This archive report was first published on 14 September 2019.
Paul Mungai Kiongera, a seasoned Kenyan striker, has made a significant move to Ireland, joining the lower-tier side Killarney Athletic. The 25-time capped player is currently awaiting his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) to feature for the team.
According to Kiongera, he moved to Ireland earlier this year to settle with his fiancé and was eager to continue playing football. He quickly found a new home with Killarney Athletic, who welcomed him with open arms.
"The lads are good. They're welcoming and friendly. In Kenya when you move to a different team, people have a mentality that you're there to take their position. Here the lads have tried to help me settle in," Kiongera told the Killarney Advertiser in an interview.
As Kiongera settles into his new team, he has noticed significant differences in playing styles between Ireland and Kenya. "There are some very good players. I would say that the standard is not top standard but you understand that it's amateur. People don't get to train every day, just twice a week or three times a week. It's much better than the lower tier leagues in Kenya. I've noticed here that players try to find a solution quickly, try to go long, which is different. In Kenya we love short passing and we don't hold the ball, but I've noticed here that people love dribbling. So it's quite different," he added.
Although Kiongera sat out of Athletic's season opener last weekend, manager Stuart Templeman remains optimistic that the paperwork will be sorted out in due course, allowing the striker to join the team.
Before joining Killarney Athletic, Kiongera had stints at Ushuru, KCB, Simba SC of Tanzania, and AFC Leopards in Kenya.
