Robert Lopez Mendy

Last updated

Robert Lopez Mendy
Robert Lopez Mendy 2020.jpg
Lopez Mendy in 2020
Personal information
Full name Robert Waly Lopez Mendy
Date of birth (1987-02-23) 23 February 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Dakar, Senegal
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Kaya–Iloilo
Number 17
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2013–2015 Green Archers United (26)
2016–2018 Kaya–Iloilo 45 [a] (45 [b] )
2019 UiTM 11 (7)
2019–2020 Ceres–Negros / United City 19 (22)
2021–2022 PKR Svay Rieng 19 (7)
2022– Kaya–Iloilo
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Waly Lopez Mendy (born 23 February 1987 [1] ) is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Philippine club Kaya-Iloilo.

Contents

Club career

Green Archers United

Lopez Mendy moved to the Philippines in August 2013 to play in the United Football League (UFL). [2] He joined Green Archers United and scored the last goal in the team's 5–0 victory over Philippine Navy in the 2013 UFL Cup group stage. [3] Green Archers finished third in the tournament. [4]

In the 2014 league season, Lopez Mendy played as a midfielder. [5] On 23 January, on an assist provided by Chieffy Caligdong, he scored the second goal in a 2–2 draw with Philippine Army. [6] He then scored on the fourth minute in an eventual 4–1 loss to Stallion on 25 February. [7] On 22 March, he scored the Archers' first goal in a 2–1 comeback win against Loyola Meralco Sparks. [8] In the next match, on 27 March, he scored a brace in the 2–1 victory over Team Socceroo, with the second goal scored in the 89th minute. [5] He then scored a consolation goal in another 4–1 loss to Stallion on 10 April. [9] He then scored a brace and registered an assist in the following match, a 4–2 win over Philippine Army. [10] On 29 April, he scored a brace in a 2–1 win over Pasargad, with the first goal scored on the 8th minute. [11] On 3 May, he converted the penalty to equalize 1–1 with Loyola Meralco Sparks. [12] A month later, on 3 June, he scored a brace in the 2–0 win over Kaya. [13] He netted another brace in the first half of their 3–0 win over Philippine Army on 19 June, their second to the last match of the season. [14] Lopez Mendy ended the season with 15 goals.

During the first UFL All-Star Weekend held on 25 April 2015, Lopez Mendy played in the Philippines vs the Rest of the World exhibition game. He was named man of the match for scoring a hat-trick in the second half as the foreigners won 5–4. [15] [16] [17]

In the 2015 UFL Cup group stage, Lopez Mendy scored a brace within 6 minutes of game time as the Archers defeated Pasargad 6–0 on 10 May. [18] In their last group match against Ceres, he scored in the 3rd minute of an eventual 4–1 defeat. [19] GAU were later eliminated in the quarter-finals. [20]

Kaya

Lopez Mendy was signed by Kaya for their 2016 season. [21] He scored a total of 11 goals in the 2016 UFL Cup, making him the tournament's top scorer as Kaya finished third. [22] He found the net a lot that season, including a brace to help Kaya beat his former club Green Archers United 5-1. [23] However, the Senegalese striker was sent off despite scoring Kaya's only goal to help beat Loyola Meralco 1-0, his only red card that season. [24] Lopez Mendy was still part of Kaya for the maiden season of the incipient Philippines Football League (PFL) in 2017. For the 2018 season, Lopez Mendy was named Player of the Season by Kaya's fan club. [25]

UiTM

In January 2019 it was reported that Lopez Mendy has joined UiTM F.C. of the second-tier league Malaysia Premier League. [26]

Ceres–Negros / United City

Lopez Mendy returned to the Philippines to sign up to play for Ceres Negros of the PFL in August 2019. [27] At the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara, in which his club Ceres Negros won the title, Lopez Mendy won the Golden Boot individual award for scoring five goals in the whole tournament. [28]

When Ceres Negros had a management overhaul in July 2020 and was renamed as United City, the new management re-signed Lopez Mendy to play for the club. [29] After the conclusion of the 2020 season, United City in February 2021 announced the departure of Lopez Mendy from the club to play for a Cambodian club. [30]

Personal life

Robert Waly Lopez Mendy was born on 23 February 1987 in Dakar, Senegal. He earned a college degree in French language and literature from College Sacre Coeur in Dakar. [2]

In 2016, he married his Filipina wife, Maebel "Ameera" Ybera Lacastesantos; the couple have a son. [2]

On 3 March 2020, a Senate bill was passed by Senator Migz Zubiri to grant Filipino citizenship to Lopez Mendy through naturalization. It can make him eligible to play for the Philippines national team. [31]

