Kembo Kibato (born September 16, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for Canadian Premier League side Vancouver FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 16, 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Vancouver FC | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2017 | North Toronto Nitros | ||
| 2017–2019 | Toronto FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2017 | North Toronto Nitros | 21 | (4) |
| 2018 | Toronto FC III | 8 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Helsingør | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Rio Grande Valley FC | 12 | (1) |
| 2021 | → FC Tulsa (loan) | 29 | (2) |
| 2022 | FC Tulsa | 28 | (0) |
| 2023 | Hartford Athletic | 19 | (0) |
| 2024– | Vancouver FC | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 14, 2024 | |||
Early life
editKibato played youth soccer with the North Toronto Nitros.[1]
In 2017, he played with Team Ontario at the 2017 Canada Summer Games, helping them win the gold medal.[2][3]
In 2017, Kibato joined the Toronto FC Academy.[1]
Club career
editIn 2016, Kibato debuted with the North Toronto Nitros senior team in League1 Ontario, making two substitute appearances.[4] The following season, he joined the senior squad full-time, scoring 4 goals in 19 appearances,[5] and was named a league third-team all-star.[6] In 2018, he played with Toronto FC III.[7]
In 2019, he attended training camp with Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League, but did not ultimately sign with the club.[1][8]
On July 18, 2019, Kibato signed with Danish 2nd Division side FC Helsingør.[9][10] Kibato left on January 14, 2020 without making an official first team appearance, having only played in friendlies.[1][11]
On March 7, 2020, Kibato joined USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC.[12] He made his debut for RGVFC on July 11, 2020, appearing as an 83rd-minute substitute during a 1–0 loss to El Paso Locomotive.[13] He scored his first professional goal on August 8 against Austin Bold FC.[14][15] In October, he was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week after recording two assists in a 4-2 victory against OKC Energy FC in the season finale.[16]
On April 9, 2021, Kibato moved on a season-long loan to USL Championship side FC Tulsa.[17] At the end of the season, he was named the team's Newcomer of the Year.[18][19] On December 29, Tulsa announced they had signed Kibato to a permanent deal ahead of the 2022 season.[20] Following the 2022 season, Kibato’s contract ended. [21]
On December 12, 2022, Kibato was announced as a new signing for USL Championship side Hartford Athletic ahead of their 2023 season.[22]
On February 29, 2024, Vancouver FC announced the signing of the Canadian midfielder on a two-year contract, ahead of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season.[23][24]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played October 4, 2023[25]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| North Toronto Nitros | 2016[4] | League1 Ontario | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2017[5] | League1 Ontario | 19 | 4 | — | — | — | 19 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 | ||
| Toronto FC III | 2018[7] | League1 Ontario | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| FC Helsingør | 2019–20 | Danish 2nd Division | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Rio Grande Valley FC | 2020 | USL Championship | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | |||
| FC Tulsa (loan) | 2021 | USL Championship | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| FC Tulsa | 2022 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | ||
| Total | 57 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 2 | ||
| Hartford Athletic | 2023 | USL Championship | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |
| Career total | 115 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 7 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c d Merk, Carson A (July 27, 2020). "Kembo Kibato's journey has led him from the Six to the Valley". Beautiful Game Network.
- ^ Baker, Brian (August 31, 2017). "North Toronto Senior Wins Gold with Provincial Team". Puffin God.
- ^ Nielsen, Aaron (November 1, 2017). "Top 10 prospects from the 2017 League1 Ontario season". Red Nation Online.
- ^ a b "Kembo Kibato 2016 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ a b "Kembo Kibato 2017 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ Glover, Robin (May 3, 2018). "Toronto FC III 1-1 FC London: Match report". Waking the Red.
- ^ a b "Kembo Kibato 2018 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ Jacques, John (April 16, 2019). "Cavalry FC To Announce Player Signing Tomorrow". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Canadians Dada-Luke and Kibato joins FC Helsingør". FC Helsingør.
- ^ Kloke, Joshua (July 15, 2019). "North America or Europe? Danish club FC Helsingor enters the fray over developing top Canadian talent". The Athletic.
- ^ "FC Helsingør siger farvel til fem spillere" [FC Helsingør says goodbye to five players]. Bold (in Danish). January 14, 2020.
- ^ "RGV FC add ten players to 2020 roster". Rio Grande Valley FC. March 7, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "El Paso Locomotive FC Secures Three Points with 1-0 Win over Rio Grande Valley FC". El Paso Locomotive FC. July 12, 2020.
- ^ Merk, Carson A (August 12, 2020). "All Toros, No Bull: 10-man Toros blasted by Bold FC". Beautiful Game Network.
- ^ "Recap: Toros Fall 4-1 in Austin". Rio Grande Valley FC. August 8, 2020.
- ^ "Kibato Selected to USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 15". Rio Grande Valley FC. October 6, 2021.
- ^ "FC Tulsa Acquires Kembo Kibato on Loan from Toros". USL Championship. April 9, 2021.
- ^ "Announcing the FC Tulsa End of Season Player Awards". FC Tulsa. November 10, 2021.
- ^ "Returning to the North: Kembo Kibato to earn first professional minutes in Canada with Vancouver FC". Vancouver FC. February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Tulsa Brings Aboard Midfielder Kembo Kibato with New Deal". USL Championship. December 29, 2021.
- ^ Galbreath, Nolan (December 7, 2022). "FC Tulsa Announces Departures of Lebo Moloto, Kembo Kibato". FC Tulsa.
- ^ "Hartford brings aboard midfielder Kembo Kibato". USL Championship. December 12, 2022.
- ^ "Vancouver FC sign attacking midfielder Kembo Kibato". Canadian Premier League. February 29, 2024.
- ^ Vallejo, Felipe (February 29, 2024). "Vancouver FC Signs North York Native Kembo Kibato". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Kembo Kibato at Soccerway
External links
edit- Kembo Kibato at Soccerway