Sebastien Summerfield

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sebastien Summerfield

| image = Sebastien Summerfield.jpg

| caption = Sebastien Summerfield with FC Kilchberg

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|2|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Harare, Zimbabwe

| height = 1.78 m

| position = Midfield/wingback

| currentclub = FC Kilchberg

| clubnumber = 13

| youthyears1 = 2012–2019

| youthclubs1 = Legends Academy

| youthyears2 = 2019–2021

| youthclubs2 = Gateshead

| years1 = 2019–2021

| clubs1 = Newcastle Blue Star{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/nbsfc2018/episode-8-zimbabwe-to-scotchy|title=Zimbabwe To Scotchy}}{{better source needed|date=May 2023|reason=Soundcloud is not a reiable source}}

| caps1 = 13

| goals1 = 7

| years2 = 2021–

| clubs2 = FC Kilchberg

| caps2 = 45

| goals2 = 10

| nationalyears1 = 2020–

| nationalteam1 = Zimbabwe U20

| nationalcaps1 = 1

}}

Sebastien Summerfield (born 11 February 2002) is a Zimbabwean footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for FC Kilchberg in Zürich, Switzerland{{Cite web|url=https://www.herald.co.zw/young-warrior-using-football-to-rebuild-lives/|title=Young Warrior using football to rebuild lives|publisher=herald.co.zw}}{{Cite web |title=Young Warrior Summerfield on the move |url=https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/young-warrior-summerfield-on-the-move |access-date=13 February 2023 |website=The Sunday Mail}} as well as the founder of the SRS Foundation, which empowers grassroots footballers in Zimbabwe.

Early life and education

Summerfield was born and raised in the Newlands suburb of Harare.{{Cite web |title=NEW: Summerfield's undying love for the ghetto |url=https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-summerfields-undying-love-for-the-ghetto |date=8 February 2023|access-date=20 January 2024|publisher=The Sunday Mail}} He was schooled in his home country Zimbabwe.{{Cite web |title=Countries show high interest in Zimbabwe at Dubai Expo |url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/countries-show-high-interest-in-zimbabwe-at-dubai-expo/ |access-date=13 February 2023 |website=The Chronicle}} He began playing football at a very early age{{Cite web |title=Sebastien Summerfield's Men's Soccer Recruiting Profile |url=https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer-recruiting/international/zimbabwe/harare-international-school/sebastien--summerfield |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=ncsasports.org}} and started playing academy football at Celebration Centre aged 6. He attended Harare International School till 2020. While there, Summerfield was coached by former Zimbabwe Warriors Player, Alan Johnson.{{Cite web |title=Johnson marvels at HIS products’ success |url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/sport/article/198550/johnson-marvels-at-his-products-success |access-date=7 February 2023 |website=The Standard}}

International career

At age 17, Summerfield was scouted by former Bafana Bafana player and Newcastle FC midfielder; Matty Pattison to join Gateshead F.C., located in Gateshead, a location across the river from Newcastle upon Tyne (in the United Kingdom). Summerfield moved to Newcastle in 2019. While at Gateshead, Summerfield caught the eye of Zimbabwe U-20 National team Coach Tonderai Ndiraya.{{Cite web |title=When we were kings… Zim’s dominance in the Super Diski fades |url=https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/when-we-were-kings-zims-dominance-in-the-super-diski-fades |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=The Sunday Mail}} who selected him to represent Zimbabwe at the 2020 COSAFA Tournament held in Nelson Mandela Bay.{{Cite web |title=Three Bulawayo boys leave Under 20 camp |url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/three-bulawayo-boys-leave-under-20-camp/ |access-date=13 February 2023 |website=The Chronicle}}{{Cite web |date=24 November 2020 |title=Foreign-based players in provisional Zim U20 squad |url=https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2020/11/24/foreign-based-players-in-provisional-zim-u20-squad/ |access-date=7 February 2023 |website=Soccer24}} Whilst at COSAFA, Summerfield was handpicked by FC Kilchberg in Zürich, Switzerland.{{Cite web |last=Nkosi |first=Joseph |date=6 February 2023 |title=Sebastien Summerfield biography, age, education & career - The Nation |url=https://thenation.co.za/bio/sebastien-summerfield/ |access-date=10 February 2023}} Summerfield made his Swiss debut in October 2021.{{Cite web |title=Young Warrior Summerfield on the move |url=https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/young-warrior-summerfield-on-the-move |access-date=7 February 2023 |website=The Sunday Mail}}

Zimbabwe's FIFA Ban

Early in 2023, Summerfield added his voice{{Cite news |date=23 March 2023 |title=Fifa Ban: Zim Youth Footballer Speaks Out |pages=9 |work=ZimSeen}} to the growing outcry by prominent players such as Bill Antonio and Tino Kadewere over Zimbabwe's indefinite suspension on the international playing field since February 2022{{Cite web |last=Matiashe |first=Farai Shawn |title=FIFA's Zimbabwe ban shatters dreams of women soccer players {{!}} Context |url=https://www.context.news/socioeconomic-inclusion/fifas-zimbabwe-ban-shatters-dreams-of-women-soccer-players |access-date=23 March 2023 |website=context.news}} citing the bans' stunting of young Zimbabwean talent.{{Cite web |last=Muchinjo |first=Enock |title=Will Zimbabwe be allowed to play international football again? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2022/7/29/zimbabwes-football-ban-and-its-impact-on-young-players |access-date=23 March 2023 |website=aljazeera.com}}

Philanthropic work

Summerfield has hosted a series of Under-16 scouting tournaments in the low income areas of Harare, Zimbabwe where he has helped scout talent from low income areas.{{Cite web |title=NEW: Football talent takes youngster from Domboshava to Mbare |url=https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-football-talent-takes-youngster-from-domboshava-to-mbare |access-date=23 March 2023 |website=The Sunday Mail}} The grassroots football project has held tournaments in Dzivarasekwa, Mabvuku and Mbare.{{Cite web |title=Summerfield hosts 4-team academy tourney |url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/sport/article/200005296/summerfield-hosts-4-team-academy-tourney |access-date=7 February 2023 |website=NewsDay}} Summerfield is the founder of the SRS foundation Zimbabwe. A grassroots football foundation which empowers footballers through education and professional opportunities in the football world. Summerfield has also been appointed as Sporting Director of Bulawayo based Football team, Ajax Hotspur FC.