 | This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (October 2024) |
 SC Villa's Defender Arnold Odong picks instructions from Morley Byekwaso as he was celebrating his goal against Mbarara city FC at wankulukuku | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arnold Odong | ||
| Date of birth | (1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 (age 25) | ||
| Place of birth | Gulu, Uganda | ||
| Position(s) | Central defender | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Villa | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Watoto Sports Academy | |||
| Watoto FC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Villa | ||
| International career | |||
| 2024– | Uganda | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Arnold Odong (born March 25, 1999), is a Ugandan professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Uganda Premier League club Villa and the Uganda national team.
Early life
Arnold Odong was born on March 25, 1999, in Gulu, Uganda. From a young age, he had passion for football while growing up in northern Uganda. He began his football journey with local clubs like Watoto Sports Academy and Watoto FC. Later on, he played for Mawokota and Buddu in the Masaza Cup, a regional tournament that has been a stepping stone for many Ugandan footballers.
Odong's secured a place at MUBS (Makerere University Business School) and completed a diploma in Business Administration.
Career
Arnold Odong's major opportunity arrived in 2023 when he joined SC Villa, one of the more successful football clubs in Uganda. He joined after the exit of their former captain Gift Fred and established himself in the team. In the 2023/24 season, Odong also scored key goals for SC Villa. He marked his first goal for the club in a match against Maroons FC, contributing to a 1–1 draw. His performance in that game earned him the Man of the Match accolade. He also played a part in SC Villa's progress in the Uganda Premier League, which saw them contending for the top positions in the table.
National Team Call-Up
Odong's performances at SC Villa earned him a call-up to the Uganda national football team, the Cranes. This was a proud moment for the young defender, who had aspired to represent his country at the highest level. His selection for the national team came at a time when key players like Kenneth Semakula and Halid Lwaliwa were unable to participate due to visa issues. Odong's call-up arrived at a time when the Cranes needed to address a string of disappointing performances.
Achievements
- National-Team Call-Up: Received his first call-up to the Uganda Cranes in 2024.
References
- ^ "Budding defender Odongo fired up by coveted Cranes call-up". Monitor. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- "SC Villa begin season with comfortable win against Mbarara City". New Vision. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- "Byekwaso relieved after Jogoos goal taps open". Monitor. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- "Arnold Odong's Men's Soccer Recruiting Profile". www.ncsasports.org. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ Kule, Edwin Kyle (2023-09-25). "Arnold Odong glad to get off the mark at SC Villa". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ Sports, Pulse (2023-09-30). "Arnold Odong revels in his goalscoring form for SC Villa". Pulse Sports Uganda. Retrieved 2024-10-14.