Gabriel Bitar
Gabriel Bitar (Arabic: غبريال بيطار; born August 23, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Carleton Ravens of Carleton University. Born in Canada, Bitar is of Lebanese descent.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 23, 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Carleton Ravens | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ottawa Internationals | |||
| Ottawa Fury | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017– | Carleton Ravens | 43 | (35) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2016 | Ottawa Fury FC Academy | 21 | (9) |
| 2017 | Ottawa South United | 13 | (6) |
| 2019 | Cavalry FC | 1 | (0) |
| 2020 | Ottawa South United | 7 | (4) |
| 2021 | Ansar | 0 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 19, 2020 | |||
Club career
Early career
Bitar began playing football for Ottawa Internationals aged four.[1]
He was part of the Ottawa Fury FC Academy and played for their Première Ligue de soccer du Québec team in 2015 and 2016.[2] In 2017, Bitar played for League1 Ontario side Ottawa South United, scoring six goals in thirteen appearances.[3]
Cavalry FC
Bitar was the first overall draft pick in the inaugural CPL–U Sports Draft, where he was picked by Cavalry FC on November 12, 2018.[4] He signed with the club on April 24, 2019.[5] He made his debut for Cavalry against Pacific FC in a Canadian Championship match on May 16.[6] In August 2019, Cavalry would announce that Bitar would return to Carleton University for the 2019 USports season.[7] He was picked again by Cavalry in the 2019 CPL–U Sports Draft, this time sixth overall,[8] but he did not join them for the 2020 season.[9]
Ottawa South United
In 2020, he returned to Ottawa South United, who moved from League1 Ontario to the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec,[10] where he previously played when he was a member of the Ottawa Fury Academy.[11]
Ansar
On July 4, 2021, Bitar moved to Ansar in the Lebanese Premier League on trial for the 2021 Lebanese Elite Cup.[12] He made his debut on July 12, scoring a brace against Akhaa Ahli Aley in the group stage.[13] Bitar scored his third goal against Ahed on July 16.[14] Despite scoring three goals in two games, Bitar decided not to sign a contract with Ansar, due to the economic situation in Lebanon.[15]
International career
In September 2015, Bitar participated in an identification camp for the Canadia national under-20 team.[1]
Personal life
Bitar is of Lebanese descent through both his parents.[1][16] He speaks French, English and Arabic.[1]
Career statistics
- As of match played July 16, 2021[17]
| Club | Season | League | Domestic Cup[lower-alpha 1] | League Cup[lower-alpha 2] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ottawa Fury FC Academy | 2015[18] | Première Ligue de soccer du Québec | 6 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 3 | ||
| 2016[19] | Première Ligue de soccer du Québec | 15 | 6 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 6 | |||
| Total | 21 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 9 | ||
| Ottawa South United | 2017[3] | League1 Ontario | 13 | 6 | — | — | 13 | 6 | ||||
| Cavalry FC | 2019 | Canadian Premier League | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Ottawa South United | 2020[20] | Première Ligue de soccer du Québec | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | |||
| Ansar | 2021–22[21] | Lebanese Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Career total | 42 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 22 | ||
- Includes Canadian Championship and Lebanese FA Cup
- Includes Coupe PLSQ and Lebanese Elite Cup
Notes
- Tied with Fadel Antar
References
- "Gabriel Bitar profile". Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- "Guide de Presse 2016 de la Première ligue de soccer du Québec" [Press Guide 2016 of the Premier league of soccer of Quebec]. PLSQ (in French).
- "Gabriel Bitar". League1 Ontario. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- Carlucci, Mario (November 17, 2019). "Carleton soccer star caps winning week with historic draft selection". CBC.
- "Cavalry FC Signs U Sport Pick Gabriel Bitar". Cavalry FC. April 24, 2019.
- "Cavalry FC open the 2019 Canadian Championship with 0:2 away win over Pacific FC". Canadian Soccer Association. May 16, 2019.
- "Cavalry FC announces Gabriel Bitar will be returning to Carleton University". Cavalry FC. August 12, 2019.
- "TRACKER: All 14 picks from the 2019 CPL-U Sports Draft". Canadian Premier League. November 11, 2019.
- Steiner, Benjamin (August 14, 2020). "CanPL Notebook #3: Who are the OUA alumni this season?". 49 Sport.
- "Ottawa South United Se Joint à La PLSQ" [Ottawa South United Joins the PLSQ]. Première Ligue de soccer du Québec. January 30, 2020.
- Jacques, John (July 13, 2021). "Gabriel Bitar Off To Hot Start In Lebanon". Northern Tribune.
- Khaled, Nasser (July 4, 2021). الأنصار يختبر ثلاثة لبنانيين في كأس النخبة [Ansar tests three Lebanese [players] in the Elite Cup]. Kooora (in Arabic). Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- Khaled, Nasser (12 July 2021). الأنصار يهزم الإخاء برباعية [Ansar defeats Akhaa by four]. Kooora (in Arabic). Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- "Ansar vs Ahed". FA Lebanon. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- أفضل من معتوق".. صفقة بيطار إلى الأنصار تفشل" ["Better than Maatouk" .. Bitar deal to Ansar fails]. Lebanon Football Guide. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- "Gabriel Bitar, Cavalry's First Overall Pick Reflects on CPL Experience". Between The Sticks. 2019-11-02. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- "G.Bitar". Soccerway.
- "PTS-Ligue Archive" (in French). TSI Sports. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- "Buteurs" [Scorers]. PLSQ (in French).
- "Calendrier et Stats" [Calendar and Stats]. PLSQ (in French). Archived from the original on September 30, 2020.
- "Gabriel Bitar". FA Lebanon. Retrieved July 16, 2021.