Uganda Cranes and St George goalkeeper Robert Odongkara is likely to move to the South Africa Premier Soccer League this transfer window.
The gigantic 25-year-old shot stopper who was part of the national team squad for the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon, has spent 5 seasons with Ethiopia’s most successful club.
He has been linked to two clubs in South Africa top flight division.
Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town have for a long time been interested in the Odongkara and the two clubs are reported to be in talks with St George since he is still a contracted player with the Addis Ababa based club.
The player himself neither confirms nor denies the development but rather hails the level of professionalism, respect and love he has been accorded at St George over the years since he left URA FC in early 2012.
In an interview with Kawowo Sports, he disclosed;
I am still a committed St George Football Club player with a valid running contract.
As a player, you can never predict your final destiny but life here (in Ethiopia) has been good given the professional technical staff, friendly and passionate fans
Robert Odongkara evolution:
Odongkara made a late switch from Volleyball in 2005 before he signed with a local 4th division club in Entebbe, Mupero F.C having earlier played for Kitgum Elephants in the 5th division.
Mupero was bought off by Tanda, thus changing identity to Mupero Tanda the following year.
By that time, Odongkara was torn between a career in football where he also played up front as a striker and as a high jumping fast spiking volleyball player with a local based non league club, Katabi.
From Mupero Tanda which was managed by Simon Male and Joseph Kavuma, he transferred to Entebbe Club Sportive under the tutelage of coach cum manager Ibrahim Busagwa.
During his time at Entebbe Club Sportive (4th division club), he was recruited by coach Abdallah Mubiru to play for Mawogola Ssaza team in 2008.
That year, the Mawogola team which also had Joseph Owino and Ivan Bukenya reached the semi-finals.
SC Villa Jogoo came calling for his signature with an ‘irresistible’ offer of Shs2M in 2009/10 season.
After 2 seasons with the Jogoos, he transferred to URA FC for transfer fee of Shs20M.
He became the sole bread winner for the family when his father Jimmy Achaye, who was then working as a security officer became frail until his demise.
It was at URA that he earned his maiden cap with the Uganda Cranes during the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Dar es Salaam.
St George optimally utilized the buy-out clause in his employment contract at URA before he officially joined the club.
During his five year epoch in Ethiopia, he has won 5 best goalkeepers of the season accolades, 4 league titles and 3 FA cups.
At the national team, he is Dennis Onyango’s immediate understudy in the queue that also has Salim Jamal, Benjamin Ochan, Ismael Watenga, Saidi Keni, Tom Ikara, Mathias Kigonya, James Alitho, Alionzi Nafian, Nicholas Ssebwato among others.
He has been part of several AFCON and World Cup qualification campaigns for Uganda Cranes.
The epitome of his career thus far has been playing at the prestigious African Cup of Nations tournament.
Odongkara was in goal when Uganda Cranes held Mali to a 1-1 draw at the Stade D’Oyem in a Group D match (he conceded to Lille star midfielder Yves Bisouma’s free-kick).
He confessed after the AFCON 2017 tournament;
Definitely, playing at the AFCON finals remains my biggest moment in football. Who knows the World Cup is around the corner
Another Ugandan, Watenga, who is currently contracted at Vipers Sports Club is among the numerous options that St George is weighing.
Watenga wooed many Ethiopians when he kept a clean sheet in Uganda Cranes’ recent international friendly match against the Walia Stars held at the Hawassa International stadium in June.
ODONGKARA’S CAREER AT A GLANCE:
Northern Elephants F.C (Kitgum) – 2002/3
Mupero Tanda F.C (Entebbe) – 2004/6
Club Sportive (Entebbe) – 2007
S.C Villa (Kampala) – 2008/10
Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) – 2011
St George (Ethiopia)- 2012 – Todate
