David Obua
Encyclopedia
David Obua is a Uganda
n footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League
club Hearts
and the Uganda national team
.
Having arrived at Hearts as a left wing-back, Obua has primarily been used as a left-sided midfield player, although he has also played a number of times as a striker.
, Uganda
, Obua played for a number of clubs in his native Uganda including Police FC. He also spent some time in Mauritius and in the United States, where he played for Raleigh and Wilmington Hammerheads whilst attending college.
Obua was spotted by Kaizer Chiefs while playing for the Uganda national team
against South Africa
and was offered a 3 year contract. Obua impressed during his time in South Africa, winning the championship and South African Player of the Year in season 2006–07.
After expiry of his Kaizer Chiefs contract he was available on a free transfer in the summer of 2008. He landed a trial with Premier League club West Ham United
, before agreeing a deal with Scottish Premier League
club Heart of Midlothian
. On 6 August, it was revealed that Obua was granted a work permit and had signed for Hearts.
He found life in the SPL
difficult in his first two seasons, although he has seen an improvement in his form since Jim Jefferies
replaced his former national manager Csaba Laszlo
. In the absence of a target man, Obua has often played in the unfamiliar role of striker. Obua scored the winner in an Edinburgh derby
at Easter Road
, home of arch rivals Hibernian
. Obua was sent off at Hearts' home match against Celtic on the 11th May 2011 at an eventual 3-0 loss. He scored the opening goal of the 2011-12 SPL season against Rangers at Ibrox
with a header from a corner.
in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger
which Uganda won 3–1. On October 10th, 2011, he vowed never to play for Uganda again, at least while president Lawrence Mulindwa and head coach Bobby Williamson were involved with the setup.
, who played for Uganda in the 1978 African Cup of Nations
. He also has a younger brother, Eric Obua
who is a Cranes youth international. His uncle John Akii-Bua
became Uganda's first Olympic champion by winning the 400 metre hurdles in the world record
time of 47.82 seconds at the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
and the Uganda national team
Uganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
.
Having arrived at Hearts as a left wing-back, Obua has primarily been used as a left-sided midfield player, although he has also played a number of times as a striker.
Club career
Born in KampalaKampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Obua played for a number of clubs in his native Uganda including Police FC. He also spent some time in Mauritius and in the United States, where he played for Raleigh and Wilmington Hammerheads whilst attending college.
Obua was spotted by Kaizer Chiefs while playing for the Uganda national team
Uganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
against South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
and was offered a 3 year contract. Obua impressed during his time in South Africa, winning the championship and South African Player of the Year in season 2006–07.
After expiry of his Kaizer Chiefs contract he was available on a free transfer in the summer of 2008. He landed a trial with Premier League club West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, before agreeing a deal with Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
. On 6 August, it was revealed that Obua was granted a work permit and had signed for Hearts.
He found life in the SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
difficult in his first two seasons, although he has seen an improvement in his form since Jim Jefferies
Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
replaced his former national manager Csaba Laszlo
Csaba László
Csaba László is a Romanian born Hungarian football manager and former player. He is the manager of Belgian Pro League club Charleroi SC. He is former manager of Scottish Premier League club...
. In the absence of a target man, Obua has often played in the unfamiliar role of striker. Obua scored the winner in an Edinburgh derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
at Easter Road
Easter Road
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian . The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also...
, home of arch rivals Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. Obua was sent off at Hearts' home match against Celtic on the 11th May 2011 at an eventual 3-0 loss. He scored the opening goal of the 2011-12 SPL season against Rangers at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
with a header from a corner.
International career
David Obua began playing for the Cranes during his time at Super League club Express FC. In September 2007, Obua scored a hat-trick for UgandaUganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger
Niger national football team
The Niger national football team, nicknamed the Menas, is overseen by the Fédération Nigerienne de Football and a member of CAF. Niger plays in the colors of the Flag of Niger, white, green, and orange...
which Uganda won 3–1. On October 10th, 2011, he vowed never to play for Uganda again, at least while president Lawrence Mulindwa and head coach Bobby Williamson were involved with the setup.
Family
Obua is the son of the late Denis ObuaDenis Obua
Denis Obua was a former Ugandan soccer player and administrator, who played on the left-wing for Uganda between 1968 and 1977 and later served as President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations and chairman of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations .-Club...
, who played for Uganda in the 1978 African Cup of Nations
1978 African Cup of Nations
The 1978 African Cup of Nations was the 11th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa . It was hosted by Accra and Kumasi, Ghana...
. He also has a younger brother, Eric Obua
Eric Obua
Eric Obua is a professional footballer who plays as a Midfielder for SC Villa. Being left footed like his father and brother he usually plays on the left wing, however can also play as a forward.-Personal life:...
who is a Cranes youth international. His uncle John Akii-Bua
John Akii-Bua
John Akii-Bua was a Ugandan hurdler and the first Olympic champion from his country.Akii-Bua started his athletic career as a hurdler on the short distance, but coached by British-born athletics coach Malcolm Arnold, he was introduced to the 400 m hurdles...
became Uganda's first Olympic champion by winning the 400 metre hurdles in the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
time of 47.82 seconds at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
External links
- David Obua profile TransferMarkt
- David Obua - Career history National-football-teams.com
- http://ugandaonline.net/red_pepper/view/8107/bebe_cool_s_ex_and_miss_uganda_feud