Brimah Razak

Brimah Razak (born 22 June 1987) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club CD Estepona FS as a goalkeeper.

Brimah Razak
Razak training with Ghana in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-06-22) 22 June 1987[1]
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Estepona
Youth career
2004–2005 Wolfsburg
2005–2006 Poli Ejido
2006 Las Norias
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 Chaves 7 (0)
2007–2008 União Madeira 30 (0)
2008–2009 Poli Ejido 6 (0)
2009–2011 Betis B 44 (0)
2010–2011 Betis 0 (0)
2011–2012 Tenerife 2 (0)
2012–2013 Guadalajara 25 (0)
2013–2014 Córdoba B 20 (0)
2014–2015 Mirandés 29 (0)
2015–2017 Córdoba 40 (0)
2017–2018 Mamelodi Sundowns 4 (0)
2019–2022 Linares Deportivo 64 (0)
2022– Estepona 34 (0)
International career
2013–2017 Ghana 27 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:59, 19 June 2023 (UTC)

He spent most of his career in Spain, representing Guadalajara, Mirandés and Córdoba in the Segunda División. He also played professionally in Portugal and South Africa, winning the Premier Division with Mamelodi Sundowns.[2]

Razak appeared in two Africa Cup of Nations editions with Ghana, having made his debut in 2013.

Club career

Early career

After rarely settling as a youth player,[3] Accra-born Razak started his professional career in January 2007 with Portugal's G.D. Chaves, playing in the country's Segunda Liga.[4] The following year he moved down to the third division and joined Madeira's C.F. União, being first choice as they placed second their regional group – albeit without a final promotion.[3]

Poli Ejido

In the summer of 2008, Razak returned to a club he had already represented as a youth, Polideportivo Ejido in Spain's Segunda División B.[5] He backed up veteran Joaquín Valerio in a sole season.[6]

Betis

Razak signed with Real Betis in 2009, but spent his first year in the same league as the previous campaign, as he appeared solely for the reserve side. He was promoted to the first team for 2010–11, with the Andalusians in the Segunda División.[7]

Razak made his competitive debut on 1 September 2010, playing the full 90 minutes in a Copa del Rey game against UD Salamanca, a 2–1 home win.[8]

Journeyman

Razak alternated between the second and third tier of Spanish football in the following years, representing CD Tenerife, CD Guadalajara,[9] Córdoba CF B and CD Mirandés.[10] On 29 July 2015 he returned to Córdoba, now being assigned to the main squad also in division two.[11]

Mamelodi Sundowns

In August 2017, Razak moved to Mamelodi Sundowns FC;[12][13] he signed a three-year contract as a free agent,[14] stating in an interview that his reason for joining was because the club was the best in the South African Premier Division and in Africa.[15] He made his debut on 11 September, in a 2–1 away victory over Free State Stars FC.[16][17] In his only season, he acted as backup to Denis Onyango for the champions.[18][19]

Razak parted ways with the Sundowns in August 2018 by mutual consent, citing a lack of playing time.[20][21]

Linares Deportivo

Razak joined Linares Deportivo of the Spanish Tercera División in July 2019, on a one-year deal.[22][23] He helped the team to gain promotion in his debut campaign with 75 points, 27 more than their closest challengers CD El Ejido after 29 matches before the season was truncated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24][25] and the player was voted as the best goalkeeper after he conceded 13 goals in 25 appearances.[26]

Razak before the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Final

In August 2020, Razak extended his contract with the club by another year.[27] In 2020–21, he helped the side reach the promotion play-offs for the first time in 13 years;[28] they lost at that stage, but were promoted to the newly formed Primera División RFEF. He was selected for the Team of the Season and voted best goalkeeper, having kept 15 clean sheets.[29]

International career

Razak earned the first of his 27 caps for Ghana on 14 August 2013, appearing in a 2–2 friendly draw in Turkey as a 46th-minute substitute.[30] He was part of the squad that appeared in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, being first choice as the nation reached the final;[31] in the decisive match, against the Ivory Coast, he missed his penalty shootout attempt in an eventual 9–8 loss.[32]

Razak also started in the 2017 edition, a fourth-place finish in Gabon. Following criticism of his performances, he posted a video on Facebook that was perceived as disrespectful towards his compatriots, and was handed a $2,500 fine by the Ghana Football Association.[33][34]

Personal life

Razak fathered son Nasser and daughter Atu, referring to them as being his ''biggest idols and his life''.[3] He idolised Ghanaian international goalkeeper Sammy Adjei, who won many laurels whilst playing for Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. and was also remembered for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship quarter-final tie against Spain.[3]

On 28 June 2023, Razak married his longtime girlfriend (also the mother of his children) in Spain.[35]

