| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Noah Abich Otieno Odhiambo | ||
| Date of birth | 2 February 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Nairobi, Kenya | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Nairobi City Stars | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000-2003 | Thur Gem | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003-2005 | Nzoia Sugar | ||
| 2005-2006 | Chemelil Sugar | ||
| 2006-2008 | Sony Sugar | 24 | (5) |
| 2009–2012 | Tusker F.C. | 78 | (12) |
| 2012 | Nakuru AllStars | ||
| 2013 | A.F.C. Leopards | 2 | (1) |
| 2013 | Kakamega Homeboyz F.C. | 3 | (1) |
| 2014-2016 | Mathare United | 66 | (14) |
| 2016 | Sofapaka | 12 | (5) |
| 2017 | Bandari | 17 | (3) |
| 2018 | Mt. Kenya United | 2 | (0) |
| 2019-2020 | Nairobi City Stars | 12 | (9) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015– | Kenya | 6 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 August 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 August 2019 | |||
Noah Abich is a Kenyan footballer who currently plays for Kenyan National Super League side Nairobi City Stars from April 2019.
The former Kenya national team player previously played for Nzoia Sugar, Chemelil Sugar, Sony Sugar, Tusker, A.F.C. Leopards, Kakamega Homeboyz F.C. Sofapaka, Mathare United, Bandari, Mt. Kenya United all in the Kenyan Premier League.
He also featured for promotion-chasing Nakuru AllStars back in 2012 on a short-term stint from June.
Abich started his club career in September 2003 after being brought in by coach Evans Kadenge from Thur Gem by Nzoia Sugar alongside schoolmates Kelvin Oluoch and Elisha Omolo. [1] He then crossed over to another sugar belt side Chemelil Sugar after two seasons at Nzoia. In September 2006 he joined Sony Sugar to revamp their backline following the team's first-ever league title. In his first season, he led them to a third-placed finish in 2007 and second-placed finish in 2008.
After an illustrious career in Awendo, Abich was one of the key mover from Sony Sugar to Nairobi-based Tusker whom he played for from 2009 to mid 2012. Before being dropped Abich has been rumored to be heading to Gor Mahia as one of the key transfer targets [2] [3] He led the team to the 2011 title [4] [5] - the first since 2007 - and led them to the KPL Super Cup in early 2012. While at Tusker
After leaving Tusker in June 2012, Abich joined second tier side Nakuru AllStars as a player to help coach Simeon Mulama push for promotion. The objective was narrowly missed and Abich was back in Nairobi at the end of that season. [6] [7]
After Nakuru Abich made a rare move to leading side AFC Leopards but opted to exit the side after just six months. [8] [9]
After his short stint at Leopards, Abich was off to Western Kenya to join Homeboyz from mid 2013. He made his debut for them against Sony Sugar. He left the club following their relegation at the end of that season [10]
End of the road at Homeboyz marked the beginning for Abich at 2008 KPL champions Mathare United. [11] He stayed with the slum boys for two and a half seasons.
At the end of the 2015 season he top scored for the club with nine goals. This saw him nominated as the Goal Player of the year. [12] He was to leave in mid June 2016. [13] [14]
From Mathare he was off to 2019 Champions Sofapaka from June 2016 whom he helped survive relegation with key performances. [15] [16] In October of that year he was named the player of the month by SJAK. [17] [18] [19] At the end of the year he earned nomination to for the Premier League defender of the year. He emerged third best. [20]
After the great escape at Sofapaka, Abich ventured to the coast where he joined a revamping Bandari team for the entirety of the season. [21] [22] [23]
From Coast Abich was back to Nairobi where he joined Mt. Kenya United formerly Nakumatt FC. [24] It was a trouble year for the club at the end Abich exited the club to weigh his options.
In April 2019 a struggling Nairobi City Stars, in the second tier league, called on Abich to save them from relegation. He scored a crucial 9 goals to top score for the club that ultimately rose from the red zone to a 14th place finish at the end of the shortened 2018/19 season. He is expected to lead the team to promotion at the end of the 2019/20 season.
While at Mathare United in 2015 Abich received a recall to the Kenya National team by the then coach Bobby Williamson for CECAFA Senior challenge Cup duty in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. [25] [26]
He was first called up to the National team back in 2006 a head coach Tom Olaba assembled a fresh squad [27] [28] and later in mid April 2010 as well as in mid May 2011. In all instances he never made the final squad.
Earlier in 2005, Abich had been part of Rishadi Shedu's Kenya U20 squad that was shaping up for CECCAFA Youth Championship in Zanzibar. [29]
Champions (2): 2011, 2012 Champions (1): 2019-20
The Kenyan Premier League (KPL), officially known as the FKF Premier League, is a professional league for men's association football clubs in Kenya. Standing at the top of the Kenyan football league system, the league was formed in 1963 under the Kenya Football Federation but is now controlled by the Football Kenya Federation. It is contested by 18 clubs and operates on a promotion and relegation system with the Kenyan National Super League. Gor Mahia are the current champions having won the 2022–23 season.
