Ugandan goalkeeper Abel Dhaira succumbed to cancer on Sunday afternoon. We have compiled his profile and the activities that followed his demise.
Here is the full profile of the Cranes star:
Abel Dhaira, was born on 09th September 1987 in Walukuba, Jinja District to former cranes goalkeeper Bright Dhaira and Nakijjoba Harriet in a family of three children. (Juliet Mbakire, Dhaira Abraham and himself, Dhaira Abel).
He attended Narambai primary school from primary one to primary six and sat his PLE at Walukuba east primary school in his home area. He later joined Jinja SSS for his secondary school education.
Dhaira started off his football career in Red star football academy before joining Wama FC in 2000 and Alidina FC the following year. He was signed in the UPDF Bombo team in 2004 and played as an underdog in Mbale industrial where he was eyed by Express FC scouts, paving way for his professional journey.
Dhaira played at Express until 2008 after which he joined URA FC for one year where he also earned his National team debut. He was sold of to SC Vita based in Kinshasha, DRC at a whopping 22,000 USD (about 42, 000,000 shs at the time) where he rose through the ranks to sign for Iceland’s club IBV in 2014 making it the last club he appeared for.
Abel Dhaira has three CECAFA titles (2009, 2011, 2012), 1 Uganda Cup (Express-2007), and 1 League title (URA-2009) attached to his name.
He was also the first Ugandan Goalkeeper to feature in the Europa League.
How he succumbed to cancer.
The shot-stopper started complaining about Malaria in October 2015 and was admitted at Rippon garden in Jinja but was later transferred to Arshafa Hospital in November. What started like malaria later started to bring severe abdominal pain and he was admitted to Nsambya Hospital for an operation on 24th December.
His club IBV in Iceland paid for his ticket to get treatment abroad and was on 15th January this year admitted at Iceland University International Hospital where he was diagnosed with abdominal cancer, put on life support and sadly breathed his last yesterday afternoon. He reportedly talked to his family last, asking them to be strong minutes before his departure from this world.
A lot of mystery, however, surrounds the return of his body back home after IBV club officials revealed that they won’t be returning his body back home. All eyes are now on the local football federation and the bereaved family to raise the 15000 dollars needed to bring back his body. Cancer has robbed us off our hero, a star and role model.
Rest in Peace Abel Dhaira!
Staff Writer