Ismail Watenga

Ismail Watenga

Ismail Watenga at Uganda vs South Africa 2025
Personal information
Full name	Ismail Bin Abdul Rashid Watenga
Date of birth	(1995-05-15) 15 May 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth	Mbale, [1] Uganda
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) [1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper [2]
Team information
Current team	Golden Arrows
Number	1
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2018	Vipers
2018–2019	Ethiopian Coffee
2019–2020	Sofapaka
2020–2022	Chippa United	19	(0)
2022–	Mamelodi Sundowns	0	(0)
2022	→ Marumo Gallants (loan)	4	(0)
2023–	→ Golden Arrows (loan)	19	(0)
International career‡
2014–	Uganda	19	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 August 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 March 2018

Ismail Watenga (born 15 May 1995) is a Ugandan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Golden Arrows and the Uganda national team ^{[3] [1] [4]}

Early life and education

Watenga was born in Nakaloke, Mbale to Muduwa Zaituni and Bwayo Daniel, he is the youngest of three brothers and two sisters. He began his education at Namunsi Primary School before joining Nakaloke Islamic SS for his first year of secondary school (S.1). He later transferred to Manafwa High School in Mbale and then to Busolwe SS. However, due to the school's lack of a UNEB center number, he moved to Tororo Progressive Academy (TOPA), where he completed his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE). For his A-Level education, he attended St. Mary's secondary school, Kitende, where he completed his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). He later enrolled at Kampala International University (KIU) but chose to leave early to focus on his football career. ^[5]

Playing career

Watenga began his football journey at the age of six with Kamu Kamu FC, later joining Jami FC in Kamonkoli. While attending Manafwa High School, he played for the school’s football team. In 2011, he started his senior club career with Vipers SC, where he played until 2018, winning the Uganda Super League titles in 2015 and 2018. ^[6] He then moved to Ethiopian Coffee SC on a two year contract, before having a brief stint with Sofapaka F.C. in the Kenyan Premier League in 2019. In 2020, Watenga signed with Chippa United F.C in South Africa. He later joined Mamelodi Sundowns F.C in 2022 but was loaned to Marumo Gallants for the season. In 2023, he was loaned to Golden Arrows, before securing a permanent move to the club in August 2023. ^{[7] [8]}

International career

Watenga made his debut for the Uganda national team during the 2013 CECAFA Championship in Kenya. In January 2014, coach Milutin Sredojević, invited him to be included in the Uganda national football team for the 2014 African Nations Championship. ^{[9] [10]} The team placed third in the group stage of the competition after beating Burkina Faso, drawing with Zimbabwe, and losing to Morocco. ^{[11] [12]}

Philanthropy

In 2024 Watenga established a foundation in Nakaloke dedicated to nurturing young, promising athletes. Through this initiative, he has provided football scholarships to children, giving them the opportunity to develop their talents and pursue their passion for the sport. ^{[13] [14]}

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year ^[15]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Uganda	2014	2	0
	2015	3	0
	2016	1	0
	2017	5	0
	2018	2	0
	2019	0	0
	2020	0	0
	2021	3	0
	2022	1	1
	2023	1	0
	2024	8	0
Total		26	1

References

1. Ismail Watenga at National-Football-Teams.com
2. "Micho Names Uganda Final Team For CHAN 2014". kawowo.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
3. Ismail Watenga at Soccerway . Retrieved 20 November 2023.
4. "Uganda". mtnfootball.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
5. "Lukwago, Watenga and Alitho: Men with superb game reading". Monitor. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
6. "Lukwago, Watenga and Alitho: Men with superb game reading". Monitor. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
7. "Ismail Watenga". MTN Sports. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
8. Kohler, Lorenz (25 August 2023). "Arrows Signing Ex-Pirates And Wydad Players". iDiski Times. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
9. "Uganda Cranes Regroup For CHAN 2014 Preparations". kawowo.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
10. "Uganda makes changes in squad for 2014 Africa Nations Championship". xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
11. "Uganda's impressive CHAN start". espnfc.com. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
12. "Zimbabwe vs Uganda Preview". goal.com/. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
13. Isabirye, David (7 January 2024). "Ismail Watenga Foundation: Inspiring Change, Impacting Lives". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
14. "Uganda Cranes' goalkeeper Ismail Watenga kicks off 2024 with foundation launch". New Vision. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
15. "Ismail Watenga". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 April 2021.