The 2011 KPL Top 8 Cup was the inaugural edition of the tournament, which was contested by the top 8 teams of the 2010 Kenyan Premier League season: Gor Mahia, Karuturi Sports, Mathare United, Sofapaka, Sony Sugar, Tusker F.C., Ulinzi Stars and Western Stima. All matches were played at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The 2012 Kenyan Premier League was the ninth season of the Kenyan Premier League since its establishment in 2003 and the forty-ninth season of top division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 11 February with Tusker and Nairobi City Stars and ended on 10 November with Oserian and Rangers. The winners of the league will earn a place at the preliminary round of the 2013 CAF Champions League and play against the 2012 FKF President's Cup champions at the 2013 Kenyan Super Cup.
The 2013 Kenyan Premier League was the tenth season of the Kenyan Premier League since it began in 2003, marking a decade of its existence. It was also the Golden Jubilee season of top division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 24 February 2013 and ended on 9 November 2013. League champions Gor Mahia earned a place in the preliminary round of the 2014 CAF Champions League while 2013 FKF President's Cup champions A.F.C. Leopards earned a place in the preliminary round of the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup.
The 2011 Kenyan Premier League was the eighth season of the Kenyan Premier League since it was established in 2003 and the forty-eighth season of top division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 26 February with Rangers and Gor Mahia and ended on 26 November with Ulinzi Stars and Rangers.
The 2010 Kenyan Premier League was the seventh season of the Kenyan Premier League since it started in 2003 and the forty-seventh season of top division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 20 February with Mahakama and Sony Sugar and ended on 14 November with Nairobi City Stars and Gor Mahia.
The 2009 Kenyan Premier League was the sixth season of the Kenyan Premier League since it started in 2003 and the forty-sixth season of top division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 7 February with Agrochemical and Red Berets and ended on 21 November with Sony Sugar and Western Stima.
The 2012 FKF President's Cup was the 41st season of Kenya's top domestic cup competition. The deadline for application was 30 July, and 32 clubs had registered for participation to the tournament after paying a mandatory KSh.15,000/= fee, with a final list of 34 teams. The quarter-finals were played on 6−7 October, while the semi-finals and the final were played on 17−18 November and 21 November respectively, after the end of the 2012 Kenyan Premier League.
The 2013 FKF President's Cup is the 42nd season of Kenya's top domestic cup competition. It began on 20 July and ended on 17 November, with domestic broadcasting rights for the competition held by SuperSport.
The 2014 Kenyan Premier League was the eleventh season of the Kenyan Premier League since it began in 2003. It was also the 51st season of top division football in Kenya since 1963. Gor Mahia won the league title for the second consecutive season, earning a place in the preliminary round of the 2015 CAF Champions League while 2014 FKF President's Cup champions Sofapaka represented Kenya in the preliminary round of the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup. The two teams faced each other at the 2015 Kenyan Super Cup.
The 2014 FKF President's Cup was the 43rd season of Kenya's top domestic cup competition. It began on 26 April and ended on 15 November, with the domestic broadcasting rights for the competition held by SuperSport. Participating teams were required to pay a registration fee of KSh.30,000/= each to enter the tournament. The competition's defending champions were A.F.C. Leopards, who beat their Nairobi derby rivals Gor Mahia 1–0 in the previous final. Both teams were given byes to the third round, having reached the final the previous year.
Kariobangi Sharks Football Club, commonly known as Sharks or K. Sharks is a Kenyan football club that rose over time from humble beginnings in Nairobi, to feature in Kenya's top league, the FKF Premier League, since the year 2017.
The 2015 Kenyan Premier League was the twelfth season of the Kenyan Premier League since it began in 2003, and the 52nd season of top-division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 21 February and ended on 1 November.
The 2015 FKF President's Cup was the 44th season of Kenya's top domestic cup competition. It kicked off on 20 June and concluded on 13 December, with the domestic broadcasting rights for the competition held by SuperSport. Originally scheduled to begin on 6 June, participating teams were required to pay a registration fee of KSh. 30,000/= each by 30 May to enter the tournament. The competition's defending champions are Sofapaka, who beat second-tier side Posta Rangers 2–1 in the previous final. Unlike the previous competition, no teams were seeded and given byes to further rounds, with the Football Kenya Federation's media officer John Kariuki explaining the decision as a way of "trying to make the competition more exciting because this being the domestic cup competition, we want the thrill of big teams facing the prospect of losing in the hands of lower-ranked teams."
The 2016 Kenyan Premier League was the 13th season of the Kenyan Premier League since it began in 2003, and the 53rd season of top-division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 13 February and ended on 19 November. Tusker won their eleventh league title, earning a place in the preliminary round of the 2017 CAF Champions League. Ulinzi Stars earned a place in the preliminary round of the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup as runners-up of the 2016 FKF President's Cup, which was also won by Tusker. The two teams will face each other at the 2017 Kenyan Super Cup.
The 2017 Kenyan Premier League is the 14th season of the Kenyan Premier League since it began in 2003, and the 54th season of top-division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 11 March and is scheduled to end on 18 November. Tusker were the defending champions, going into the season on the back of their 11th league title.
The 2018 Kenyan Premier League is the 15th season of the Kenyan Premier League since it began in 2003, and the 55th season of top-division football in Kenya since 1963. It began on 3 February and is scheduled to end on 7 October. Gor Mahia are the defending champions.
Anthony Muki Kimani Njenga is a former Kenyan midfielder who last featured for Kenyan Premier League side Nairobi City Stars. He announced his retirement from professional football on 25 June 2023.
Dennis Decha Wanjala is a left-back currently in the ranks of Kenyan Premier League side Nairobi City Stars from the beginning of the 2021–22 FKF Premier League season.