The adage ‘when a door closes, there is another bound to open immediately’ is a reality in the face of tried and tested Uganda Cranes’ forward Hamis ‘Diego’ Kiiza.
The former Kooki Ssaza sharp striker has tested the murky waters of professional football where he has managed a soft landing to say the least, apart from his brief spell at ABSA Premiership side Free State Stars in South Africa.
From the Buganda Masaza cup, Kiiza made the grade (with the defunct Nalubaale F.C) to the Uganda Premier League.
He became a god in Tanzania with Simba and Yanga, tried a professional stint in Lebanon, went to South Africa but he was deemed surplus to requirement at Free State Stars and he returned to the parent club URA in January 2017 for a brief contract.
As you assimilate this, Kiiza is bound for another experience outside his treasured mother country – Uganda.
On Thursday, Kiiza in the company of his intermediary and former Uganda Cranes midfielder Sulaiman Mutyaba will fly out to Sudan for the final nitty gritty of deal completion.
A proven goal scorer owing to statistics, Kiiza is also a vital team player who on a given day will work out his shin guards off the stockings.
His intermediary is full of praise for the client whom he tags as disciplined and hard working;
Diego is disciplined and hardworking. He loves and respects his job. Above all, he delivers on the field of play.
We are traveling for the deal completion, medicals and signing.
I am happy that he has got a great offer which will be discussed with the media after everything has been complete.
Hamis Kiiza Profile:
As a teenager, Kiiza was a defender who has turned to be one of the most hardworking and prolific strikers in the Pearl of Africa.
Kiiza began his career with the now defunct Nalubaale FC and played for URA between 2006 and 2011.
He was the top scorer in the Uganda Premier League in 2010/2011.
He switched to Yanga in Tanzania and immediately won the CECAFA Kagame Cup under the Ugandan coach Sam Timbe in 2012.
After four years at Yanga, he moved to rivals Simba where he spent the 2015-16 scoring 24 goals in over 30 matches in all competitions before he moved to Free State Stars.