Kenyan Defender Zak Vyner Stars as Bristol City Near Premier League Playoffs

Zak Vyner, who was part of the Harambee Stars squad last June, could be playing in the English Premier League next season.

Kenyan Defender Zak Vyner Stars as Bristol City Near Premier League Playoffs

Mark Kinyanjui 12:38 - 13.04.2025

Bristol City are now four games away from sealing a promotion playoff place with their eyes firmly on the Premier League for next season.

Harambee Stars defensive hopeful Zak Vyner continued to make his presence felt in the EFL Championship as he helped Bristol City secure a 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers (QPR) on Saturday.

The result now keeps the Robins firmly in the hunt for a promotion playoff spot as the playoff battle tightens with just weeks left in the season.

Vyner, deployed as the right-sided centre-back in a back three, delivered yet another assured performance. 

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The 2022/2023 Bristol City Player of the Season won two of his three aerial duels and looked composed throughout the contest, committing only a single error that led to a QPR shot on target.

Though City were unable to notch a third consecutive win, the point saw them maintain fifth position on the Championship table.

The match itself was a tale of two finely worked goals. QPR opened the scoring in the 21st minute through Karamoko Dembélé, who was at the heart of a breathtaking build-up.

 The winger initiated the move from deep inside his own half before completing it in style — drifting between two defenders to meet Nicolas Madsen’s cross with a well-timed header.

QPR could have extended their lead moments later when Jimmy Dunne volleyed narrowly wide following another dangerous phase of play. 

But against the run of play, the Robins pulled level on the half-hour mark with a neat finish from George Earthy. The goal was the result of slick interplay at the edge of the box, capped off by Max Bird slipping a clever pass through to Earthy, who ghosted past Liam Morrison to beat Paul Nardi in goal.

For Vyner, the performance is not only vital to Bristol City's Premier League promotion push but also adds weight to his international ambitions. 

Last June, the 26-year-old had accepted a call-up to the Harambee Stars squad for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast, but administrative delays involving his Kenyan passport forced him to return to the UK prematurely.

Vyner, eligible to represent Kenya through his father, has reiterated his commitment to the national team and is expected to be part of the Stars' plans moving forward, if the documentation is finalised on term, which would be a boost for Benni McCarthy.

With Bristol City pushing for a return to the Premier League and Vyner’s growing reputation at the heart of their defence, the future looks bright  both for club and potentially for country.