Kenneth Otigba

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

The native form of this personal name is Otigba Kenneth Karim. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Kenny Otigba
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Karim Otigba
Date of birth (1992-08-29) 29 August 1992
Place of birth Kaduna, Nigeria
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Vasas
Number 34
Youth career
2000–2004 Gyula
2004–2008 Békéscsaba
2008–2012 Heerenveen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2017 Heerenveen 82 (8)
2016–2017 → Kasımpaşa (loan) 15 (1)
2017–2020 Ferencváros 39 (1)
2020– Vasas 63 (9)
International career‡
2010 Hungary U19 1 (0)
2012–2014 Hungary U21 6 (0)
2018 Hungary 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:21, 24 March 2019 (UTC)

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
As of 27 June 2020[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Heerenveen 2012–13 4010000050
2013–14 255300000285
2014–15 280100000290
2015–16 313300000343
Total 888800000968
Kasımpaşa 2016–17 151520000203
Total 151520000203
Ferencváros 2017–18 241100010261
2018–19 3020000050
2019–20 120000000120
Total 391300010431
Career total 14210162001015912

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