Name: Jonathan Niva
Nickname: "Simba wa Mayeye"




Country: Kenya
Club: Abaluhya United F.C. (1966-1971), Gor Mahia FC (1972)
Position: *SB, WB
Side: RF/BS
Age: 28-30 years (16/05/1942)

Height: 176 cm *
Weight: 73 kg *


Attack: 69
Defence: 70
Balance: 76
Stamina: 83
Top Speed: 81
Acceleration: 79
Response: 72
Agility: 78
Dribble Accuracy: 75
Dribble Speed: 74
Short Pass Accuracy: 68
Short Pass Speed: 71
Long Pass Accuracy: 70
Long Pass Speed: 74
Shot Accuracy: 67
Shot Power: 87
Shot Technique: 65
Free Kick Accuracy: 66
Curling: 62
Header: 64
Jump: 69
Technique: 76
Aggression: 83
Mentality: 71
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 72

Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 5
Weak Foot Accuracy: 4
Weak Foot Frequency: 4
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Standard

CARDS:
P04 - Darting Run
P17 - Offensive Sideback
S04 - PK Taker

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Side - Penalties

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded


INFO:
Niva was a side-back and wing-back. He spent almost his entire career at Abaluhya United where he played from 1966 to 1971 and 1973 to 1977. He briefly played for Gor Mahia in 1972. The same year, he had a short experience as player-coach of Kenya national team. He represented his country 88 times between 1965 and 1976, taking part to the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya's first ever participation. It's unclear whether he had trials in Europe but several pictures of Niva wearing the Fortuna Köln jersey in 1973 exist.
Arguably the best side-back Kenya has ever produced, in 1972 he became the first player from his country to be ranked as one of the best African players by the French magazine France Soccer Weekly. Originally a left-back, he was equally comfortable on both sides. Considered the first overlapping full-back in Kenya's football history, Niva was outstanding in the field, although arrogant at times. He was a divisive figure for he was often involved in controversies. Niva was capable from a technical standpoint and solid in the defense. But what made him stand out were his marauding runs forward and ferocious shots. Due tu the latter, he was often in charge of penalty kicks for both club and national team.