King David
Jun 02, 2011
TWO months ago, he scored the goal that gave the Uganda Cranes the lead they needed to top their group and set ground for a possible historic appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations — in 34 years!
By Angela Ndagano
TWO months ago, he scored the goal that gave the Uganda Cranes the lead they needed to top their group and set ground for a possible historic appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations — in 34 years!
But that is just the latest in a string of heroic performances that the lanky footballer has put on to lift the Uganda Cranes to lofty heights for over half a decade now. In fact, in the qualifiers for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Obua nearly drove Uganda to the tournament as he finished joint-top scorer of the qualifiers.
Tied on five goals with several other stars, he had outscored leading African strikers all of whom are top professional players in big European football clubs like Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast (Chelsea), Emmanuel Adebayou of Togo (Real Madrid at Portsmouth), Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan) and Asamoah Gyan of Ghana (Sunderland).
The man who has come to be referred to as ‘King David’ is beyond doubt one of the pillars of the Cranes team today.
His ability to play almost anywhere on the pitch makes him an invaluable gem, especially as he can win games playing in any attacking position.
The 27-year-old played for a number of clubs in Uganda like Express FC, KCC FC and Police FC. He spent some time in Mauritius, before moving to the US to play for Raleigh and Wilmington Hammerheads whilst attending college.
Obua was spotted by Kaizer Chiefs, a South African club, while playing for the Uganda national team against South Africa in 2003 and was offered a three-year contract.
He won both the championship and the South African League Player of the Year for the 2006-2007 season.
After the expiry of his Kaizer Chiefs contract, he landed a trial with English Premier League club West Ham United, but as the London club did not sign him, he signed for Scottish Premier League club Hearts of Midlothian.
Obua is often described as a big spender who likes women. Some critics castigate him for being showy in his style of play on the pitch, saying he can cost a team in search of individual glory.
With the nation pregnant with expectation of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations finals next year, we can only hope that the son of the late Denis Obua (a football legend who was a key member of the legendary Cranes team that reached the Nations Cup final in 1978) will walk in his father’s footsteps.
TWO months ago, he scored the goal that gave the Uganda Cranes the lead they needed to top their group and set ground for a possible historic appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations — in 34 years!
But that is just the latest in a string of heroic performances that the lanky footballer has put on to lift the Uganda Cranes to lofty heights for over half a decade now. In fact, in the qualifiers for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Obua nearly drove Uganda to the tournament as he finished joint-top scorer of the qualifiers.
Tied on five goals with several other stars, he had outscored leading African strikers all of whom are top professional players in big European football clubs like Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast (Chelsea), Emmanuel Adebayou of Togo (Real Madrid at Portsmouth), Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan) and Asamoah Gyan of Ghana (Sunderland).
The man who has come to be referred to as ‘King David’ is beyond doubt one of the pillars of the Cranes team today.
His ability to play almost anywhere on the pitch makes him an invaluable gem, especially as he can win games playing in any attacking position.
The 27-year-old played for a number of clubs in Uganda like Express FC, KCC FC and Police FC. He spent some time in Mauritius, before moving to the US to play for Raleigh and Wilmington Hammerheads whilst attending college.
Obua was spotted by Kaizer Chiefs, a South African club, while playing for the Uganda national team against South Africa in 2003 and was offered a three-year contract.
He won both the championship and the South African League Player of the Year for the 2006-2007 season.
After the expiry of his Kaizer Chiefs contract, he landed a trial with English Premier League club West Ham United, but as the London club did not sign him, he signed for Scottish Premier League club Hearts of Midlothian.
Obua is often described as a big spender who likes women. Some critics castigate him for being showy in his style of play on the pitch, saying he can cost a team in search of individual glory.
With the nation pregnant with expectation of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations finals next year, we can only hope that the son of the late Denis Obua (a football legend who was a key member of the legendary Cranes team that reached the Nations Cup final in 1978) will walk in his father’s footsteps.