The spine-chilling images of 2016 remain etched in the mind of South Sudan’s Paul Jawa when he sought to reach Uganda from his home capital, Juba, via the Aggrey Jaden Road.He does not remember whether the lifeless bodies he saw strewn along the road were in their tens or hundreds but, the one thing he is sure of is, were it not for the grace of God, he’d probably have been one of the victims of the civil war that, was reignited in July 7, 2016.For starters, Jawa is one of the success stories of the 2023 Africa U20 Cup of Nations showpiece as, he accounted for the two goals the South Sudan national team scored in its maiden appearance in the tournament held in Egypt between 19 February to March 11 this year.The Bright Stars, beat all the odds stacked heavily against them to reach to the quarter-final of the continental tournament.##NAJAVA_MECA_7277163##The conflict hatched one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises as, thousands of refugees mainly children and women crossed the borders according to various reports published on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) website.Further, a report by a United Nations official published by the Reuters in 2018 indicates that 50,000 people were killed in 2016 in South Sudan and nearly a quarter of the population back then, uprooted from their hoods.Despite the fact that ceasefire was declared in July 2016, tension in the streets of Juba remained high and there were loopholes for retaliatory attacks along ethnic lines.Watching some of his relatives die in the most senseless manner and staring at the possibility of losing his own, due to the armed conflict prodded the last born in a family of eight swing into action and, take a route that his nuclear family was not comfortable to tread.EXCLUSIVE: How Okanda revived his football career at the Kakuma refugee campHankering to save himself from the harrowing experience, the then 13-year old Jawa bit the bullet, separated with his dear family, hopped into a bus and sadly, fled motherland on January 2017 for Nairobi through Uganda, a journey that took a whooping four days.He was simply ready to confront life head on in a new territory whatever the cost.Bidding his family who opted to stay put farewell, relocating to a new territory and accepting the refugee status was simply a bitter pill for the determined youngster to swallow.The deafening sound of explosives and chaotic roars of gunfire almost made it impossible for Jawa to leave their Dar es Salaam estate in Juba and catch a bus that was on standby to evacuate harmless civilians to Uganda and Nairobi.However, he had already made up his mind and was willing to risk it all so as quench his ravenous hunger for success in football and academics as he anticipated for a second chance at life inside a refugee camp or in a rather safe environment.How football talent broke mighty barriers for Wadadia trainer Joy WanjauFurther, the burning desire to make it in life and drag his family out of the biting shackles of poverty made Jawa who was, a stranger past the outskirts of Juba scamper, hoping to make a fortune later in life and change his story and that of his loved ones.”My escape from Juba to Kenya through Uganda was not a pleasant one. I was barely thirteen when I fled my home country for Kenya due to the incessant fights witnessed in Juba back then. Some of our relatives were killed while others were displaced,” he recounts.”Leaving the house to the bus station all the way to Uganda was a terrifying experience. I remember seeing lifeless bodies on the way to Uganda. Accessing the bus station and navigating from Juba was a strenuous exercise as there were bullets flying all over but, thankfully, I and others safely pulled through,” he narrated.Stories of renowned football superstars being born and raised in refugee camps or even grappling with untold suffering in their childhood to ultimately make it in life courtesy of their talent have often been told.Bayern Munich left back Alphonso Davies, versatile Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, Nigerian international Victor Moses and the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric are living examples.Strength of a woman: Akisa’s magic hands that keeps Nzoia Sugar players fitCloser home, the skillful Jawa is a player who has seen, and knows all about struggle having witnessed the deadly exchange of fire in the South Sudanese capital and in his second chapter of life in Kenya as a refugee.Kenya is the second biggest refugee-hosting country in Africa after Ethiopia according to the UNHCR.”Kenya hosts refugees mainly from the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa region. While most people fleeing from conflict in South Sudan arrive in Kakuma in northern Kenya, most Somali refugees flee to Dadaab, located in Garissa County in the former North Eastern Province of Kenya, ” reads part of a report on the agency’s online portal.Luck follows the brave.This old adage resonated well with Jawa as the daring move to put his life on the line when escaping as well as separate with his family paid off as soon as he set foot in Kenya.While a vast majority of the other refugees who accompanied the now 19-year from Juba proceeded to kick off life in various camps in the country, someone was, willing to take him in and save his football talent from going waste, educate and offer him a decent lifestyle.Geoffrey Kasudi, the Chief Executive Officer of the South Sudan Youth Sports Assistance Academy had established deep roots