Joel Kitamirike

Joel Derick Kitamirike (born 5 April 1984) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender. He played for Football League One club Brentford during the 2003–04 season and for Scottish Premier League club Dundee in 2005. His most recent club was Chelmsford City. Born in Uganda, he moved to England as a child and has British citizenship.

Joel Kitamirike
Personal information
Full name Joel Derick Kitamirike[1]
Date of birth (1984-04-05) 5 April 1984
Place of birth Kampala, Uganda
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Chelsea 0 (0)
2003–2004 → Brentford (loan) 22 (0)
2004–2005 Mansfield Town 2 (0)
2005 Dundee 8 (0)
2006 Columbus Crew 1 (0)
2006–2007 Fisher Athletic 22 (1)
2007–2008 Weymouth 19 (0)
2008 Chelmsford City 1 (0)
Total 75 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

In November 2008 he was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for supplying Class A drugs and possession of Class A and other drugs with intent to supply.[2]

Club career

Kitamirike was born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1984 and came to England when he was six years old.[3] He began his career as a youth player at Chelsea, where he made one appearance aged 17, deputising in a UEFA Cup tie against Hapoel Tel Aviv, when several players did not travel to Israel because of a security threat.[4] He joined Brentford on loan in September 2003 and extended his loan in November 2003 for the rest of the 2003–04 season,[5] during which he made 25 league and cup appearances for Brentford.[6] He was released by Chelsea at the end of the 2003–04 season, and after trials with Dutch club Willem II Tilburg[7] and Walsall,[8] joined Mansfield Town in December 2004 on a non-contract basis.[9] He made two appearances for Mansfield before joining Dundee in January 2005 on a two-year contract.[10][11] He made seven starts for Dundee in the 2004–05 season as the club were relegated from the Scottish Premier League and made two further appearances before leaving the club in November 2005 after agreeing a deal to terminate his contract.[12] Two months later, he joined Major Soccer League club, Columbus Crew.[13]

He made one appearance for the Crew before dropping into English non-league football and playing for Fisher Athletic and Weymouth.[14] He was released by Weymouth in February 2008 and joined Chelmsford City,[15] for whom he made one appearance before leaving the club at the end of the 2007–08 season.[16]

In November 2008 he was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for supplying Class A drugs and possession of Class A and other drugs with intent to supply.[17]

International career

Kitamirike represented England at under-15 level and in 2004, the Uganda national football team included him in their squad for the 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifier against DR Congo in June 2004, taking advantage of new FIFA rules making him eligible to play for his country of birth at full international level.[18] Although Kitamirike was keen to play, Ugandan immigration law did not permit dual nationality.[19] Kitamirike was unwilling to give up British citizenship in order to get a Ugandan passport so he missed the game.[19]

References
  1. "Joel Kitamirike". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  2. Skene, Helen (8 November 2008). "Ex-Chelsea player jailed for drugs bust". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  3. "Joel Kitamirike biography: the early years". Icons.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  4. "Hapoel stun subdued Chelsea". BBC Sport. 18 October 2001. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  5. "Kitamirike extends Bees deal". BBC Sport. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  6. "Games played by Joel Kitamirike in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  7. "Kitamirike eyes Dutch move". BBC Sport. 11 August 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  8. "Walsall trial Kitamirike". BBC Sport. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  9. "Games played by Joel Kitamirike in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  10. "Thanks Stags – Kitamirike". Nottingham Evening Post. 24 January 2005. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  11. "Dundee sign defender Kitamirike". BBC Sport. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  12. "Defender Kitamirike leaves Dundee". BBC Sport. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  13. "Ugandan Kitamirike signs in USA". BBC Sport. 12 January 2006. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  14. "Terras allow Kitamirike to leave". BBC Sport. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  15. "King brings in Joel". Non League Daily. 3 March 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  16. "Club notes: Chelmsford City". Green'Un 24 (sports supplement, Ipswich Evening Star). Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  17. [Chelsea] Ex-Chelsea player jailed for drugs bust
  18. Oryada, Andrew (26 May 2004). "Uganda eye Kitamirike". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  19. Oryada, Andrew (3 June 2004). "Uganda to miss Kitamirike". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
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