Career statistics

International
Ghana[36]
Year Apps Goals
2013 1 0
2014 2 0
2015 13 0
2016 6 0
2017 5 0
Total 27 0

Honours

Mamelodi Sundowns

Linares Deportivo

Ghana

Individual

References
  1. "Razak". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  2. Gyamera-Antwi, Evans (18 October 2017). "Brimah wants to use Sundowns opportunity to return to Europe". Goal. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  3. "Ghana and Linares Deportivo goalkeeper Razak Brimah reflects on flying career abroad". Ghana Soccernet. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  4. "Reforços apresentados" [Additions presented]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 January 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  5. "El Polideportivo Ejido ficha al ex jugador del Elche Víctor Gomis" [Polideportivo Ejido sign former Elche player Víctor Gomis]. Diario de Almería (in Spanish). 13 August 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  6. "El Poli quiere seguir soñando ante el Espanyol" [Poli want to dream on against Espanyol] (in Spanish). Defensa Central. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  7. "Razak volverá al filial para solventar la lesión del portero Adrián" [Razak will return to reserves to cover for injury of goalkeeper Adrián]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). 7 October 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  8. "El Betis se aferra a la Copa" [Betis hold on to Cup]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 September 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  9. "El Guadalajara ficha al portero ghanés Razak Brimah (exTenerife)" [Guadalajara sign Ghanaian goalkeeper Razak Brimah (formerly of Tenerife)]. La Información (in Spanish). 5 December 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  10. "El Mirandés ficha al portero Razak y al defensa Álex Ortiz" [Mirandés sign goalkeeper Razak and defender Álex Ortiz]. Marca (in Spanish). 8 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  11. "Razak nuevo jugador del CCF" [Razak new player of CCF] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 29 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  12. Gyimah, Edmund Okai (1 August 2017). "Razak Brimah joins Mamelodi Sundowns". Football Made in Ghana. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  13. "Razak Brimah joins South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns". My Joy Online. 1 August 2017. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  14. Yeboah, Thomas Freeman (1 August 2017). "Ghana goalie Razak Brimah joins Mamelodi Sundowns". Pulse Ghana. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  15. Variava, Yusuf (13 October 2017). "I joined Mamelodi Sundowns because they are the best team in the PSL and in Africa, says Razak Brimah". Goal. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  16. Mphahlele, Mahlatse (11 September 2017). "Sundowns too strong for Free State Stars". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  17. "Tau on target against Stars". The Star. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  18. "Ghana's Razak Brimah wins ABSA Premiership title with Mamelodi Sundowns". Happy Ghana. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  19. "Razak Brimah wins PSL title with Mamelodi Sundowns". Kick GH. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  20. Variava, Yusuf (4 August 2018). "Razak Brimah confirms departure from Mamelodi Sundowns". Goal. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  21. Matakanye, Robert (6 August 2018). "Ghanaian Goalkeeper Razak Brimah terminates his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns". Soka 25 East. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  22. Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (25 July 2019). "Razak Brimah joins Spanish third-tier side Deportivo Linares". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  23. Kapoor, Daraja Jr. (25 July 2019). "Razak Brimah joins Spanish lower-tier side Deportivo Linares". Football Made in Ghana. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  24. "El Linares afirma que su objetivo era ganarse el ascenso en el campo" [Linares claim their goal was to promote on the pitch] (in Spanish). Iusport. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  25. "Goalkeeper Razak Brimah and Linares Deportivo promoted to Spanish Segunda B". Ghana Soccernet. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  26. "Ghana's Razak Brimah named Best Goalkeeper in Spain". Ghana Soccernet. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  27. Kwafo, Eric Nana Yaw (16 August 2020). "Goalkeeper Razak Brimah inks contract extension at Linares Deportivo". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  28. "Razak Brimah happy over his side's promotion play off in Spanish second division". Ghana Web. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  29. "Razak Braimah [sic] named Spanish Segunda B goalkeeper of the season". Ghana Soccernet. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  30. "Two-goal hero Gyan leads Ghana fightback in friendly draw against Turkey" (in Spanish). Ghana Soccernet. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  31. Hughes, Ian (5 February 2015). "Ghana 3–0 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  32. Hughes, Ian (8 February 2015). "Ivory Coast 0–0 Ghana". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  33. Chowdhury, Saj (2 February 2017). "Cameroon 2–0 Ghana". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  34. "Razak Brimah yet to pay Black Stars misconduct fine". Ghana Web. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  35. "Goalkeeper Razak Brimah marries longtime girlfriend". Football Ghana. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  36. Brimah Razak at National-Football-Teams.com
  37. Said, Nick (20 July 2018). "Brighton sign South African striker Percy Tau". ESPN. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.