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MATHIAS KIGONYA

Mathias Kigonya (born 2-Feb-1996), is a Ugandan professional footballer who plays his trade with Kenyan top flight, Sofapaka Football club and Ugandan national team as a goalkeeper. He started his career at Soana football club in 2013, before joining Bright Stars Football Club one year later. At Bright Stars, Kigonya spent two seasons as their first choice goalkeeper, playing all the matches and scored 3 goals the last 2015-16 season. In June 2016, he made a move from Bright Stars fc to Kenyan outfit, Sofapaka Football club where he played a great role in saving the club from relegation in the that season.

EARLY CAREER Born 2nd February 1996 in Kabatema Village in Lyantonde district to Francis Muwanga and Suzan Nabakooza, Kigonya started his football career in 2008 at Lyantonde Secondary School with whom he played one year, before joining Buddo Secondary School. Kigonya spent one year at the aforesaid School before joining SC Villa’s soccer academy in 2011. The following year Kigonya signed for SC Villa senior team following his excellent reflexes in goal.

CLUB CAREER SC Villa (2012-2013) In June 2012, Kigonya graduated from SC Villa academy and officially signed for the senior team at the age of 16. Kigonya started as a second choice in line for the first team, defended by Ugandan compatriot and international Mulindwa Muwonge. As the season went on, Kigonya could feature for SC Villa senior side in friendlies matches. However, Mathias’ real time came towards the end of the season when then head coach, Mike Roy Mutebe named him in the starting line up ahead of Mulindwa Muwonge. Kigonya would then be part of 3 more victories that would see SC Villa end in the top five.

SOANA FOOTBALL CLUB (2013-2014)

On 5 June 2014, Bright Stars Fc announced that Mathias Kigonya had joined their ranks following his contract expiration at SC Villa. Mathias was immediately inserted as Soana's first choice goalkeeper, supplanting national team goalkeeper Salim Sowedi.

Mathias made his competitive debut for the club in September in a 0–2 away win at Rwenshema Fc, where he kept a clean sheet. He made 14 clean sheets in the season and the performance helped the team gather 47points and finish in 5th place that season.

bright Stars Football Club (2014-2016) In the 2013-14 season, Bright Stars struggled in the goalkeeping department and the then head coach, Fred Kajoba decided to look elsewhere for assistance in the highly sensitive area. The club made a transfer bid for Kigonya and the proposal went successful.

Kigonya signed a two-year contract and his prodigious performance that saw him score twice in the first season, helped the Stars end 13th on the log in the 2014-15 season before emerging 12th following term. A string of good performances at the club earned Kigonya a call to the Uganda under-20 squad as well.

Sofapaka Football Club (2016-up date)

Mathias Kigonya left Ugandan Bright Stars and joined Sofapaka Fc in 2016-17 mid-season on a special mission of saving the Kenyan outfit from relegation chop.

The Ugandan international goalkeeper joined the side at the time when everyone had written it off as the side played most of the later games of the season lying at the bottom on the table.

Th e fight could not end until the final day of the season and not everyone believed that Sofapaka would stay afloat in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) after a disastrous season.

On the final day Sofapaka FC rose to the occasion, beating Thika United 5-1 to survive relegation by a whisker. Sofapaka came to the game praying for a loss for Ushuru Fc (against Posta Rangers) so that both sides would level on 26 points but the mathematics would leave the later enjoying a better goal difference. Indeed the results went in Sofapaka’s way as the taxmen lost 3-1 to see the Batoto ba Mungu complete the season in style, surviving relegation by a whisker. It was from Kigonya’s incredible performance that the Ugandan was named captain of the side in the following season (2016-17) which Sofapaka finished second on the table. Kigonya making 14 clean sheets, scored once and provided 5 assists.

International career Kigonya represented Uganda at under-17, under-20 and under-23 levels. He made his debut with the full side in 2014 in the 2015 African Cup qualifiers and retained his place for the rest of 2015 national engagements.

CECAFA 2016

Kigonya was again called for duty in the 2016 Cecafa cup held in Ethiopia, where he started once against Burundi. Kigonya won the championship with his native nation.

CHAN 2016 After featuring in the four qualifier games of the 2017 CHAN tournament, Kigonya was again selected by the then head coach Micho Seredjovic to the squad of 23 for the final edition held in Rwanda. He replaced injured Ismael Watenga in game against Mali before starting one against Zambia. Kigonya has close to 17 national team caps under his belt, including friendlies, against Malawi, Gabon, Cameroun, Mazambique, Niger, Rwanda among others.

European Tour

After having a fruitful 2016 season with Sofapaka Fc, Kigonya was subsequently chosen for the Team of the season and was among the 18 squad that toured Europe the following year, becoming the first Ugandan to feature on a Kenyan selected side.

The selected team, dubbed Sportpesa Premier League team, played two Spanish sides; Cordoba and Sevilla Atletical losing 4-0 and 1-0 respectively.

Style of play

An agile, courageous, energetic, Kigonya is a physically outstanding keeper whose authoritative presence in goal and leadership is making him go places.

The Ugandan is also known for his agility, composure and shot-stopping ability, as well as his control, distribution and skill with the ball at his feet.

Due to his speed when rushing off his line to anticipate opponents who have beaten the offside trap, he has been described as a sweeper keeper; he has also been labelled as a playmaking goalkeeper, due to his ability to play the ball out from the back or launch attacks from goal-kicks.

In spite of his young age, he has already stood out for his decision making, consistency, and calm in goal, as well as his ability to organize his defense, and is also an intelligent reader of the game.

Profile: Full Names: Mathias Kigonya Date of Birth: 2nd February 1996 Parents: Francis Muwanga & Suzan Nabakooza Education: Katovu Highway Infant School (Primary), Kasambya S.S, Lyantonde, Buddo S.S, Old Kampala (O-Level) & Bishop Nankyama (A-Level) Football Career: Bishop Nankyama S.S, Jogoo Young, SC Villa, Soana F.C & Bright Stars, Sofapaka Fc.

Supportive video links, and articles

https://www.sofapakafc.co.ke/player/mathias-kigonya/ https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mathias+kigonya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjczXeE-afY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrPOc-kcx_k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxT-qDeK9YY

https://www.eurosport.com/football/mathias-kigonya_prs491058/person.shtml