Once a proven goal-getter, terrorizing goalkeepers, Vivian Shiyonzo now plays on the other side of the field, frustrating forwards.
The 21-year-old Kibera Soccer Women goalkeeper is celebrating a breakout season, having clinched the 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation Women Premier League Golden Glove award, jointly with last year’s winner Annedy Kundu of Kenya Police Bullets.
Standing 176 centimetres tall, Shiyonzo recorded 13 clean sheets in the 21 matches she featured in the league which was originally a 12-team affair, a huge improvement from the previous season where she managed just four matches without conceding.
“I'm happy for the clean sheets. Those were my best moments, and I believe that is why I received my first national team call-up,” Shiyonzo, an alumna of St John's Kaloleni Girls High School in Mombasa and St Maurice Mwira Girls in Mumias told Nation Sports on Monday.
Her football journey began at the age of seven as a striker. But it wasn’t until her final year at Mwira Girls in 2023 that she found her calling between the sticks—stepping in when the first-choice goalkeeper failed to appear for a match.
"I'm a utility player, but I sacrificed that to stand between the posts,” she recalled, mentioning a 2-0 win against Moi Girls Nangili High School in the Western Regional championships, that secured them a spot at the nationals that were held in Nakuru.
She says that her performance on goal was so good that she caught the eye of Kibera Soccer Women head coach David Bujego. She duly joined Kibera on a two-year contract in 2024 but after first featuring for Division One side Kakamega Starlets and National Women Super League outfit Mombasa Olympic upon completing her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in 2023.
"My contract is coming to an end, but I want to extend my stay," she said.
Kibera enjoyed a strong campaign this season, collecting 41 points from 21 matches, five behind champions Kenya Police Bullets. Shiyonzo's club recorded 12 wins, five draws, and four losses.
They reached the FKF Women’s Cup final for the second time, after defeating Kenya Police Bullets 2-0 in the semi-finals on Sunday. They lost 2-0 to Ulinzi Starlets in last year’s final.
Kibera will be looking to go one step better when they face four-time league champions Vihiga Queens in the final on Saturday at Afraha Stadium.
Goalkeeper Vivian Shiyonzo of Kibera Soccer Women.
Photo credit: Pool
"This time, we will lift the title," said Shiyonzo confidently. She has kept a 100 per cent clean record in the Cup competition thus far, in a 6-0 win against Gaspo Women in the round of 32, 2-0 victory over Sunderland Samba in the round of 16 and a barren draw in regulation time against Ulinzi Starlets in the quarters.
She is certainly on top of her game. Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba called her up for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tunisia in February where she deputized Kundu.
Odemba again called the young keeper for a friendly international engagement against Morocco last Wednesday and this week for the Cecafa Senior Women’s Challenge Cup.
"I'm so happy to play for my country,” she simply said on her selection.
Raised as an only child by a single mother in Nairobi’s Kawangware slum, Shiyonzo’s story is one of resilience.
"Mum is a house help in Kawangware; life was tough when she was jobless. I was brought up by my mum after she parted ways with my dad years ago," said Shiyonzo.
"I started staying with my mum in Class Five, having been brought up by my grandmother upcountry. But I am still in contact with my dad, who is now married with four kids. He supports me."
"Since joining Kibera, life has improved. I can at least provide for my needs and sometimes help my mother financially."
She also admires Malawi international striker Tabitha Chawinga, currently playing for Kansas City in the USA’s National Women's Soccer League.
"I love her style. I follow her a lot," said Shiyonzo, adding that her closest teammate is midfielder Lilian Mboga.
Her ultimate dream? "To play professionally abroad," said Shiyonzo.
"My dream is to play for Kansas." The same club that Kenyan international Mwahalima Jereko plays for. Proven to be a nightmare to Kenyan forwards Shiyonzo confesses to loving watching horror movies.
