Emirati professional football club Al Nasr, which competes in the UAE Pro League, have officially signed Kenyan U20 winger Elly Owande.
Owande joins the club from Migori Youth and has been registered with the U-23 squad under the residents’ category.
Al Nasr deal
According to media reports, the youngster has been handed a three-year deal that runs until 2027.
“Al-Nasr Football Club has signed Kenyan player Elly Owande, who will be registered with our U-23 team under the residents’ category,” the club announced on Monday.
✍️ || شركة النصر لكرة القدم تتعاقد مع اللاعب الكيني "إيلي أواندي" وسيتم قيده في فريقنا تحت 23 سنة ضمن فئة المقيمين. pic.twitter.com/CPyFBbTByA
— AL NASR SC (@ALNasrSC) September 9, 2024
Owande was a key part of the Harambee Stars under 23 squad that finished second in the Four Nations Tournament held in Malawi earlier this year.
Al Nasr Sports Club, founded in 1945 in Al Ghubaiba, Dubai, is the oldest football club in UAE history. Initially playing in a small playground, the club officially established itself in 1948, introducing modern football rules. The club’s first headquarters was a room rented at a café near a fish market, with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum playing a key role in supporting its early development.
After a name change from Al Ahli to Al Nasr in the 1960s, the club’s headquarters moved to Shindagha, where they received significant financial support from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who donated 60,000 AED to help develop the club.
In 1973, the UAE Pro League was established, and Al Nasr began building a proper venue — Al Maktoum Stadium. The team initially played home games at Rashid Stadium until the completion of Al Maktoum Stadium in 1980. During this era, Al Nasr won three UAE league titles, three President’s Cup titles, and a UAE Federation Cup. The club also hosted international matches against big clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Santos.
Al Nasr trophies
While Al Nasr have not won a league title since the 1980s, they have claimed notable cups, including the President’s Cup, League Cup, and GCC Champions League. In 2018, the club renovated Al Maktoum Stadium for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and hosted another friendly with Arsenal in 2019.
Al Nasr have fierce rivalries with Al Wasl, known as the Bur Dubai Derby, and Shabab Al Ahli, with both teams vying for dominance in Dubai.
