Meet 18 year old Otandeka Laki Ugandan American girl with an eye for goals

By Richard Wetaya   18 year Otandeka Laki literally packs a punch when she is playing football

for her club, Match Fit United in the United States.
It’s apparent from her remarkable burst of energy with agility to boot, as she plays in her striking position.  Laki is currently the leading goal scorer in the Elite clubs National league in the United States.
It’s never a dull moment when the 5’3 feet star steps on the Soccer field.  Laki may be short, an inadequacy she says makes it difficult for her to win balls in the air, but she makes up for it with a strong physical presence on the ball.

Laki does indeed give a good account of herself when it is her time to play.
The relentless crescendo of oohs and ahhs from the crowd when Laki steps on the football pitch is testament that she is loved and held in a high regard. 

Laki started playing football at the young sunny side age of 5.  “I look at it in perspective now, but i knew from that little spark that something good was on the horizon for me. I was young but i had a lot of heart,” Laki excitedly says

On the threshold of 2001, a burgeoning Laki was enlisted as a player on her home town’s recreational team.
“The potential Otandeka exhibited at that young age was huge. Her stock in trade was calmness on the ball. Seeing her play at a young age with such poise, i figured she would make a great player, notes Abrams Leonard one of Laki’s childhood coaches.

Laki’s love for the sport grew by leaps and bounds, whilst she played for the recreational team. The close supervision of skilled coaches spawned a flood tide of dedication and determination in Laki.
In the subsequent years, football became her fascination. It became a part and parcel of her life.

Laki started making noticeable and significant inroads in her fledgling Soccer career at the age of 13.
With a skill set way beyond her age, Laki was included on a 2001 pick of the bunch player list for the New Jersey soccer team. Whilst there she excelled. The team later went on a successful footballing trip to Spain, winning 8 out of the 10 matches they played.
In 2010, Laki and her Colts neck High school soccer team, won the B North championship. It was an accomplishment that got Laki loads of mention in newspaper sports columns around New Jersey and in New York.

About that time too, Women’s soccer in the United States was gaining huge preeminence.
The United States female soccer team was on a roll.
The team had just finished third at the 2003 Women’s world cup and they had also won Olympic gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics in Greece.

In the wake of these successes, Soccer as a sport in the United States transcended the tag of being a male only sport.
Many opportunities presented for young women to not only play the sport, but to also show and prove that they had the requisite skills to elevate the profile of the Women’s game, which hitherto had played second fiddle to the Men’s game. Laki too was inspired by the success of the U.S women’s soccer team.

As Laki’s star kept rising, many noticed she had other winning calling cards, besides her knack to play football. She was also flamboyant and happy go lucky.
 An impressive repertoire of tricks on the ball also stood in a good stead for her.
Laki inevitably got Laki rave reviews from high merit soccer Pundits, coaches and Scouts.
Many scouts reckoned she would go on to be the next big thing in the United States National Women’s Soccer League. 

Thus far Laki and her team have won 11 first place trophies.  “In my trophy cabinet, I also have like 20 second place medals. In my freshman season at Match fit in 2011, i scored 17 goals out of the 21 games i played. In this current season, we have played ten games and i have 5 goals to my name,” Laki says

Going by statistics, Laki has a pedigree. Since she joined Match fit united Football club, the team’s trophy cabinet has been filling up. This season, the club has won 3 trophies already.
In 2011, the club was confirmed region 1 colonial league playoffs champions after beating off stiff competition.
That same year, the club also swept the boards as the region 1 colonial league champions East champions.
They later were crowned champions at the Virginian soccer tournament.
Laki has not only played for Match fit united Football club. She has also turned out for the Olympic Development programme team in New Jersey.
As part of the New Jersey team, she has featured in numerous National and regional tournaments.
Because of her accomplishments on the pitch, Laki has been chosen to go for a soccer advancement course at Chelsea football club in London.

Laki remains grounded amid all the laurels and praises. Resting on her laurels is not something she is about to do now
“I'm very flattered about being called the next big thing by Pundits. I think i can eventually live up to the title though i’m still developing. There are other competitors that are just as good and maybe even better. With a little time, i will fit the description,” Laki discloses

Born to Duncan and Catherine Muhumuza, Laki envisages a time when she will play for the she-cranes
“Someday, i would love to play for the Uganda She Cranes when the opportunity arises. Given a chance to play, I will bring speed, good technique, and of course goals. I however would like to see a scenario where women's soccer teams in Uganda are getting more funding from the government. Ugandan young women should be given chance to play soccer,” Laki says gleefully

TYPICAL DAY IN LAKI’S LIFE AS A SOCCER PLAYER
Laki’s attraction to football is like a moth to a flame. Everything else after school, including homework is done in haste. It does not however mean she does not lay great store on Academics.  “This routine has become second nature to me. I have learnt to manage my time well. I give my all both in soccer and at school. At soccer practice, we scrimmage each other, we work on tactics and techniques through drills and scenarios. I practice twice a week. The weekends are when i usually have games. All in all, my life as a soccer player has me on the run constantly. I have to drive long distances or to take long flights to go play most away games,” Laki says

LIFE OUTSIDE OF SOCCER
Outside of soccer, my life is enjoyable. I love hanging out with my friends and travelling.
At school, i’m on the law program. Next year after the completion of my course at Match fit united, i will join Rutgers University to further my law studies, Laki says
Laki is also a Sunday school teacher at Monmouth worship center in New Jersey. She also moonlights as a camp counselor at Vacation Bible School, New Jersey.

HOW LAKI JUGGLES SCHOOL AND SOCCER
Laki says she is often hard pressed in balancing school and sports.
“I can be out of school for a week playing in soccer tournaments. Catching up on class work and tests becomes really difficult. With the grueling rigors involved especially in playing football, it has been really hard. Somehow, nonetheless, i always find ways to make up for lost time,” Laki says

MOTIVATION

I'm motivated by my dreams and aspirations. I really just want to make my parents and my family proud, and to be a role model to people. I'm always motivated by the idea of making my goals become reality, and really making an impact in this world, Laki states

Otandeka’s cousin, Patsy Birungi says she is very hard working, self driven and focused.  “She will do anything to accomplish her goals. I’m not surprised she is the leading goal scorer in her league. She is definitely set to be the next big thing in the United States National Women’s Soccer League,” Birungi says

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