Abu Ogogo

Abumere Tafadzwa "Abu" Ogogo (born 3 November 1989) is a retired English professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Ogogo began his career as a striker with his local Sunday league club when a scout from Wimbledon approached him for a trial.

His trial was successful and he signed for Wimbledon, where he stayed until the club went into administration and the youth team disbanded due to the club's move to Milton Keynes.

He was spotted as a fourteen-year-old by Arsenal playing for Fulham and joined after successfully completing a six-week trial, along with former Wimbledon teammates Kieran Gibbs and James Dunne.

He started a scholarship with the club in the summer of 2006, and came to prominence in the 2006–07 FA Youth Cup run, where Arsenal were seconds away from reaching the final.

It was during this period that Arsenal converted Ogogo from a central midfielder to a right back.

In September 2007, he signed his first professional contract with the club on a two-year deal.

It was the first time that all the second-year scholars had received professional contracts.

He remained a regular in the reserves and also featured twice on the bench in League Cup games.

In October 2008, Ogogo joined Championship side Nottingham Forest on a two-week trial from Arsenal along with James Dunne and Paul Rodgers, with the view to a permanent deal.

He featured in a reserve game victory over Shrewsbury Town but failed to earn a deal with Forest.

In November 2008 he joined League Two side Barnet on a one-month loan.

He made his debut for Barnet in the 4–0 home defeat by Notts County on 15 November 2008.

He scored his first goal in senior football when he slotted home a Kenny Gillet cross in a 3–1 defeat to bottom of the table Luton Town.

He then went on to receive a second booking and a subsequent red card.

Later on in the month, his loan was extended for a further month until January, and then later extended until the end of the season.

His Barnet career ended in disastrous fashion as he was sent off for handball in the final game of the season against Port Vale.

He made a total of nine appearances for the club scoring once.

In May 2009, it was announced that he would be released by Arsenal, after failing to make a breakthrough at the club.

In June 2009, he signed for League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge on a two-year contract, as a direct replacement for Danny Foster who had recently departed to Brentford.

His Daggers career got off to an indifferent start with Ogogo gaining a reputation for getting sent off.

When Ogogo was sent off against Macclesfield Town in October 2009, he was consigned to a spell on the bench after the Daggers replaced him with loan signing Seth Nana Twumasi.

He made his debut for the club in August 2009, in a 2–1 win at Crewe Alexandra, replacing Jon Nurse as a substitute on the right wing.

When he returned to the side in a match against Shrewsbury Town, he came close to another red card following another reckless challenge.

Ogogo admitted he learned the hard way, waiting for his chance and slowly cemented his place at right back in the Daggers side as they pushed for the play-offs.

He featured for the side in the 2010 League Two play-off final win over Rotherham United at Wembley Stadium.

In August 2010, he signed a new two-year contract extension with the Daggers.

He took his impressive form into the club's maiden season in League One, showing his ability to play at a higher level during the 2010–11 season.

However, he could not save the Daggers from relegation on the final game of the season in a 5–0 defeat to Peterborough United.

He continued to be a first team regular as the Daggers struggled on their return to League Two finishing in the bottom half of the table.

In July 2012, he committed to another three-year contract with the club, after impressive for a third successive campaign.

He was also appointed captain, succeeding from departing skipper Mark Arber.

It was during the 2012–13 season that he was moved from right back to central midfield under new manager Wayne Burnett, after he convinced the manager for the opportunity to switch.

However, the club struggled and had to battle for Football League survival, which came as a surprise to Ogogo.

He went on to make his 200th appearance for the Daggers in February 2014, in a 1–1 draw with Burton Albion.

In April 2014, Ogogo claimed the supporters' and club Player of the Year awards, after scoring nine goals during the campaign.

In his final season for the club he made 39 appearances, with an injury set-back preventing him from making more appearances.

In May 2015, it was announced that Ogogo would leave Dagenham & Redbridge in June 2015 when his contract expired as he wished to move on from the club.

On 1 June 2015 Ogogo signed a two-year deal with Shrewsbury Town, stepping back up to League One.

He became a first-team regular, making his Shrewsbury debut on the opening day against Millwall, and scoring his first goal for the club in a 2–0 home win over Bury.