in Nairobi was subsequently, granted custody of Jawa whom he had known through football.Jawa’s natural talent caught the eye of Kasudi and other managers of the academy while playing football in the streets of Juba in 2014 and and was formally signed at a time when he was aged ten years.Realizing that he was coming from an humble background, the academy offered to pay school fees for Jawa in the final two years of his primary school education.”I had contacted Kasudi before leaving Juba. He saved me from heading to the refugee camp as he received me upon arriving in Nairobi. He had known me for two years as played for his academy back in Juba. He also helped me in school fees in the last two years in primary school,” he said.The godsent Kasudi in collaboration with the other executives drawn from the academy voluntarily deepened into their purses and enrolled Jawa at the Anointed High School that is based in Kariobangi North in February 2017 for his secondary school education.Navigating his way out of the unsafe Juba was a great deal of experience but life was not about to give him a break as he was forced to adapt to the Kenyan culture and schooling system within a short time.EXCLUSIVE: How offering medical care in street football propelled Odongo to the FKFPLDealing with the struggle to blend in, learn and unlearn was one hundred percent welcome for the boy who witnessed traumatizing incidences.”The serene environment in Nairobi was simply reassuring. It was great feeling to be in a calm place and in an environment where I had been assured of continuing with education and chasing the grand dream I had in becoming a professional footballer. I struggled to adapt in the new environment but it was better than holding on hope back in Juba, ” he stated.After Jawa’s crave to further his education found a perfect match following his admission at Anointed High School, his aspiration to change the life of his family back in Juba through football received shot at the arm as Kasudi helped him land a place at Korogocho Youth Academy.Kasudi, used his friendship with the Kenya U20 national team coach Stanley Okumbi to the advantage of Jawa as he negotiated for a place for him at Korogocho Academy that was run by Okumbi.This availed a platform for the ambitious youngster to dust his boots and revive his football talent at the academy during the weekends and off class hours as he was a day scholar.For Jawa who is nicknamed Messi due to his excellent dribbling skills and eye for the goal playing football in the dusty football pitches in Korogocho slums and schooling in a modest institution was an answered prayer.”Kasudi was a good friend of Okumbi who was in charge of the Korogocho Youth Academy. Through their friendship, I was invited for trials and was signed after perhaps impressing the coaches. It was satisfying to study and play football again,” he said.The smooth sail suddenly turned turbulent for Jawa after the South Sudanese academy cut its financial aid meant to cater for school fees at a time when he was a form two student.This forced him to transfer to the Sunflower High School that is based in Kiamaiko slums in Nairobi and just before he could ponder on where to get fees, Okumbi, a man known for his affinity for upcoming footballers offered to lend a helping hand.Okumbi, who had previously tutored the Kenyan men’s senior football team, the Harambee Stars between February 2016 to March 2018 said coming to the aid of Jawa was no brainer as his football talent displayed in the first training session won his heart.”When I first saw him train in a pitch full of marram in Korogocho, I was convinced that he was a rare gem. I later learnt that he was a refugee who had the desire to shine in class too. I helped in raising school fees for him and mentored him on the Pitch. It is gratifying to see him be the player he is today, ” remarked the former Mathare United tactician.Jawa who later transferred to the St. Teresa’s Boys High School in Eastleigh, Nairobi enjoyed uninterrupted studies and game time on the pitch but one more hurdle lay in front of him as he could not be allowed to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) final exams.The transfer to St. Teresa’s, an institution that has previously churned out players who have gone on to conquer the Kenyan top league came with a prize for Jawa as he was forced out of the Korogocho Youth Academy under unclear circumstances.By regulation, a student cannot sit for the high-stake exam if he fails to present a valid Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and his profile does not surface in the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) portal.David Okoth: From slime to stardom courtesy of lethal left footThis proved a massive setback for Jawa as he had to repeat the form four course in an attempt aimed at buying time so as to sit for special KCPE exams and have his profile updated on the KNEC portal.His academic story that was also disrupted at some point by the coronavirus pandemic had a beautiful ending as he belatedly sat for the exam in March 2022.”My studies were nearly grounded in the second term of the form two course as the South Sudanese academy stopped paying school fees. Luckily, Okumbi chipped in. He helped me despite falling out with Kasudi later. There were tests in closing stages of the four-year long course but I navigated through even though I had to do an extra year, “he continued.Call up to the South Sudan U20 and senior teamsAfter wrapping his secondary school education, Jawa