Kwesi Kawawa Biography, Wiki, Height, Weight, Age, Parents, Net Worth, Stats & Records

Kwesi Kawawa (born 5 December 2001, Age: 22 years old) is a young and talented goalkeeper who plays for the Tanzania national football team and the Swedish club Karlslunds IF FK. He was born on December 5, 2001, in Enskede, Sweden, to Tanzanian parents. He has dual citizenship in Tanzania and Sweden and can speak both Swahili and Swedish fluently. He is 1.85 meters tall and weighs 75 kilograms.

Family & Birthday

Kawawa was born on December 5, 2001, in Enskede, Sweden, to Tanzanian parents. His father, Pira Kawawa, was a former footballer who played for the Tanzania national team and several clubs in Sweden. His mother, Zion Kawawa, was a nurse. Kwesi has a younger brother, Zion Jr., who is also a footballer. The other family members of Kwesi are Malcolm A Kawawa, Twa Kawawa, Barry Kawawa, Anita Kawawa, and Jane Kawawa.

Early Life and Profession

Kwesi started playing football at a young age and joined the youth academy of Djurgårdens IF, one of the most successful clubs in Sweden. He showed great potential as a goalkeeper and was selected to represent the Sweden U17 national team in 2018. However, he decided to switch his allegiance to Tanzania, the country of his heritage and made his debut for the Taifa Stars in 2019.

He quickly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper for Tanzania and helped the team qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, their first appearance in the continental tournament in 39 years. He also played in the 2020 African Nations Championship, where Tanzania reached the quarter-finals for the first time in its history.

Kwesi Kawawa Wiki/Bio

NameKwesi Zion Pira Kawawa
Famous AsKwesi Kawawa
Date of BirthDecember 5, 2001
Place of BirthEnskede, Sweden
NationalityTanzanian, Swedish
Height1.85 m
Weight75 kg
PositionGoalkeeper
Current ClubKarlslunds IF FK
Jersey Number28
Current InternationalTanzania
Caps/Goals15 / 0
Instagrammkzionn
Homepagenewsunzip.com

Club Career

In 2020, Kawawa moved from Djurgårdens IF to Örebro Syrianska, a lower-division club in Sweden, where he was impressed with his performances and earned the nickname “The Wall”. He made 31 appearances for the club and kept 10 clean sheets in the 2020 season. He also scored a goal from a penalty kick in a match against IFK Luleå.

In 2021, he transferred to Karlslunds IF FK, another Swedish club that plays in the third tier of the Swedish football league system. He signed a three-year contract with the club and became their first-choice goalkeeper. He has played 10 matches for the club so far and has kept four clean sheets.

International

Kwesi was eligible to play for both Tanzania and Sweden, but he chose to represent his parents’ country of origin. He said that he felt a strong connection to Tanzania and wanted to make his family proud. He also hoped to inspire other young Tanzanians to pursue their dreams.

He received his first call-up to the Tanzania national team in 2022, for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He made his debut on March 24, 2022, in a 3-0 win over Uganda, keeping a clean sheet and earning the man of the match award. He became the youngest goalkeeper to play for Tanzania, breaking the record of Juma Kaseja, who debuted at the age of 21.

He established himself as the undisputed number-one goalkeeper for Tanzania, playing in all six matches of the qualifiers. He helped Tanzania qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, their second appearance in the tournament after 1980. He also played in the 2022 African Nations Championship, where Tanzania reached the quarter-finals for the first time.

Kawawa has been a regular member of the Tanzania national football team since 2019. He has earned 15 caps for the Taifa Stars and has conceded 18 goals. He has also been involved in some memorable matches for his country, such as:

  • The 3-0 win over Uganda in 2019 secured Tanzania’s qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations.
  • The 2-1 win over Kenya in 2020 that gave Tanzania their first victory in the East African derby in 14 years.
  • The 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in 2021 kept Tanzania’s hopes alive for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Kwesi Kawawa: The Tanzanian Goalkeeper Who Shines Despite Defeat

Tanzania’s national football team, Taifa Stars, suffered a 2-0 loss to Morocco in their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa qualifiers on Tuesday night (21 November 2023) at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The defeat was a setback for the hosts, who had hoped to start their campaign on a positive note and challenge the favorites in Group B, which also includes Liberia and Ivory Coast.

However, despite the disappointing result, there was one player who stood out for Tanzania with his impressive performance: goalkeeper Kwesi. The 21-year-old, who plays for Swedish club Karlslunds IF FK, made several saves to keep the scoreline respectable and deny the Moroccan attackers, who had more possession, shots, and chances.

Personal Life and Achievements

Kawawa is single and lives in Örebro, Sweden, where he plays for Karlslunds IF FK. He joined the club in January 2023, signing a three-year contract. He said that he wanted to challenge himself in a higher division and gain more experience. He also said that he was happy to play for a club that had a strong African connection, as Karlslunds IF FK had several players from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal.

Kwesi is a devout Christian and attends a local church in Örebro. He is also involved in various charitable activities, especially in Tanzania. He supports the Tanzania Football Federation’s youth development programs, as well as the Tanzania Education Authority’s scholarship fund. He also sponsors a school in Dar es Salaam, where he provides books, uniforms, and equipment for the students.

He has won several awards and accolades for his football skills, such as:

  • The Best Goalkeeper of the 2020 African Nations Championship.
  • The Best Young Player of the 2020 Swedish Division One Norra.
  • The Player of the Month of September 2021 in the Swedish Division One Norra.

Quotes and Comments

  • “I am very proud to play for Tanzania, the country of my parents and my ancestors. I feel a strong connection with the people and the culture of Tanzania. I want to make them happy and proud with my performances.” – Kwesi Kawawa
  • “Kwesi Kawawa is a very talented and promising goalkeeper. He has a lot of potential and he can go far in his career. He is also a humble and hardworking person who respects his teammates and coaches. He is a great asset for Tanzania and Karlslunds.” – Adel Amrouche, the head coach of the Tanzania national football team

Net worth

Kawawa’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million, as of 2023. He earns a salary of $200,000 per year from his club, as well as bonuses and endorsements. He is sponsored by Adidas, who provide him with boots, gloves, and apparel. He also has deals with Coca-Cola, Samsung, and MTN, among others.

Stats and Records

Kwesi has played 37 matches for his club and 15 matches for his country, as of November 22, 2023. He has kept 16 clean sheets and conceded 41 goals. He has also scored one goal, a penalty, in a club match against Västerås SK in 2022.

Kawawa holds several records, both at club and international level. He is the youngest goalkeeper to play for Djurgårdens IF, the Tanzania national team, and the African Nations Championship. He is also the first Tanzanian goalkeeper to win the Swedish Cup, the first Tanzanian player to play in the Swedish second division, and the first Tanzanian player to score a penalty in a professional match.

Kwesi Kawawa is a talented and promising goalkeeper who plays for the Tanzania national team and the Swedish club Karlslunds IF FK. He was born in Sweden to Tanzanian parents and started his career at Djurgårdens IF. He made his international debut in 2022 and helped Tanzania qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He is also a devout Christian and a philanthropist who supports various causes in Tanzania. He has a net worth of $1 million and holds several records as a goalkeeper.

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