Esse Akida: Starlets striker joins Greek side PAOK

Harambee Starlets forward – Esse Akida – has signed a one-year contract with Greek Women Premier League giants – FC PAOK Thessaloniki.

The Greek side announced in their website they have reached an agreement with the Kenyan to play in the 2021/22 season.

“PAOK and the women’s soccer department announce the beginning of their cooperation, with the athlete Esse Akida, for the 2021-2022 season,” the club stated in its website acpaok.gr.

“I am incredibly excited to become a member of PAOK’s women’s team. I had heard about the team when I was playing in Turkey. My dream is to play in the Champions League and I believe I will make it happen here,” said the player.

“I come to one of the biggest clubs on the planet. PAOK is known in the world of football and I believe that we can achieve great things as a team. I will make the dream of the Champions League come true with the Club. I know there are big names in the event but nothing is impossible. We can shock some teams.”

The club said they were impressed by the player’s competitive abilities, speed, high technical training, inspiring dribbles and her calmness in front of the goal.

Akida, 29, said she was excited to open another chapter in her career in Europe having also played in Turkey for Besiktas.

“I am incredibly excited to become a member of PAOK’s women’s team. I had heard about the team when I was playing in Turkey. My dream is to play in the Champions League and I believe I will make it happen here,” said the former Thika Queens striker.

“I come to one of the biggest clubs on the planet. PAOK is known in the world of football and I believe that we can achieve great things as a team. I will make the dream of the Champions League come true with the Club. I know there are big names in the event but nothing is impossible. We can shock some teams.

“I like the football culture that PAOK stands for, it is something we watch and read about often. I know that my adaptation will not be difficult because we all speak the language of football. My only goals are to help the team achieve its goals.”

Akida has previously played for Ramat HaSharon in Israel during the 2018/19 season making 19 appearances and scored four goals with five assists.

The following year she moved to Besiktas but her stay was cut short after the suspension of the Turkish championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Akida has been an integral part of the Harambee Starlets. She has 33 caps with 15 goals and nine assists.

In 2016 she won the Golden Shoe at the COTIF Women’s Tournament and the Golden Shoe at the CECAFA Women’s Championship.

Her biggest moment at the international stage was when she scored against Ghana at the Africa Women Cup of Nations in 2016.

AGENCIES