The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 20, 2022
Odisha FC on Sunday announced that Australian player Osama Malik has signed a year-long deal with the Club.
Osama is a versatile player, who can operate as a central defender, full-back, and holding midfielder. He has had previous spells in the Hyundai A-League with Adelaide United, North Queensland Fury, Melbourne City, and most recently, Perth Glory.
The former Australia U-20 international added some overseas experience via his spell with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Batin. Having played his junior football with Croydon Kings, West Adelaide, and Adelaide Raiders, Malik joined Adelaide United in 2008. A year later he joined North Queensland Fury (now defunct) and spent two seasons with them ahead of a return to his native Adelaide in 2011. The 1.85m utility man duly became a first-team mainstay for the Reds, helping them take out the 2013-14 Premiership and claim the 2014 FFA Cup.
Following a 2016 move to Melbourne City, he again became a regular starter and went on to claim another FFA Cup winners’ medal.
The local Adelaide product received his big break when he was selected in the Reds’ inaugural National Youth League squad at the age of 17 after being signed by the local South Australian club Raiders. Fine performances in the Reds’ Youth Team led to ‘Ozzie’ joining United’s senior squad for the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, where he made his senior debut appearance in a 13-minute cameo against J-League giants Gamba Osaka.
With this signing, Odisha FC has fulfilled their mandatory Asian quota within the squad
