Josephat Lopaga

Josephat Lopaga (born 12 August 2002) is a Kenyan professional footballer who plays for Belarusian club Dynamo Brest, as a striker.[1]

Josephat Lopaga
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-08-12) 12 August 2002
Place of birth Baragoi, Kenya
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Dynamo Brest
Number 8
Youth career
Shy Football Academy
2017–2019 Gor Mahia
2019–2020 Mt Kenya United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Posta Rangers
2022–2023 A.F.C. Leopards
2023 Dhofar
2023– Dynamo Brest 8 (2)
International career
Kenya U17
Kenya U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:01, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

Early life

Born in Baragoi, Lopaga spent his early years in Maralal, later living as a 'street kid', moving between Nyahururu, Nakuru and Nairobi.[2] He joined a homeless rehabilitation programme and began playing football.[2]

Club career

Lopaga began playing for Shy Football Academy, before signing for Gor Mahia in 2017.[2] He moved to Mt Kenya United in 2019, later signing for Posta Rangers.[2][3]

After a spell with A.F.C. Leopards,[4] he signed for Omani club Dhofar in February 2023.[5][6]

He signed for Belarusian club Dynamo Brest in August 2023,[7][8][9] scoring his first goal for the club in his second match.[10][11] He later said he wanted to score more goals for the club.[12] He also said that his new teammate Cédric Kouadio was helping him settling in.[13]

International career

Lopaga has played for the Kenya under-17 and under-23 teams.[2][13]

References
  1. Josephat Lopaga at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  2. "EXCLUSIVE: From a street kid to a lethal striker - this is the inspiring story of Josphat Lopaga | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke.
  3. "Lopaga shakes off bitter street life to bask in top-flight glory". The Star.
  4. "Lopaga ready to impress at AFC Leopards". The Star.
  5. "AFC Leopards center-back leaves the club, joins Middle East top club". 8 February 2023.
  6. "Kenyan duo move to Oman after getting deal with Dhofar Club | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke.
  7. https://www.pd.co.ke/sports/former-afc-leopards-finds-club-195536/
  8. "Former Ingwe forward joins Belarusian side Dynamo-Brest | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke.
  9. Sports, Pulse (8 August 2023). "Reformed Kenyan street boy completes move to Belarusian club after transfer saga". Pulse Sports Kenya.
  10. "Kenyan forward Lopaga scores on 2nd appearance at Brest". www.pd.co.ke. 21 August 2023.
  11. Sports, Pulse (21 August 2023). "Kenyan midfielder's debut goal in Belarus earns Dinamo Brest three crucial points". Pulse Sports Kenya.
  12. "Kenyan forward Lopaga reveals targets after 1st goal at Brest". www.pd.co.ke. 22 August 2023.
  13. Sports, Pulse (22 August 2023). "Former AFC Leopards midfielder finally opens up on why he moved to Belarusian side Dinamo Brest". Pulse Sports Kenya.
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