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 12 (4)
International career
Kenya U17
Kenya U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:30, 2 December 2023 (UTC)

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

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. 1 2 3 4 5 "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. 1 2 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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