Isaac Promise

Isaac Promise
	Promise in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth	2 December 1987
Place of birth	Zaria, Nigeria
Date of death	2 October 2019 (aged 31)
Place of death	Austin, Texas, U.S.
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
2003–2005	Grays International
Senior career*
Years	Team
2005–2008	Gençlerbirliği
2008–2010	Trabzonspor
2009–2010	→ Manisaspor (loan)
2010–2012	Manisaspor
2012–2014	Antalyaspor
2014–2015	Al Ahli
2014–2015	Balıkesirspor
2015–2017	Karabükspor
2016–2017	→ Giresunspor (loan)
2018	Georgia Revolution
2019	Austin Bold
Total
International career
2009	Nigeria
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Isaac Promise (2 December 1987 – 2 October 2019) was a Nigerian footballer. He was the captain of the football team representing Nigeria which won the silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He played professionally for 14 seasons, much of which was spent in Turkey. He scored a total of 77 club goals during his career.

Career

Club career

As a promising youngster, Promise went on trials with Nigerian second division side Grays International. Attracting attention from several big name football clubs in Europe, he went on trials with Manchester United alongside Mikel John Obi, but found the trials unsuccessful. After being linked with Dutch outfit Feyenoord Rotterdam he eventually signed for Süper Lig club Gençlerbirliği in a three-year deal in August 2005.

In the Turkcell Super League 2006-07 season, Promise scored 12 goals. He more than doubled the number of his total goals for Gençlerbirliği. On 15 July 2008, Promise agreed a 4-year deal with Trabzonspor.^[1]

With Trabzonspor, he scored two goals in 26 matches. Because of his average performance he was loaned out to Manisaspor for a year. Promise played 27 matches and scored six goals. In the summer of 2010, Manisaspor signed a contract with him. After scoring 11 goals in 30 matches with his now relegated club Manisaspor, he signed a 3-year contract with Antalyaspor.

In February 2015, he signed a six months deal with Balıkesirspor.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

In August 2018, it was announced that Promise would join United Soccer League expansion side Austin Bold for the 2019 season.^[6]

International career

Promise was named as the captain of the Nigeria under-23 squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics, being held in China. On 13 August 2008 at Tianjin Olympic Center in Tianjin, Promise scored Nigeria's first goal against the United States in the group stage. Nigeria went ahead to win the match 2–1.

Nigeria ended up winning the silver medal after losing 1–0 to Argentina in the final.

Promise first appeared in the senior team in 2009. He earned 3 caps and scored one goal.

Death

Promise died of a heart attack on 2 October 2019, at age 31.^[7]^[8]

References

^ "Isaac Trabzonspor'da". Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
^ "Yapım Aşamasında". www.gazeteyenisoz.com. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^ sitesi, milliyet.com.tr Türkiye'nin lider haber. "Isaac Promise, Süper Lig'e döndü!". MİLLİYET HABER - TÜRKİYE'NİN HABER SİTESİ. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^ "Balıkesirspor Isaac Promise'nin transferi konusunda anlaştı". Eurosport. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^ "Balıkesirspor Baltok Kulübü Resmi İnternet Sitesi | Balikesirspor.org.tr". www.balikesirspor.org.tr. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^ Communications, Austin Bold FC (28 August 2018). "AUSTIN BOLD FC SIGNS STRIKER PROMISE ISAAC". Austin Bold FC. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^ Communications, Austin Bold FC (3 October 2019). "PROMISE ISAAC: 1987-2019". Austin Bold FC. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
^ "Isaac Promise: Former Nigeria striker dies aged 31". BBC Sport. 3 October 2019.