Honours

Club

Green Archers United

Kaya–Iloilo

Ceres–Negros / United City

Individual

Notes

  1. Counted from season 2017 onwards
  2. Counted from season 2016 onwards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaya F.C.–Iloilo</span> Filipino association football club based in Iloilo City

Kaya Futbol Club–Iloilo, or simply Kaya–Iloilo, is a Philippine professional football club based in Iloilo City. They currently play in the Philippines Football League, the highest tier of football in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loyola F.C.</span> Filipino football club

Loyola Football Club is a Philippine professional football club from Manila, Metro Manila. They play in the Philippines Football League (PFL), the highest tier of football in the Philippines. The club has won one UFL Cup and one PFF National Men's Club Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stallion Laguna F.C.</span> Filipino association football club based in Biñan, Laguna

Stallion Laguna Football Club is a Filipino professional football club based in Biñan, Laguna. The club competes in the Philippines Football League, the top tier of football in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippines Football League</span> Top-division mens association football league in the Philippines

The Philippines Football League (PFL) is a men's professional football league in the Philippines. Sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and organized by Liga Futbol Inc., it is the country's primary football competition. In 2024, it was contested by 15 clubs from April 6 to July 14. The league does not have a system of promotion and relegation. All PFL clubs also take part in the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the annual domestic cup competition.

Jovin Hervas Bedic is a Filipino professional footballer who plays as a forward or a winger for Philippines Football League club Kaya-Iloilo and the Philippines national team.

Dylan Alain Lucienne Escalana De Bruycker is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for the Philippines national team.

Masanari Omura, nicknamed Masa, is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defender. He spent the majority of his career with Filipino club Kaya. He was awarded the United Football League Cup Golden Ball in 2015 and had also captained his club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Copa Paulino Alcantara Final</span> Football match

The final of the inaugural season of the Copa Paulino Alcantara was contested by Davao Aguilas F.C. and Kaya F.C.–Iloilo on 27 October 2018 on a neutral ground at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The 2019 Philippines Football League was the third season of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. Ceres–Negros are the defending champions. This marks the revival of the Philippines Football League as the league folded after the 2018 season to give way for the Philippine Premier League, intended as a successor league to the PFL, which proved to be short-lived.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Ceres–Negros F.C. season</span> Ceres–Negros 2019 football season

The 2019 season was Ceres–Negros Football Club's 8th season in existence and the club's 3rd consecutive season in the top flight of Philippine football. In addition to the Philippines Football League, the club competed in the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the AFC Cup, and the first preliminary round of the AFC Champions League. Competitive matches were played from February 5 to November 16, 2019. Ceres–Negros won the Philippines Football League for the third successive season, this time without a single defeat – a record of 22 wins and 2 draws, which included a 17-game winning streak. They also won the Copa Paulino Alcantara unbeaten, completing the domestic double without a single defeat in domestic competitions. The club was less successful in Asian competitions: after losing the first preliminary round of the AFC Champions League, they were transferred to the AFC Cup where they topped their group but were eliminated in the ASEAN Zonal semi-final. Ceres had only 3 losses overall.

The 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara was the second edition of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the domestic football cup competition of the Philippines. It included 6 out of 7 Philippines Football League teams as well as a guest team, the Philippines U22. It started on October 26, 2019, and concluded on November 16, 2019, with Ceres-Negros beating Kaya-Iloilo in the final, 2–1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara Final</span> Football match

The final of the second season of the Copa Paulino Alcantara will be contested by Ceres–Negros and Kaya F.C.–Iloilo on 16 November 2019 on neutral ground at the Biñan Football Stadium in Biñan.

The 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara was the third edition of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the domestic football cup competition of the Philippines. United City won the previous edition in 2019, but withdrew from the 2021 edition. Kaya–Iloilo won their second title by defeating the Azkals Development Team 1–0 in the final. All matches were played at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

The 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara was the fourth edition of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the domestic football cup competition of the Philippines. The 2022 edition marked the first time since the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara that matches are not held in a "bubble format", and also the first season in more than two years that allowed spectators to watch the matches, all of which are held at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite. The final saw United City grab a narrow 3–2 win over defending champions Kaya–Iloilo in the highest-scoring final to date. As a result, United City won their second Copa title. They last won the title in the 2019, as Ceres–Negros.

The final of the fourth season of the Copa Paulino Alcantara was contested by Kaya–Iloilo and United City on neutral ground at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

Audie Bantas Menzi is a Filipino professional footballer who plays as a defender for Philippines Football League club Kaya–Iloilo and the Philippines national team.

