)
The Nairobi City Stars forward is currently in high demand after a stellar campaign having rose directly from Division One to the Premier League
Kevin Etemesi has had an unforgettable, albeit, unusual first season in the topflight of Kenyan football.
For starters, the Nairobi City Stars attacker was signed as a utility player who could play across all positions in the front line as Nicholas Muyoti sought to rebuild his team after most of the side that helped them finish fifth in their first season back in the topflight was decimated after a number of stars left for greener pastures.
)
10:00 - 08.07.2023
FKFPL AFC Leopards transfer blow? Highly sought-after striker rules himself out a move away from Nairobi City Stars
The attacker has attracted the interest of Ingwe and their rivals Gor Mahia but he does not feel it’s the right time to quit Simba wa Nairobi
He has just ended the season as a player who has now settled into the centre forward position. The second unforgettable thing is that, although he ended the season in the top five of the best goalscorers in the league, he had to wait until the second leg to start firing.
The other thing is that, of his 12 goals, 10 have been braces in five different matches, against Mathare United, Posta Rangers, Vihiga Bullets, AFC Leopards and FC Talanta.
The man himself has described the season as ‘tricky’ and ‘not easy’, but a good experience.
“It has been quite tricky, I cannot say it has been easy, but I have trained hard and basically put my best foot forward and the goals have come," he told Pulse Sports.
)
07:00 - 07.07.2023
FKFPL: Pulse Sports Kenya's Team of the Season - Mwangi, Rupia, Ochieng, Gad, and Hassan make the squad
Revealing which players made Pulse Sports Kenya's 2022/2023 team of the season.
“Before my run of scoring goals started, I used to sit on the bench because Odera (Ezekiel) was ahead of me in the pecking order. When he got injured, I got my chance.”
The former Kangemi All Stars man signed straight from Division One and has never even kicked a ball in the second-tier National Super League, so it is understandable why it took him a while to adapt to the unforgiving Premier League.
However, the fact that the 21-year-old was not an out-and-out striker before joining is very impressive, considering the way he has taken to that position like a duck to water.
)
05:00 - 26.06.2023
FKFPL: Shummah, Ogechi and Kayci lead the top ten footballers to watch in Kenya in 2023/2024. Who else makes the list?
Here are the top ten Kenyan footballers to watch in the 2023/2024 season.
“I am not actually a winger. I was more of a utility player when I came into the team, as I could play across all positions even at Kangemi," he added.
“I now see my future over there. I am more of a false nine because I have the freedom to drop deep and link up play. I feel very comfortable and happy playing there now and I do not see myself playing in another position.
“I feel like I have found my home there to the extent I am willing to grow into the position."
Of the five braces, Etemesi has his favourite. He describes the slaying of AFC Leopards at Nyayo National Stadium in June with his double which effectively secured their safety as his moment of the season.
“I enjoyed the AFC Leopards brace the most because we basically had to win at all costs to survive relegation. We were a goal down and then I equalised in the second half and then in the dying minutes of the game. It was an amazing feeling.”
)
07:56 - 25.05.2023
FKFPL Ben Stanley Omondi: From playing Chelsea, Porto at 13 to being the main man at Sofapaka
Ben Stanley Omondi has registered three goals and seven assists in his debut top flight season for Sofapaka so far this season
Etemesi has naturally attracted interest from several clubs, including both Leopards and Gor Mahia, but he believes it is still too early to make a move as he feels “he has not achieved anything substantial yet” showing his clear desire to improve.
“I see myself staying at City Stars because there are things about my game I still need to work on. I do not think I have achieved anything substantial at the club yet.”
Should he keep his run going, a call up to the national team seems inevitable for the forward that Muyoti has described as 'undroppable' for his outfit.
“It is of course a dream to play for the national team. I will keep working hard till I get my chance.”
)
13:56 - 10.07.2023
FOOTBALL Austin Odhiambo could part ways with Gor Mahia
Odhiambo is a free agent, two years after joining the club from sworn rivals AFC Leopards for a reported Ksh10 million.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)