Francis Thairu is a retired Kenyan midfielder who featured for Kenyan Premier League sides Kawangware United, Nairobi City Stars, and Nakumatt FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francis Thairu | ||
| Date of birth | 7 September 1979 | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999-2002 | Kawangware United | ||
| 2003–2008 | World Hope | 18 | (1) |
| 2009–2013 | Nairobi City Stars | 115 | (15) |
| 2019 | Nakumatt FC | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editThairu featured for Kawangware United in the premier league up to 2002 but left to join the newly formed World Hope in 2003. He was part of the squad that promoted the side to the Kenyan Premier League in the 2004/5 season. He stayed at the club till the 2008 season and even after new ownership took over and renamed the club to Nairobi City Stars in 2009. He left the team at the close of the 2013 season.
Thairu top-scored for Nairobi City Stars in the 2010 season and scored crucial goals[1] that ultimately saved the club from relegation in the 2011 season. The goals included a hattrick in the 2011 season-ender that led to a 4-2 win over Karuturi Sports at Hope centre.[2][3]
He remained active in football after 2013 by featuring for lower-tier sides in tournaments as player and coach[4] before making a return to the top flight league once again when he joined Nakumatt FC in 2019.[5]
Sibling
editThairu is the elder sibling of Anthony Kimani, the current Nairobi City Stars captain.
Honours
editClub
edit- World Hope
- KFF Nationwide Champion: (2004)
- FKF President's Cup: (2005)
References
edit- ^ MichezoAfrika, 11 Jun 2011 Thairu strikes twice to nail off Mathare United
- ^ Futaa, 26 November 2011 Thairu hattrick saves City Stars
- ^ Standard Media, 27 Nov 2011 City Stars survive, Bandari relegated
- ^ Capital FM, 31 Oct 2017 Kawangware Utd Coach Thairu Hopes To Uplift Young Stars
- ^ Goal, 22 May 2019 Mount Kenya United captain Thairu: Why we are appealing for financial aid
External links
edit- Francis Thairu at Global Sports Archive