• Uganda Cranes defender Aziz Kayondo has opened up about his harrowing experience in Israel during a series of bomb attacks shortly after signing with Hapoel Tel Aviv.
  • Now playing for Slovan Liberec in the Czech Republic, Kayondo reflects on this as one of the most frightening moments of his professional journey.

Uganda Cranes left back Aziz Kayondo has shared his experiences from his time in the Middle East while playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. In a recent TV appearance on Spark TV, Kayondo mentioned that he has played professionally in various countries but found his experience in Israel to be the most difficult.

This was largely due to the country’s unstable situation, often embroiled in conflicts with neighboring nations like Iran, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen. Kayondo explained that he had just arrived and hadn’t even had the chance to play before turmoil broke out.

He recalled being in his apartment when the sirens began blaring loudly. At first, he didn’t pay much attention since he was new and unsure about what was happening, until his landlord came to get him and took him to a bunker for safety.

After some time, he returned to his room to watch a Premier League match but was startled when the sirens sounded again, followed by bombs hitting the vicinity. He described the experience as so intense that the buildings around him were shaking.

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“My journey as a professional footballer has led me to various countries with their own unique challenges, but the most daunting experience was in Israel. I had just arrived, hadn’t gotten accustomed to the environment, and hadn’t yet played with my team.”

“There are alarms that alert locals to possible danger, and initially, I ignored them until my landlord came to fetch me and brought me to a safe location. After a few hours, I went back to my room to catch a Manchester United match. Unfortunately, the alarms went off again, and this time bombs were falling, causing the entire building to shake. It was incredibly frightening, and the games were put on hold, leaving everything at a standstill,” he recounted.

Aziz Kayondo is currently with Czechoslovakian club Slovan Liberec, where he has been since 2024.

Additionally, he has played for several other teams, including Vipers SC in Uganda, Real Monarchs, Leganes B, and MFK Vyskov.