Joseph Kizito (footballer)

Joseph Kizito
Kizito in 2024
Personal information
Full name Joseph Nestroy Kizito
Date of birth (1982-07-27) 27 July 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Mutukula, Tanzania
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
Lukuli Hearts
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Villa
2004–2005 Srem 21 (2)
2005–2010 Vojvodina 112 (1)
2010–2011 Partizan 14 (0)
2012–2015 Victoria University
2015–2016 Lweza
Total 147 (3)
International career
2001–2011 Uganda 39 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Joseph Nestroy Kizito (born 27 July 1982) is a Ugandan former professional footballer who played as a defender.

At international level, Kizito was capped 39 times for Uganda between 2001 and 2011, scoring one goal.

Early life

Kizito was born in Mutukula, Tanzania.[1] He moved to Uganda as a teenager to attend a secondary school in Kyotera.[2]

Club career

After spending time with Lukuli Hearts, Kizito went on to play for Villa, helping them win four successive championship titles (2000, 2001, 2002, and 2002–03) and two national cups (2000 and 2002). He also won the Kagame Interclub Cup in 2003, before moving to Europe.

In early 2004, together with his teammate Phillip Ssozi, Kizito arrived in Serbia and Montenegro to join Second League club Srem. He spent the entire year there, earning a transfer to First League side Vojvodina in early 2005. Later that year, Kizito scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Red Star Belgrade. He thus helped Vojvodina defeat their rival for the first time in 10 years.[3] Due to his consistent performances throughout the 2005–06 season, Kizito was voted the Vojvodina Player of the Season by the club's supporters. He continued to play regularly for the side over the following years, amassing over 100 league appearances. In January 2010, Kizito was demoted from the first team after refusing to extend his contract.[4]

After becoming a free agent, Kizito signed a two-year contract with Partizan on 2 July 2010.[5] He made his debut for the club 19 days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win away over Armenian champions Pyunik in the second leg of the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. During the 2010–11 Serbian SuperLiga, Kizito recorded 14 appearances, all starts, as the club won the championship title. He also helped the side win the 2010–11 Serbian Cup, thus collecting the double. In October 2011, Kizito terminated his contract with Partizan by mutual agreement.[6]

After returning to Uganda, Kizito signed with newly promoted Super League side Victoria University in August 2012, penning a one-year deal.[7] He eventually spent three years there, before leaving in July 2015. Shortly after, Kizito joined fellow Ugandan club Lweza.

International career

Kizito made his full international debut for Uganda in 2001. He went on to earn 39 caps for the Cranes over the following decade, scoring once. In February 2012, Kizito announced his retirement from international football.[8]

Personal life

Kizito is the younger brother of fellow footballer Manfred Kizito, a former Rwanda international.[9]

Honours

Villa

Partizan

Victoria University

References

  1. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Nestroy Kizito on Why He is Still Fit". soka25east.com. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Nestory Kizito: consistent, calm, slow but sure". observer.ug. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Poraz Zvezde u Novom Sadu" (in Serbian). b92.net. 27 November 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Kizito žrtva mobinga u Vojvodini?" (in Serbian). b92.net. 17 January 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  5. ^ "Kizito potpisao za Partizan!" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Raskid ugovora Partizana i Kizita" (in Serbian). b92.net. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Nestroy Kizito pens deal at SC Victoria University". kawowo.com. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Kizito quits, pledges moral support to Cranes". fufa.co.ug. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  9. ^ "When football stands between brothers". monitor.co.ug. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2017.