Ezekiel Odera (born 9 March 1988) is a Kenyan footballer who currently plays as a striker for Kenyan Premier League side Nairobi City Stars.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ezekiel Odera | ||
| Date of birth | 9 March 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Nairobi, Kenya | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Nairobi City Stars | ||
| Number | 32 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007-2009 | Sports Connect | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010 | KCB | 27 | (11) |
| 2011 | Gor Mahia | 11 | (1) |
| 2012 | KCB | 15 | (3) |
| 2013 | Thika United F.C. | 26 | (5) |
| 2014 | Ushuru | 8 | (1) |
| 2014 | KCB | 6 | (0) |
| 2015 | Thika United F.C. | 4 | (0) |
| 2015 | Sofapaka F.C. | 7 | (1) |
| 2016 | Nairobi City Stars | 24 | (4) |
| 2017 | Nairobi City Stars | 26 | (11) |
| 2018 | A.F.C. Leopards | 26 | (10) |
| 2018-19 | → KCB (loan) | 23 | (5) |
| 2019-20 | Nairobi City Stars | 6 | (3) |
| 2020- | Nairobi City Stars | 78 | (18) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 May 2023 | |||
Career
editOdera signed his first professional contract after joining Kenyan Premier League side KCB in 2010 from Buruburu-based Sports Connect Academy.
He went on to top score for the club with 11 goals and that performance ultimately earned him the 2009 New Player of the year and runners-up top scorer awards.[1]
In 2011 he moved to Gor Mahia[2] for a season before returning to KCB once again in 2012,[3][4] and on two other occasions including on loan.[5]
He went on to feature for four other top-tier sides including Thika United F.C.,[6] Ushuru, Sofapaka F.C., Nairobi City Stars[7] and A.F.C. Leopards[8] where he was named the March 2018 player of the Month.[9][10][11][12]
He was part of Nairobi City Stars during their first season in the second tier in 2017, then in their promotion year in the 2019-20 season after rejoining in Jan 2020.[13]
At the expiry of his initial two-and-a-half-year contract, he extended it in August 2022 to stay on at the club till the end of the 2022-23 Kenyan Premier League season.[14][15]
Playing style
editOdera's greatest assets are build-up, controlling skills, one v one against defenders, prowess in aerial duels, and penalty-kicking skills.
References
edit- ^ MichezoAfrika 28 Oct 2010 The Mercurial rise of lethal striker-Ezekiel Odera
- ^ MichezoAfrika, 17 Dec 2010 Gor Mahia nets up goal poacher Ezekiel Odera
- ^ The Standard, 13 Jan 2012 Gor Mahia striker Odera headed back to KCB
- ^ MichezoAfrika 20 Jan 2014 KCB completes Odera signing, close in on Ouma
- ^ Goal, 18 Dec 2018 AFC Leopards striker Ezekiel Odera joins KCB on loan
- ^ MichezoAfrika 4 Dec 2012 Ezekiel Odera looks forward to bright season at Thika
- ^ Soka25East, 31 Jan 2016 Former Sofapaka striker Odera joins Nairobi City Stars
- ^ Futaa, 17 Dec 2017 AFC Leopards sign City Stars forward
- ^ Daily Sport, 24 Apr 2018 Ezekiel Odera won the Sportpesa/Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK) player of the month Award
- ^ Goal, 24 Apr 2018 AFC Leopards forward Ezekiel Odera beat KPL top scorer for the monthly award
- ^ Citizen Digital 24 Apr 2018 ‘Finest’ Footballer Odera Becomes First Leopards Player To Bag SJAK Award
- ^ MichezoAfrika 24 Apr 2018 Odera named March SJAK player of the month
- ^ Futaa, 16 Jan 2020 Former Leopards goal poacher Odera joins City Stars
- ^ Mozzart Sport, 24 Aug 2022 Nairobi City Stars tie eleven players to lengthy deals
- ^ The-Star, 25 Aug 2022 Eleven players re-new contracts at City Stars
External links
edit- Ezekiel Odera at Global Sports Archive