was recalled to the Korogocho Youth team that rebranded to Rainbow FC in April last year.The decision by Okumbi to consider the striker’s services for the second time proved masterstroke as he helped the club secure promotion to the Division One league, the Kenyan third tier.Jawa was the overall top scorer in the 2022 Division Two league campaign thanks to the sixteen goals he scored.His stellar performance drew the attention of Joseph Kanyi, a United States of America based coach who recommended him to the South Sudan U20 team management that was preparing the team for its first ever appearance in the continental tournament.His close friends Daniel Bichok and Jacob Addis Panoam who are attached to Kenyan clubs; Nairobi United and the 2009 Kenyan league Sofapaka respectively also advocated for his call up to the junior national team.Bichok who spent some years of his life at the Kakuma Refugee camp is a defender while Addis is a winger. The two took part in the AFCON U20 qualifiers.”My heart must have skipped a bit when the call from the national team manager came in. I would not have been called up to the team had my friends not spoken highly of me to the South Sudanese federation and national team technical bench members as they had never seen me play before,” he narrated.The Bright Stars were placed in Pool C of the tournament alongside Uganda, Congo Brazzaville and the Central African Republic (CAR).The team lost 2-1 in the first game against Congo before recovering to beat Central African Republic by a solitary goal in the subsequent duel. The last group stage match against the Ugandan Hippos ended in a barren draw.Talented in football and music – this is the story of Enock WanyamaStars fairytale sojourn in the tournament ended in the quarters after losing 5-0 to the Gambia.Jawa who scored the team’s two goals in the tournament was named the man of the match against CAR.The glamorous show he put in the junior tournament saw him land an invite to train with the senior national team under coach Stefano Cusin that was preparing for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier double against Congo Brazzaville.Jawa made his first appearance for the senior team on 23/03/2023 sitting on the substitutes bench in the first leg of the AFCON qualifier held in Brazzaville where the Bright Stars won 2-1.He however, missed the return leg hosted at the Benjamin Makapa Stadium in Tanzania four days later. Congo won the duel by a solitary goalThis was not the first time the player was getting a call up to a national team as he recalls travelling to France for with the U13 team when he a primary school kid.Family Réunion The call up to the U20 team tagged along with the blessing of reuniting with his family after six years of separation.From child labour to football stardom – This is Moses Mudavadi’s storyJawa left Juba in 2017 as teenager and returned as a youth who could speak up to five languages courtesy of his schooling and the years he had spent in Nairobi.He fondly remembers running into the fully stretching arms of his parents; Mr. America Jawa and Mrs. Rati Thomas after touching down in Juba bringing about an emotional moment as all present, struggled to hold on tears of joy.A lot had changed while he was away including the regrettable demise of his four siblings who succumbed to various illnesses.He also got to meet two of his step mother’s siblings who had been born when he was away in Nairobi.”It was a euphoric moment to link up with my parents and siblings after six years of separation. Luckily, I found all alive and kicking. I got to meet my step mother’s siblings born when I was in Nairobi,” he shared the moment of joy.The Arsenal fanatic says he headed to the national team camp for the AFCON with three objectives in mind; to inspire the team to an incredible run in the tournament, make his family happy and make a name for himself.”I handed a huge chank of the allowances from the national team to my parents. I also treated my siblings and old friends whom I used to call neighbours before leaving for Nairobi to a party,” he said.Strength of a woman: Meet the madam driving Posta Rangers team busJawa, who following his electric performance at the AFCON has generated interests from clubs based in the United States of America, France and other European countries intends to turn professional with changing the life of his family for the better being his top priority.”I believe that I am the one who will pull my family out of poverty through playing football. I also want to pay school fees for my siblings. I normally avail something on monthly basis but I am sure good things are in the pipeline,” he expressed his sincere hope for good tidings in future.With a virgin future laying in front of the interior design enthusiast, some things are crystal clear at the back of his mind and among them is, invoking the spirit of not giving up no matter how dark the situation is.”If Nairobi didn’t give me a second chance probably the violence would have consumed me or I would have wasted away. I will never stop at anything until I achieve my dreams in football and life,” he shared his parting shot.BIOPaul America Jawa MaraDate of birth-15/7/2004Place of birth-Dar es Salaam estate in JubaEducationPrimary School-Mer-KolongAnointed High School, Kariobangi NorthSunflower High School-KiamaikoSt. Teresa’s Boys’ Secondary SchoolClubs he has played for:South Sudan Youth Sports Assistance AcademyRainbow Kenya for 7 yearsRole Model- Lionel MessiFavorite food- Fish
