Joseph Kizito (footballer)

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

Not to be confused with Joseph Kizito (priest).

Joseph Kizito
Personal information
Full name Joseph Nestroy Kizito
Date of birth (1982-07-27) 27 July 1982
Place of birth Mutukula, Uganda
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left-back
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)
National team
2001–2011 Uganda 34 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

At international level, Kizito represented Uganda from 2001 to 2011, having earned 34 caps to his name.

Club career

In his homeland, Kizito spent four seasons at Villa, helping the club win four consecutive championship titles (2000, 2001, 2002, and 2002–03) and two Uganda Cups (2000 and 2002). He also won the Kagame Interclub Cup in 2003, before moving abroad.

In early 2004, alongside his teammate Phillip Ssozi, Kizito went to Serbia and Montenegro and joined Second League side Srem. He spent the entire year at the club, before earning a transfer to First League side Vojvodina in early 2005. Later that year, Kizito scored the only goal for his team in a 1–0 win over Red Star Belgrade. He thus helped Vojvodina defeat their rival for the first time in 10 years.[1] 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 in the following years, amassing over 100 league appearances. In January 2010, Kizito was demoted from the first team after refusing to extend his contract.[2]

After becoming a free agent, Kizito signed a two-year contract with Partizan on 2 July 2010.[3] He made his debut for the club 19 days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win away against 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 his team win the 2010–11 Serbian Cup, thus collecting the double. In October 2011, Kizito terminated his contract with Partizan by mutual agreement.[4]

After returning to his country, Kizito signed for newly promoted Super League side Victoria University in August 2012, penning a one-year deal.[5] He eventually spent the next 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 a total of 34 caps for the Cranes over the following decade. In February 2012, Kizito announced his retirement from international football.[6]

Personal life

A Tanzanian descendant, Kizito was born in Mutukula, Uganda on the Tanzania–Uganda border.[7] He is the younger brother of Manfred Kizito, who represented Rwanda internationally.[8]

Honours
Villa
Partizan
Victoria University

References
  1. "Poraz Zvezde u Novom Sadu" (in Serbian). b92.net. 28 November 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  2. "Kizito žrtva mobinga u Vojvodini?" (in Serbian). b92.net. 17 January 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  3. "Kizito u Partizanu!" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  4. "Raskid ugovora Partizana i Kizita" (in Serbian). b92.net. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  5. "Victoria snap up Kizito". supersport.com. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  6. "Kizito Quits, Pledges Moral Support To Cranes". fufa.co.ug. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  7. "EXCLUSIVE: Nestroy Kizito on Why He is Still Fit". soka25east.com. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  8. "When football stands between brothers". monitor.co.ug. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
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