Chima Uzoka

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Chima Uzoka

|fullname = Chima Venida Uzoka{{cite web|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/chima-uzoka/82622/|title=Chima Uzoka - Soccer player profile & career statistics|website=Global Sports Archive|accessdate=4 April 2022}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|6|12|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria

|height = 6 ft 3 in

|position = Forward

|currentclub = Cebu

|clubnumber = 17

|collegeyears1 = 2016

|college1 = National University

|collegecaps1 =

|collegegoals1 =

|years1 = 2016–2017

|clubs1 = Green Archers United

|caps1 =

|goals1=

|years2 = 2017–2018

|clubs2 = Ilocos United

|caps2 = 18

|goals2 = 8

|years3 = 2018

|clubs3 = Global Cebu

|caps3 = 4

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2018

|clubs4 = Chainat Hornbill

|caps4 = 1

|goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2019

|clubs5 = Stallion Laguna

|caps5 = 2

|goals5 = 3

|years6 = 2019

|clubs6 = Global Makati

|caps6 = 8

|goals6 = 1

|years7 = 2020

|clubs7 = Azkals Development Team

|caps7 = 3

|goals7 = 2

|years8 = 2022–

|clubs8 = Cebu

|caps8 = 20

|goals8 = 13

|nationalyears1 = 2015

|nationalteam1 = Philippines U19

|nationalcaps1 = 2

|nationalgoals1 = 0

|nationalyears2 = 2019

|nationalteam2 = Philippines U23

|nationalcaps2 = 4

|nationalgoals2 = 0

|club-update = 13:55; 6 October 2024 (UTC)

|nationalteam-update = 13:55; 4 April 2022 (UTC)

}}

Chima Venida Uzoka (born 12 June 1998) is a Filipino professional footballer who plays as a forward for Philippines Football League club Cebu.

Early and personal life

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, to a Nigerian father from Lagos State and a Filipina mother, Uzoka attended National University, where he began his football career.{{cite news|last1=Guerrero|first1=Bob|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/159974-uaap-season-79-football-preview-maroons-tough-title-defense/|title=UAAP 79 football preview: UP Maroons face tough title defense|publisher=Rappler|date=30 January 2017|accessdate=4 April 2022}} His brother Kennedy was an under-23 international for the Philippines.

Club career

=Green Archers United=

While playing in the UAAP, Uzoka as well was playing for Green Archers United in the United Football League (UFL).{{cite news|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/06/18/sports/kaya-archers-clash-in-ufl-today/268559|title=Kaya, Archers clash in UFL today|publisher=The Manila Times|date=18 June 2016|accessdate=4 April 2022}}

=Ilocos United=

In 2017, Uzoka joined newly founded Philippines Football League club Ilocos United.{{cite news|last1=Co|first1=Adrian Stewart|url=https://www.panaynews.net/meralco-blanks-davao-to-stay-unbeaten-in-pfl/|title=Meralco blanks Davao to stay unbeaten in PFL|publisher=Panay News|date=5 June 2017|accessdate=4 April 2022}} They played in the inaugural season in 2017 before it was dissolved in January 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/194004-ilocos-united-pfl-league-withdraws/|title=Ilocos United FC becomes second PFL team to withdraw from league|publisher=Rappler|date=18 January 2018}}{{cite news|last1=del Carmen|first1=Lorenzo|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/ilocos-united-takes-leave-pfl/106111|title=Ilocos United takes leave from PFL|publisher=Tiebreaker Times|date=18 January 2018|accessdate=4 April 2022}}

=Global Cebu=

Uzoka then joined Global Cebu.{{cite news|last1=Abcede|first1=JP|url=https://www.dugout.ph/2018/01/davao-cebu-make-transfer-moves.html|title=Davao, Cebu make transfer moves|publisher=Dugout Philippines|date=20 January 2018|accessdate=4 April 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/416605/global-cebu-inks-uzoka|title=Global Cebu inks Uzoka|publisher=SunStar Cebu|date=31 January 2018|accessdate=4 April 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/162141/key-signings-boost-global-cebu-roster|title=Key signings boost Global Cebu roster|publisher=Cebu Daily News|date=31 January 2018|accessdate=4 April 2022}}

