Zishim Bawa
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zishim Bawa | ||
| Date of birth | 15 August 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Republic of Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Drogheda United | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2019 | FC Barcelona Arizona | ||
| 2019–2020 | AYSO United | ||
| 2020–2021 | Olympians | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2023 | Bodens BK | 102 | (32) |
| 2024– | Drogheda United | 19 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:30, 27 February 2025 (UTC) | |||
Zishim "Steve" Bawa (born 15 August 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for League of Ireland Premier Division club Drogheda United. He previously played in Sweden with Bodens BK.
Career
Youth career
Bawa was born in Dublin, Ireland and moved to the country of his birth parents birth Nigeria, before moving to Arizona, United States where he attended high school and played football with FC Barcelona Arizona, AYSO United and then United Premier Soccer League club Olympians FC.[1][2] He is a dual citizen of Nigeria and Ireland, stating "I would consider myself more Nigerian than Irish because I've lived in Nigeria more. But I would love the opportunity to play for Ireland. I mean it seems like a beautiful country."[3]
Bodens BK
Bawa was scouted by Swedish club Bodens BK, signing for their club in 2021 and helping them to win Division 2 in 2022 to gain promotion to the Ettan. He scored 32 goals in 106 games during his 3 seasons with the club.[4]
Drogheda United
Bawa went on trial with League of Ireland Premier Division club Drogheda United during their pre-season for their 2024 season.[5] He sufficiently impressed on trial to earn a contract with the club in February 2024.[6][2][7] On 23 February 2024, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 defeat at home to Waterford.[8] On 13 June 2024, Bawa suffered an ankle injury in a 3–0 defeat to Galway United that ended his season prematurely.[9] On 7 February 2025, he appeared in the 2025 President of Ireland's Cup in a 2–0 defeat to Shelbourne at Tolka Park.[10]
Career statistics
- As of match played on 21 February 2025[11]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bodens BK | 2021 | Division 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | ||||||
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | – | – | ||||||||
| 2023 | Ettan | 27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 27 | 7 | |||
| Total | 106 | 32 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 106 | 32 | ||||
| Drogheda United | 2024 | LOI Premier Division | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 1[b] | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0[c] | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 3 | ||
| Career Total | 125 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 129 | 35 | ||
- ^ Includes Swedish Cup & FAI Cup
- ^ Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup
- ^ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
- ^ 1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup; 2 appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup
Honours
- Bodens BK
- Division 2 (1): 2022
- Drogheda United
References
- ^ Landy, Barry. "'Why not come to where I was actually born and experience what is here?'". www.loveisthedrog.ie.
- ^ a b "Zishim Bawa signs for Drogheda United – Drogheda".
- ^ Fennessy, Paul (February 13, 2024). "The Irish-Nigerian starlet aiming to emulate Ogbene". The 42.
- ^ "Zishim Bawa Signs in Ireland Premier League". Pro Soccer Consulting. February 2, 2024.
- ^ "D-day ahead for two Drogheda United trialists as St Patrick's Athletic friendly approaches". Irish Independent. January 23, 2024.
- ^ Healy, Tommy. "Drogheda United sign winger Zishim Bawa from Swedish side Bodens BK". extratime.com.
- ^ "Zishim Bawa and Dave Webster wing in to boost Drogheda United ranks". Irish Independent. February 5, 2024.
- ^ "Zishim Bawa calls on Drogheda United fans to keep the faith". www.independent.ie. February 26, 2024.
- ^ Landy, Barry. "Blow for Drogs as Bawa season ended after ankle surgery". www.loveisthedrog.ie.
- ^ Fallon, John (February 7, 2025). "Odubeko and Boyd guide Shelbourne to President's Cup glory against 10-man Drogheda". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "Nigeria - Z. Bawa - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.