Erving Botaka

Erving Botaka
Botaka with FC Ufa in 2021
Personal information
Full name Erving Dzho Botaka-Ioboma
Date of birth (1998-10-05) 5 October 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Pushkino, Russia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal Tula
Number 3
Youth career
0000–2013 Lokomotiv Moscow
2013–2015 Torpedo Moscow
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Solyaris Moscow 16 (0)
2017–2018 Kazanka Moscow 8 (0)
2018 Samgurali Tskhaltubo 6 (0)
2019 Veles Moscow 6 (0)
2019 Luch Vladivostok 11 (0)
2020–2021 Veles Moscow 38 (3)
2021–2023 Ufa 48 (2)
2023– Arsenal Tula 23 (1)
International career‡
2020 Russia U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2021

Erving Dzho Botaka-Ioboma (Russian: Эрвинг Джо Ботака-Иобома; born 5 October 1998) is a Russian footballer who plays as a centre-back for Arsenal Tula.

Club career

He made his debut in the Russian Professional Football League for FC Solyaris Moscow on 20 July 2016 in a game against FSK Dolgoprudny.[1]

In July 2018 his failed transfer back to Torpedo Moscow caused a stir when it was reported the club canceled his contract because the ultras refused to allow a black footballer to play for the club. Torpedo later denied this via an official statement but the Torpedo ultras were adamant with their own statement.[2]

He made his Russian Football National League debut for Luch Vladivostok on 24 July 2019 in a game against FC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

On 11 June 2021, he signed a long-term contract with Russian Premier League club Ufa, reuniting with his former Veles coach Aleksei Stukalov.[3] He made his RPL debut for Ufa on 18 September 2021 in a game against FC Khimki.[4]

Career statistics

As of 28 May 2022
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Solyaris Moscow 2016–17 PFL 16 0 0 0 – – 16 0
Kazanka Moscow 2017–18 8 0 – – 5[a] 0 13 0
Samgurali Tsqaltubo 2018 Erovnuli Liga 2 6 0 – – 2[b] 0 8 0
Veles Moscow 2018–19 PFL 6 0 – – – 6 0
Luch Vladivostok 2019–20 FNL 11 0 3 0 – – 14 0
Veles Moscow 2019–20 PFL – – – – 0 0
2020–21 FNL 38 3 2 0 – – 40 3
Total 44 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 46 3
Ufa 2021–22 RPL 13 0 2 0 – – 15 0
Career total 100 13 0 0 0 0 1 0 101 13
  1. ^ Appearances in the FNL Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in the relegation play-offs

References

  1. ^ "Протокол матча "Солярис" (Москва) – "Долгопрудный" (Долгопрудный)" (Game Report by PFL). Russian Professional Football League. 20 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Erving Botaka-Yobama: Torpedo Moscow cancel deal for black defender but deny racism". 20 July 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Эрвинг Ботака, добро пожаловать в ФК "Уфа"!" (in Russian). FC Ufa. 11 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Ufa v Khimki game report". Russian Premier League. 18 September 2021.


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