20-year-old mechanic dies after self-poisoning
June 7, 2019
IATA urges governments on implementation of global carbon offsetting scheme
June 7, 2019
By Our Reporter
Foreign-based youngster Abdu Lumala was a surprise inclusion for many Ugandans as head coach Sebastien Desabre named him in the provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Lumala, 21, plays as a forward for Syrianska FC in Superettan on loan from Kalmar FF.
The Superettan league is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish men’s football. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Allsvenskan (top flight of the Swedish football league system) and Division 1 with teams playing 30 matches each.
Abdu grew up with his grandmother in the village of Kataba since his mother had died when he was just a few months old and since the father was unknown. When he was 10 he was given a Henrik Larsson-shirt as a birthday present by his aunt.
In hope of receiving a better life his grandmother sent him away to the capital Kampala when he was 16. Abdu took many jobs, mostly washing cars before he met a few white Europeans who managed to get him on a plane to Sturup Airport.
However most of the African names are associated with the clan. It is also assumed that his father might be the famous local business man in the areas of Busia called Lumala who is projected to be having many children he cannot recall but all identified by the name Lumala.
Lumala was left alone on the streets of Malmö and there he contacted Migrationsverket. They managed to get accommodation for Abdu in the little town of Bromölla. There he started training with the local club Ifö/Bromölla playing in the Swedish 5th tier, but after not managing to find any football shoes he and a friend moved to 9th tier side Gualövs GoIF.
He was instantly made captain and after scoring 20 goals in 10 games big local club Mjällby AIF signed him in the summer of 2014. He played the rest of the year with the U17s and U19s. Before the next season Abdu was moved up to the A-Team playing in Swedish second division Superettan.
He impressed, scoring 3 goals in 24 games being only 17 when the season started. The rumours of his talent spread and clubs like Malmö FF and Olympiacos wanting to sign him.
Abdu instead ended up in Swedish top flight club Kalmar FF. He had a decent first season, playing 10 league games and scoring 6 goals.
Ahead of the 2017 season Abdu was loaned out to Superettan club Varbergs BoIS. After half a season with the club, he returned to Kalmar FF just to be loaned out once again, this time to his idol Henrik Larsson’s mother club Helsingborgs IF. He made his debut in a game against GAIS.
He is currently at Syrianska FC where he played for the 2018/19 season.
He wears shirt number 14 and at the back of Abdu’s shirt it says “Lumalinho” because of his brilliant skills with the ball.
He is currently with the Uganda Cranes Afcon squad in Abu Dhabi where they are having a residential camp ahead of the tournament.
Teams played for:
2015 – Mjällby AIF
2016 – Kalmar FF
2017 – Varbergs BoIS (loan)
2017 – Helsingborgs IF (loan)
2018 – IFK Värnamo (loan)
2019 – Syrianska FC (loan)