Florencio Gamba "Jun" Badelic Jr. is a Filipino professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Philippines Football League club Dynamic Herb Cebu.

Hamed Hajimehdi is an Iranian professional footballer and former futsal player who plays as a midfielder for Mendiola 1991 of the Philippines Football League. He has mainly played for various clubs in the Philippines.

Aaron Manacho Altiche is a Filipino professional footballer who plays as a winger for Philippines Football League club Mendiola 1991.

References

  1. "Robert Lopez Mendy". Kaya FC–Iloilo. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Galunan, Jerome Jr. (17 March 2020). "Zubiri files bill naturalizing Ceres FC players". SunStar Bacolod. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  3. "Loyola demolishes Blue Guards in UFL, 33-0". ABS-CBN News. 31 October 2013. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 Miravite, Myke (6 December 2013). "Caligdong bounces back to salvage 3rd for GAU". Rappler. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 Miravite, Myke (27 March 2014). "UFL: Lopez Mendy scores brace in GAU's 2-1 win over Socceroo". Rappler. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  6. Miravite, Myke (23 January 2014). "UFL: Late goals propel Army to 2-2 draw with GAU". Rappler. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  7. Sacamos, Karlo (25 February 2014). "Doctora justifies Azkals call-up with inspirational performance for Stallion". Sports Interactive Network Philippines (SPIN). Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  8. Villar, Joey (23 March 2014). "Archers stun fancied Sparks". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. Decena, Karl (11 April 2014). "UFL on AksyonTV: Stallion turns back Green Archers, Pachanga rallies to beat Army-GTI". Hello Philippines newspaper (UK & Europe edition). p. 39.
  10. Sacamos, Karlo (16 April 2014). "Reborn Green Archers welcome back Caligdong with four-goal show against Army". Sports Interactive Network Philippines (SPIN). Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  11. Sacamos, Karlo (29 April 2014). "Archers solidify chances of qualifying for UFL Super Cup with win over Pasargad". Sports Interactive Network Philippines (SPIN). Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  12. Sacamos, Karlo (3 May 2014). "Green Archers add to woes of reeling Loyola Sparks with UFL stalemate". Sports Interactive Network Philippines (SPIN). Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  13. Lina, Ceres (4 June 2014). "UFL: Stallion wins over Socceroo, Archers strike down Kaya FC". Rappler. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  14. "Pachanga snaps Stallion's 11-game winning streak". DZRH News. 23 June 2014. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  15. Tupas, Cedelf (19 April 2015). "UFL All-Star weekend set April 25". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  16. Sacamos, Karlo (26 April 2015). "Robert Mendy shines as World Team turns back Azkals-loaded PH selection in UFL All-Star game". Sports Interactive Network Philippines (SPIN). Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  17. Tamayao, Brian (25 April 2015). "Lopez Mendy inspires Team Rest of the World in defeating Team Philippines". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  18. Tamayao, Brian (10 May 2015). "Green Archers United on target in lopsided victory against Pasargad". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  19. Tamayao, Brian (23 May 2015). "Super subs steer Ceres to Group A pole; GAU settle for second". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  20. Co, RJ (22 August 2015). "Ceres-La Salle outguns Green Archers United in highly physical match, secures semifinals spot". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  21. "Kaya signs nine players for 2016 season". The Manila Times. 23 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  22. 1 2 3 "Global blasts Ceres to pocket UFL crown". The Manila Times. 17 April 2016. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  23. "Robert Lopez Mendy strikes back at former team - FOX Sports Asia". 20 June 2016.
  24. "Robert Mendy emerges hero, but nearly turns into goat for 10-man Kaya in win over Loyola Meralco".
  25. "Robert Lopez Mendy's Hat-trick Sends Kaya FC–Iloilo Through to Copa Paulino Alcantara Final". ABS-CBN Sports. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  26. Lajim, Faliq (28 January 2019). "4 Import Perkuat UiTM F.C." My Metro. New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  27. "Ceres-Negros Football Club loads up with Lopez Mendy signing". Panay News. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  28. Saldajeno, Ivan (16 November 2019). "Ceres Negros sweeps 'Copa' individual awards". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  29. Co, Adrian Stewart (4 August 2020). "Marañón, Lopez Mendy". Panay News. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  30. Del Carmen, Lorenzo (15 February 2021). "Senegalese forward Lopez Mendy departs United City". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  31. "Senate bill seeks naturalization of 2 Ceres-Negros booters".
  32. Del Carmen, Lorenzo (25 May 2023). "Kaya-Iloilo ends 27-year wait, takes PFL crown". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.