David Obua
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 April 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Kampala, Uganda | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Left winger Left back Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Free Agent | ||
| Number | N/A | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999 | Police FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2002 | Express FC | 17 | (4) |
| 2002–2003 | AS Port-Louis 2000 | 19 | (5) |
| 2003–2005 | Express FC | 46 | (8) |
| 2005–2008 | Kaizer Chiefs | 69 | (12) |
| 2008–2012 | Heart of Midlothian | 91 | (17) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003– | Uganda | 58 | (14) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 December 2012. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
David Obua (born 10 April 1984) is a Ugandan footballer who most recently played as a Midfielder for Scottish Premier League club Hearts and the Uganda national team.
Having arrived at Hearts as a left wing-back, Obua was primarily used as a left-sided midfield player, although he also played a number of games as a striker.
Club career
Born in Kampala, 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.[1]
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,[2] before agreeing a deal with Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian.[3] 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,[citation needed] although he did see an improvement in his form when Jim Jefferies replaced his former national manager Czaba 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.[4] Obua was sent off at Hearts' home match against Celtic on 11 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.[5] Obua was told in April 2012 that his contract with Hearts would not be extended.[6]
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 Uganda in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger which Uganda won 3–1.[citation needed] On 10 October 2011, he reportedly refused to meet with the President of the Republic of Uganda in their training camp and also had not been in good terms with the FUFA president, he vowed never to play for Uganda again, at least while president Lawrence Mulindwa and head coach Bobby Williamson were involved with the setup.[7]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2008–09 season | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| 2009–10 season | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 3 | |
| 2010–11 season | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 season | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| Total | 91 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 6 | |
Family
Obua is the son of the late Denis Obua, 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.[10] 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.[11][12]
External links
- David Obua profile TransferMarkt
- David Obua at National-Football-Teams.com
References
- ↑ David Obua – Player profile Heart of Midlothian FC, 4 March 2010
- ↑ Out of Africa, Knees Up Mother Brown, 12 July 2008.
- ↑ Obua agrees contract with Hearts, BBC Sport, 20 July 2008
- ↑ "Hibs 1–2 Hearts: Last gasp Obua goal seals victory". Scotsman Sport (Johnston Press). 1 May 2010.
- ↑
- ↑ "Ugandan David Obua on his way out at Hearts". BBC Sport (BBC). 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ↑ Obua's Uganda threat – Vows never to play again
- ↑ "David Obua Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
- ↑ "David Obua Stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
- ↑ http://ugandaonline.net/red_pepper/view/8107/bebe_cool_s_ex_and_miss_uganda_feud/
- ↑ "Hearts' New Signing Obua's Arrival Rekindles Family Tie". www.allafrica.com. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ↑ Obua, Denis. "John Akii-Bua is a forgotten sports hero". Uganda Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2011.