Young Gun: Ismeal Kabia

Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at Sobha Realty Training Centre.

Ismeal Kabia spoke to us recently, and here's what he had to say about making his debut and enjoying an eventful season so far.

I feel like I’ve had a good start to the season. First I was really happy to sign my professional deal, which I am incredibly grateful to God for. I’ve worked very hard to get here, and I’m thankful that the coaches have shown a lot of faith in me. I've also had an injury-free pre-season, which was great considering my past struggles. We started the season strong, winning several games in a row with the under-21s. Our first EFL Trophy game against Leyton Orient was a fantastic experience — playing against a professional League One team taught us a lot. Many people were surprised by our performance, but I think we adapted well to the challenge. Hearing the crowd was brilliant, and scoring the winner in that game was an unforgettable feeling. Playing in front of a crowd brings out the best in me and the team, making the game feel more real and motivating us to push harder. 

I’ve also been around the first-team squad a bit this season. My first taste of it came in one of the biggest games of the season when I travelled with the squad for Tottenham away in September. A week prior, I was training with the first team quite a bit, and then they called me and Maldini Kacurri to tell us we’d be in the squad. It was a really proud moment for me and my family. The first person I called was my dad, and he was overjoyed. On the day, the experience was incredible. Beating Tottenham away is always massive for us, and everyone was buzzing. 

Just over a week later, I made my first-team debut against Bolton, which was another amazing experience. I’d been training with the first team a lot, and I always hoped I’d get on if we were leading by a comfortable margin. That’s exactly what happened – we were up 5-1, and I got the nod. I mentally prepared myself, and when Mikel called me over, I was nervous but excited. It was a proud moment because the journey to this point hasn’t been easy.

Getting on the pitch was enough to make me happy. It’s all God’s work; I’ve worked hard, and He made a way for it to happen. Once I was on, I played it safe and was perhaps a bit timid, but with more touches, I’d have grown into the game. Hopefully, there’s more to come in the future. 

As it was my first time, I had to do an initiation song. I sang “Stay” by Rihanna during the Bournemouth game, where I was also on the bench. I got a little standing ovation. It wasn’t my best performance, but it was funny! Coincidentally, Mikel Merino also did his initiation on the same day, so at least I wasn’t the only one! 

Looking back on 2024, it’s been a very positive year. Signing my professional contract and making my debut are moments I’m proud of. Everyone’s journey in football is different, and while the past couple of years have been tough, I’m happy with the progress I’ve made. There’s still so much more to come.

"Merino did his initiation on the same day, so at least I wasn't the only one!"

A first-team matchday and an under-21s matchday are quite similar in terms of nutrition and preparation. However, the first team operates at a much higher level, with more scrutiny and attention to detail, which is understandable given what’s at stake. 

In the UEFA Youth League, our results were disappointing, but I’ve been working hard to improve my output. Having four assists in five games is a decent return, but we’ve been unlucky in some matches. The main takeaway was how different European teams play. For example, Italian teams tend to be more defensive and structured, while teams like Monaco have a lot of creativity on the pitch. The variety in styles has been a valuable learning experience. 

My goals for 2025 are to show the best version of myself in every game I play. I want to stay fit, perform at my best, and see what opportunities lie ahead.