Kenneth Otigba Explained

Kenny Otigba
Fullname:Kenneth Karim Otigba
Birth Date:29 August 1992
Birth Place:Kaduna, Nigeria
Height:1.87 m
Position:Centre back
Currentclub:Vasas
Clubnumber:34
Youthyears1:2000–2004
Youthclubs1:Gyula
Youthyears2:2004–2008
Youthclubs2:Békéscsaba
Youthyears3:2008–2012
Youthclubs3:Heerenveen
Years1:2012–2017
Clubs1:Heerenveen
Caps1:82
Goals1:8
Years2:2016–2017
Clubs2:Kasımpaşa (loan)
Caps2:15
Goals2:1
Years3:2017–2020
Caps3:39
Goals3:1
Years4:2020–
Clubs4:Vasas
Caps4:89
Goals4:10
Pcupdate:6 August 2024
Nationalyears1:2010
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012–2014
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Ntupdate:16:21, 24 March 2019 (UTC)

Kenneth Karim Otigba (born 29 August 1992) is a Nigerian-born Hungarian footballer who last played for Vasas as a centre back. At international level, he has represented Hungary national team

Club career

Heerenveen

Otigba was born in Kaduna, Nigeria. He made his debut for SC Heerenveen on 16 December 2012 against Utrecht, coming on a 75th-minute substitute in a 3–1 loss.[1]

On 30 August 2014, Otigba gave an assist to Mark Uth to beat FC Utrecht 3–1 in the 2014–15 Eredivisie.[2] On 13 December 2014, Otigba gave an assist to Uth to beat NAC Breda 2–0 at the Rat Verlegh Stadion in Breda, Netherlands in the 2014–15 Eredivisie.[3] On 7 January 2015, Otigba was chosen to be in the best team of December of the 2014–15 Eredivisie.[4]

In August 2016, Otigba joined Kasımpaşa S.K. on loan for the 2016–17 with an option for Kasımpaşa to sign him permanently.[5]

Ferencváros

On 5 June 2017, it was announced that an agreement was reached between SC Heerenveen and Ferencvárosi TC in connection with the signing of Otigba.[6] By signing Otigba, Ferencváros ended a two-year long project since on 14 December 2015 it was announced that Ferencváros showed interest in signing him.[7]

On 16 June 2020, he became champion with Ferencváros by beating Budapest Honvéd FC at the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion on the 30th match day of the 2019–20 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season.[8]

International career

Having represented Hungary U-21 as a youth player, he refused Pál Dárdai's invitation to represent Hungary at the adult team saying he would choose Nigeria instead.[9] However, in 2018, he reconsidered himself and chose to play for the national team,[10] making his debut in the friendly match against Kazakhstan.[11]

Personal life

Otigba was born in Nigeria to a Hungarian mother and a Nigerian father, he moved to Hungary with his mother at age five and spent his childhood in Gyula.[12] [13] Otigba said in an interview with the Hungarian Nemzeti Sport that "I'm a very lucky chap" when he was asked about his partner, Dutch singer and model Sanne Verbeek, a.k.a. Ayden. Verbeek participated in the X Factor in 2013.[14]

Career statistics

[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupEuropeTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Heerenveen2012–134010000050
2013–14255300000285
2014–15280100000290
2015–16313300000343
Total888800000968
Kasımpaşa2016–17151520000203
Total151520000203
Ferencváros2017–18241100010261
2018–193020000050
2019–20120000000120
Total391300010431
Career total14210162001015912

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Utrecht vs. Heerenveen - 16 December 2012 - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com.
  2. Web site: Hollandia: Otigba Kenny gólpasszal tért vissza. 30 August 2014. Nemzeti Sport.
  3. Web site: Hollandia: a gólzsák köszönettel tartozik Otigbának is. 13 December 2014. Nemzeti Sport.
  4. Web site: Eredivisie: Otigba beverekedte magát a hónap csapatába. 7 January 2015. Nemzeti Sport.
  5. Web site: Kasimpasa neemt Otigba op huurbasis over van Heerenveen . NU.nl . 24 March 2019 . Dutch.
  6. Web site: FTC: megszületett az egyezség, Otigba érkezik – hivatalos. 5 June 2017. Nemzeti Sport.
  7. Web site: FTC: Otigba megszerzése továbbra is téma a klubnál. 14 December 2015. Nemzeti Sport.
  8. Web site: NBI: A Honvéd legyőzésével bajnok lett a Ferencváros. 16 June 2020. Nemzeti Sport.
  9. Web site: Otigba elmesélte, miért nem élt Dárdai válogatott meghívójával. 13 June 2017. Nemzeti Sport.
  10. Web site: Otigba is helyet kapott Leekens első válogatott keretében. New Wave Media Group. Kft. www.origo.hu/.
  11. Web site: Otigba Kenneth: Reménytelenségről szó sincs.
  12. Web site: Coachless Nigeria chase European players. www.bbc.com.
  13. Web site: Otigba Kenneth: Nincs barátnőm, a futball az igazi párom. Nemzeti Sport. 28 September 2017. 31 January 2019.
  14. Web site: Íme, a lány, aki miatt Otigba Kenneth rendkívül szerencsés. 11 November 2014. Nemzeti Sport.
  15. Web site: Hungary - K. Otigba - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com.