi|last=Emmanuel|date=13 January 2023|accessdate=3 May 2023|website=allnigeriasoccer.com}} However, in April of the same year, he switched his international allegiance to South Africa, and was called up to their under-17 side ahead of the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.{{cite web|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/soccer/exclusive-michael-dokunmu-why-i-chose-south-africa-over-nigerian-18-april-2023/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Michael Dokunmu ‘ Why I chose South Africa over Nigeria’|first=Yolulwe|last=Qoshe|date=18 April 2023|accessdate=3 May 2023|website=thesouthafrican.com}} He stated that he had chosen to represent South Africa as it was his birthplace, and that he hoped to represent the nation's senior squad in future.