Full name Mapidima Smart Role Footballer Current team Unattached Height 1.80 m | 2003–2007 Norwich City Position Forward, Midfielder Name Bally Smart | |
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Date of birth (1989-04-27) 27 April 1989 (age 26) Place of birth Polokwane, South Africa Playing position | ||
Mapidima "Bally" Smart (born 27 April 1989 in Polokwane, Limpopo) is a South African footballer, who last played as a winger or striker for Skonto Riga in the Latvian Higher League. Smart owns Polokwane United FC in the SAFA Second Division.
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Early career
Smart attended Thorpe St Andrew High School in Norwich where he studied for his GCSEs prior to joining Norwich City in 2005. He made his first team debut as a substitute against Burnley on 17 April 2007, and signed his first professional contract lasting one year on 12 May 2007.
After impressing for Norwich Reserves in a 2-1 away victory against the MK Dons, Dons manager Paul Ince decided that Smart could add extra competition for places on the wing and signed him on a three-month loan.
Bally Smart joined Greek club Kerkyra FC in August 2008 when his contract with Norwich City ended.
Charlton Athletic
Just 24 hours before Charlton's first match of 2010–11 season, they signed Smart on a non-contract basis and he was an unused substitute for the club's opener against AFC Bournemouth. He made his debut three days later as the Addicks let a 3–0 lead slip in the League Cup at Shrewsbury Town to lose 4–3.
Skonto Riga
In March 2011 Smart joined Latvian champions Skonto Riga. He made his league debut against FB Gulbene-2005 on April 10, 2011. He left the team after the season with 8 league games under his belt.
Polokwane United
After his return from Latvia in 2012, Smart established Polokwane United Academy in his home town. His academy senior team competes in the South African Second Division (3rd Tier) called the ABC Motsepe League. Polokwane United FC will be vying for promotion to the National First Division during the 2015/16 season as they embark on their second year in the league after a 12th-place finish in the 2014/15 campaign.
International career
He played seven matches for the South Africa national under-20 football team, including winning the 2008 COSAFA U-20 Cup.