These are tough times for Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Isma Watenga, and the road ahead looks rocky.
Goalkeepers are often the scapegoats when things go wrong, but Watenga has faced more than his fair share of criticism since his high-profile mistake in the 3-1 World Cup qualifier loss to Mozambique back in March.
While some Ugandan fans were quick to point fingers, others, including his Mamelodi Sundowns teammate and former Uganda Cranes captain Dennis Onyango, who even shares the same birthday, stood by him during that difficult period.
But since that game, Watenga’s fortunes have dipped sharply. He lost his starting spot to Alionzi Nafian, who replaced him at halftime in that same match against Mozambique and then kept the number one jersey in the following qualifier against Guinea.
At club level, things haven’t been much better. The 30-year-old custodian’s appearances for Golden Arrows in the South African Premier Soccer League were limited to just two matches since that incident. A 3-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates and a 1-1 draw against SuperSport United.
A far cry from the consistent playing time any goalkeeper craves. Despite his struggles, Watenga remains a key figure in the Cranes setup.
His commitment to improving hasn’t gone unnoticed, earning him a recall to the national team for the June internationals.
However, he started on the bench and was only brought on during stoppage time when Alionzi picked up an injury in the 3-0 friendly defeat to Cameroon in Morocco.
With Alionzi sidelined, Watenga was handed the gloves again for the next friendly against The Gambia.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck when he appeared to suffer a suspected ACL injury in the 59th minute, forcing BUL’s Joel Mutakubwa to step in.
The game ended in a 1-1 draw, but the real score was the blow to Watenga’s career. An ACL injury is a nightmare for any footballer, sidelining players for anywhere between six to twelve months.
Recent cases like Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Jesus, or Manchester City’s Rodri, highlight how serious this setback can be.
Watenga now faces surgery, and the wait for the results will be nerve-wracking for both him and Ugandan football fans.
Early reports suggest he could miss the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a huge blow for both player and country.
Off the pitch, questions loom large over his club future. Watenga joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2020 on a free transfer after his contract with Kenyan side Sofapaka expired.
Since then, he’s been loaned out four times, spells at Chippa United, Marumo Gallants, and twice at Golden Arrows.
His current loan with Golden Arrows has come to an end with the 2024/25 season, and his contract with Sundowns expires on June 30, 2025.
A permanent move to Arrows was expected but failed to materialize due to disagreements between the clubs.
A source close to Watenga told Nerve Africa last year: “Isma is extremely grateful to be on the roster of one of Africa’s biggest clubs.”
“He’s a top professional, but the uncertainty around his future is frustrating. There hasn’t been much communication regarding a contract renewal, which is understandable, but he remains hopeful discussions will happen soon.”
Golden Arrows remain interested, but after four loan spells, it’s clear Sundowns haven’t fully committed to him as their long-term number one. Now, with this injury, the question is: How much will this setback affect his career trajectory?
Before his South African adventure, Watenga featured for Vipers SC in Uganda and Bunna SC in Ethiopia, steadily building his reputation.
For now, all eyes are on his recovery. Watenga’s resilience and determination will be tested like never before, but if he can overcome this challenge, the Uganda Cranes goalkeeper still has a shot at reclaiming his spot and proving the doubters wrong.