=Chainat Hornbill=

In 2018, Uzoka signed for Thai side Chainat Hornbill.{{Cite web|url=https://5thminuteofaddedtime.wordpress.com/2019/02/08/azkals-midfielder-adam-reed-joins-thai-league1-club-chainat-hornbill/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210119054052/https://5thminuteofaddedtime.wordpress.com/2019/02/08/azkals-midfielder-adam-reed-joins-thai-league1-club-chainat-hornbill/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2021-01-19|title=Azkals midfielder Adam Reed joins Thai League 1 club Chainat Hornbill}}

=Stallion Laguna=

Uzoka returned to the Philippines and joined Stallion Laguna.{{cite news|url=https://www.bworldonline.com/pfl-kaya-races-to-third-win-in-a-row-stallion-routs-mendiola/|title=PFL: Kaya races to third win in a row; Stallion routs Mendiola|publisher=Business World|date=16 June 2019|accessdate=4 April 2022}}{{cite news|last1=Co|first1=Adrian Stewart|url=https://www.panaynews.net/ph-football-league-stallion-laguna-wallops-mendiola/|title=PH Football League: Stallion Laguna wallops Mendiola|publisher=Panay News|date=19 June 2019|accessdate=4 April 2022}}

=Return to Global Makati=

After a short stint with Stallion Laguna, Uzoka returned to his former club Global Makati.{{cite news|last1=Saldajeno|first1=Ivan Stewart|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1080244|title=Air Force drubs Global Makati in midweek PFL action|work=Philippine News Agency|date=11 September 2019|accessdate=4 April 2022}}

=Azkals Development Team=

Before the 2020 Philippines Football League, he signed for Azkals Development Team in the Philippines, playing in three games for ADT in the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 season and scoring a brace against Mendiola FC 1991 in a 5–0 victory.{{ cite news |last=Morilla |first=Juro |date=November 6, 2020 |title=Azkals Development Team snatches 2nd PFL victory over Maharlika |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/football/game-results-azkals-development-team-maharlika-fc-november-6-2020/ |work=Rappler |accessdate=March 31, 2022 }}

=Dynamic Herb Cebu=

In March 31, 2022, Dynamic Herb Cebu announced the signing of Uzoka for the 2022 Philippines Football League season.{{cite news|last1=Aznar|first1=Edri|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1925398/cebu/sports/cebu-fc-adds-three-turkish-players-to-roster|title=Cebu FC adds three Turkish players to roster|publisher=SunStar Cebu|date=2 April 2022|accessdate=4 April 2022}}

International career

Uzoka is eligible to represent either Philippines or Nigeria at international level through his parents.

=Philippines U19=

Uzoka was called up to the Philippines under-19 team for the 2015 AFF U-19 Youth Championship in Laos.{{cite web|url=http://www.aseanfootball.org/results/2015-AFF_U19_CHAMPIONSHIP-Team_Name_Lists.pdf|title=Final Registration of Players and Officials|publisher=ASEAN Football Federation|accessdate=4 April 2022}} He made his debut in a 4−1 defeat to Thailand.{{cite web|url=https://www.aseanfootball.org/results/2015-AFF_U19_CHAMPIONSHIP-MatchSummary-010.pdf|title=AFF U19 Championship Match Summary 010|publisher=ASEAN Football Federation|accessdate=4 April 2022}}

=Philippines U23=

Uzoka was part of the Philippines squad for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games on home soil,{{cite web|url=https://pff.org.ph/2019/11/24/philippines-mens-under-22-national-team-gears-up-for-the-30th-southeast-asian-games/|title=Philippines Men's Under-22 National Team Gears Up For The 30th Southeast Asian Games|website=Philippine Football Federation|date=24 November 2019|accessdate=4 April 2022}}{{cite news|url=http://huddleph.com/2019/11/20/young-azkals-take-shape-for-sea-games-as-23-man-squad-finalized/|title=Young Azkals take shape for SEA Games as 23-man squad finalized|publisher=Huddle PH|date=20 November 2019|accessdate=4 April 2022}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Cambodia.{{cite news|last1=Agcaoili|first1=Lance|url=https://www.spin.ph/multisport/sea-games/philippine-under-22-football-team-azkals-cambodia-draw-sea-games-2019-dennis-chung-a2522-20191125|title=Dennis Chung to the rescue as PH U22 Azkals salvage draw vs Cambodia in debut|publisher=SPIN PH|date=25 November 2019|accessdate=4 April 2022}}