Through troubled childhood, Kawooya found company in football

KAMPALA. At the Copa Coca-Cola Schools Cup that ends today in Jinja, midfielder Andrew Kawooya is earning plaudits from the adoring fans. He is pampered at St Mary’s SS Kitende yet his move from Dynamic SS Ssonde was as dramatic as his childhood.
Trouble follows him. The U-17 star was the reason Dynamic SS was banned in 2017.
The youth international nicknamed Sergeant always fostered a dream to play football yet his parents never allowed him. But he found his way when they separated.

“I see football as my way of life and even when I fulfill my dream of becoming an engineer, I will have to find work in the industry,” Kawooya, who has great adoration for Fufa president Moses Magogo said.
Spotted by Frank Mulindwa, the current coach of Royal Giants School in Mityana during district championships in Masuliita, Kawooya was taken up by Robert Tugume of Streamline Academy in Entebbe where he studied at John T. Miller Junior School for five years.

After Primary Seven, he joined Dynamic SS and played for Lweza Juniors in the 2016 season before they were relegated. The following season he joined Proline and is now a Vipers Reserve after joining St Mary’s SS Kitende last year.
“I really now feel like I have a family I never had as a child,” said Kawooya, who only got to know that his mother was living in Zzana, along Entebbe Road, when he left Masuliita - Wakiso District, where his carpenter dad lives.

Story so far
A Vipers Junior, Kawooya was the star performer as Uganda excited fans at the Caf U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania. Although Uganda did not progress beyond the groups, he was on the score sheet as the Cubs demolished hosts Tanzania 3-0.
Small and skilful, Kawooya has superb close control, intelligent passing and beats markers with ease. Roaming anywhere in the middle, Kitende see him more as an attacking midfielder, and are preparing him for the senior team.
Kawooya was part of the select 12-man team that travelled to Cape Town, South Africa in 2018 to bring the World Cup trophy during its round of the African tour. It is this moment that keeps inspiring him.

“When coach Fabin (Kwesi Paa, the U-17 coach) came, he told me I was talented but emphasised that I should continue working more on my penetrative passes,” said the youngster who wants to play like Iniesta or Ronaldinho. He is definitely work in progress. Wherever football takes him, he intends to work add to become a better player.
“Coming to a big competition like Copa has taught me that there are better players. Sometimes you may think you are the best until you see how competitive teams are. This has taught me to work harder in order to stay at the top,” he says.

He wants to keep scoring goals and do better than his mentor Moses Waiswa.
He is surrounded by a galaxy of stars at Kitende that include his best friend Ivan Asaba ‘Di Maria’, Najib Yiga, KCCA’s Steven Serwadda and Bobosi Byaruhanga, among others.
“It’s brilliant to be around such players and learn every day from them. It’s an honour to be involved with the squad.”

What they say
“Kawooya is fantastic. He has a chance to learn and gain more confidence for the rest of his career. I hope we will see a great player in the future,” Edward Golola, Vipers coach
“He is the future,” Ssaka Mpiima said of the 17-year-old player he handled at Dynamic SS before he crossed to Kitende, whose midfield menace has earned him the nickname Sergeant.

Today

Name: Andrew Kawooya
Club: Vipers Junior Team
Position: midfielder
Nationality: Uganda
Age: 16 (born March 3, 2003)
Preferred foot: right

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