Jelani Akil Smith (born January 1, 1991) is former footballer who serves as director of soccer operations for Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League. Born in Canada, he represented Guyana at international level.
 Smith in action against USF in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jelani Akil Smith | ||
| Date of birth | January 1, 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, forward | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2011 | Florida Gulf Coast Eagles | 49 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007 | Canadian Lions | ||
| 2008 | Italia Shooters | 11 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Toronto Lynx | 11 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | Sturm Graz II | 3 | (0) |
| 2016 | SSV Jeddeloh | 7 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Sigma FC | 31 | (0) |
| Total | 63 | (2) | |
| International career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Guyana | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editSmith began playing football at the youth level with the Ontario U-16 Provincial team, and at the National Training Center. In 2007, he became one of the youngest players to play in the Canadian Soccer League with the Canadian Lions.[1] The following season he was transferred to the Italia Shooters, where he clinched the International Division title.[2] In 2009, he pursued College soccer by enrolling with Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, and during the off season he played in the USL Premier Development League with the Toronto Lynx for two seasons.[3]
In 2013, he went abroad to sign with Sturm Graz, where he mostly featured in the Regionalliga Mitte.[4][5] In 2016, he played in the Niedersachsenliga with SSV Jeddeloh, and returned to Canada to play with Sigma FC in League1 Ontario.[6][7]
International career
editOn May 25, 2010, he was called to a Canada U-20 camp in Netherlands by head coach Valerio Gazzola.[8][9] Smith made his international debut for the Guyana national football team on November 14, 2017 in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago.[10][11][12]
Managerial career
editInitially brought on as a player for Canadian Premier League side Forge FC, Smith was instead signed as the club's manager of soccer operations.[13][14] In May 2023, he was promoted as the club's new Director Of Soccer Operations.[15][16]
Personal
editHe is the younger brother of Jamaal Smith, who was also a soccer player for Guyana.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Jelani Smith - 2012-13". Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "Canadian Soccer League Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software". 2008-07-25. Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "Jelani Smith | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "Sturm12.at | Der College-Boy mit dem Turboantrieb". Sturm12.at (in German). Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ GmbH, news networld Internetservice (2013-11-14). "Bundesliga - Sturm verpflichtet Jelani Smith". news.at (in German). Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "Kanadischer Innenverteidiger wechselt von STURM GRAZ nach Jeddeloh II | Mein Edewecht". mein.nwzonline.de (in German). Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "Sigma FC - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - # - Jelani Smith -". www.league1ontario.com. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "Men's soccer: FGCU's Jelani Smith named to Canada U-20 roster". Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- ^ "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- ^ Toney, Rawle (2017-11-08). "Three debutants in Golden Jaguars squad for Soca Warriors friendly - Guyana Chronicle". Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "TT struggle in 1-1 draw against Guyana - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Jelani Smith". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
- ^ "Soccer Operations". Forge FC. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ Emma Greer. "What It Takes To Be A Team Manager With Forge FC's Jelani Smith". Sport Management Hub. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "Forge FC promotes Jelani Smith as it continues to revamp front office structure". CBC Sports. May 3, 2023.
- ^ Jacques, John (May 3, 2023). "Forge FC Names Jelani Smith As Director Of Soccer Operations". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Glover, Robin (June 26, 2018). "L1O Game of the Week: Woodbridge falls to Vaughan in League Cup quarter-final". Waking the Red. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
Further reading
edit- Brown, Desmond (March 1, 2023). "Former pro soccer player, now Forge FC manager: 'Don't be discouraged being the only Black person in the room'". CBC News. Retrieved April 12, 2023.