It takes time and patience as well as self belief for a teenager to sparkle his career in football.
Andama Charles commonly known as Chudi by his peers love for football is unmatched, the young UPDF Juniors Team Goalkeeper has passion for the game and his self belief will move him to greater heights.
Chudi is a friend to most top flight players in the country, he’s a young man who doesn’t shy away from approaching any Sports Personality.
His boldness have bore fruits because its the reason he’s at Kawempe Royal College Bulaga following a chat with a caring sports woman at URA’ League match with BUL in Ndejje.
Andama will represent Kawempe Royal College Bulaga in the National Post Primary Games in Fort Portal after finishing third in Wakiso District behind Champions Buddo SS and St Mary’s SS Kitende.
They overcame Standard High School Zana 2-1 in the third place playoff at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium this month on 12th.
During an exclusive interview with The-SportsNation, Andama Charles opens up on how he has so far benefitted from football at such a young age.
The Senior three student at Kawempe Royal College Bulaga credits Jinja Progressive SS Head Coach Isma Kizito for the birth of his career.
“I started playing football in 2015 at Bulenga Kobs Soccer Academy through Coach Isma Kizito Chudi said.
The Youngster was scouted in Bombo were he used to play for a lark on Sunday but it turned out to be a turning point after impressing the Bulenga Kobs Academy and St Theresa Junior School Head Coach.
“He found us training at Namaliga C/U Primary School Playground in Bombo on a Sunday, he approached me after the training and asked me whether I would like to study because he wanted to recommend me to St Theresa Junior School for a full bursary”.
“But I told him to first talk with my mother which he agreed then I took him home, after listening to him, my mum grabbed the opportunity and on Tuesday I reported to School”.
Chudi enrolled at St Theresa Junior School but because they never had Centre Number, he sat for his Primary Leaving Exams at Biira Primary School.
He joined school at a time they were preparing for a tournament and he was enacted into the team upon joining.
“On Friday, the same week I joined, we went for “Watoto wa Soccer” Primary School tournament screening then I made my debut on Sunday against St Bruno at Biira Playground and we won 3-1″.
“We were ejected by Uganda Martyrs Rubaga Primary School in the Semi final on Penalties after a one all draw at full-time”.
The 17 years old Goalkeeper was pivotal for his school in the Kabaka Cup gala in his final tournament guiding them to the last eight finish.
“In my final year at St Theresa, we played Kabaka Cup at Kitebi Primary School but we were eliminated by Gombe Primary School in the Quarter finals after a 2-1 defeat in 2019”.
“My final game in Primary School was the Inter houses games were I guided Kings House to victory after edging Ssebuganda House in the final”.
The Product of the FUFA Juniors League joined UPDF JT after an announcement on a community radio about trials ahead of the FUFA Juniors League that was later cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
“In 2020 I joined UPDF JT after hearing an Announcement on Radio Bombo at 10am about U-17 trials at Bombo Barracks Ground”.
“The trials were conducted by Coach Khemis Baker for three days and I was selected among the four Goalkeepers”.
“We were given registration form for the Juniors League before going for screening at Mulago Hospital ahead of the league kickoff in 2020 unfortunately it was cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic”.
Chudi who rarely misses any League match was fortunate to meet a URA FC die hard who assisted him to join Secondary school on a bursary.
“After my PLE, I joined Kawempe Royal College Bulaga SS”.
“It was a lady called Mama Alex who connected me after meeting her at Ndejje University when I had gone to watch URA vs BUL game in 2020”.
“I met her on my way home to Bombo after the match in the URA bus”.
About his career, Chudi who dreams to play for the National Team and in the Major League Soccer (USA) says his height cannot be a barrier because not all Goalkeepers are tall so he uses that as an inspiration.
“I think am capable and I will achieve my dreams because am not the only short Goalkeeper, so I draw my inspiration from Mathias Kigonya he’s short but a very good Goalkeeper”.
Andama Charles Profile
Full Name: Andama Charles Alias Chudi
Date Of Birth: 8th June 2006
Parents: Mr. Andama Charles and Mrs. Nabbanja Safinah
Schools Attended: Bombo Common Primary School (P1-P5), Biira Primary School Bulenga (P6 to P7), Kawempe Royal College Bulaga (S1 to-date (S3)
Football Career: Bulenga Kobs Soccer Academy (2018), UPDF Juniors Team (2019 to-date).
Role Models: Shamulan Kamya (Bright Stars, Uganda Hippos Goalkeeper)
Achievements: Independence Cup winner with Bulenga Kobs (2019), Bombo Youth Football Tournament Runner up with West Nile United (2022), Buloba Zone winner in the Post Primary games with Kawempe Royal College Bulaga (2022 & 2023).
Best Match: UPDF JT 3-3 Buddo SS in the FUFA Juniors League on 23rd December 2022.
Worst Match: URA JT 4-0 UPDF at Homsdalen Gayaza in the FUFA Juniors League on 13th January 2023.
Dreams: Playing for the National Team and playing in the Major League Soccer (USA)
