Abel Dhaira

Abel Dhaira (9 September 1987 – 27 March 2016) was an Ugandan professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He capped 13 times for the Uganda national team.

Dhaira played club football in Uganda, the Congo and Iceland for Express, URA, AS Vita (whom he joined in December 2009 for US$22,000) and ÍBV. He was released by Tanzanian club Simba SC in December 2013.

Dhaira made his international debut for Uganda in 2009. He won three CECAFA Cups in 2009, 2011 and 2012. At the 2012 CECAFA Cup he was hospitalised following a collision with an opposition player.

In 2015, Dhaira was diagnosed with abdominal cancer and underwent surgery in Uganda in December the same year. He returned to Iceland in January 2016 where he underwent further medical treatment. However, the cancer had spread throughout his body and on 27 March 2016, he died from the illness at The National University Hospital of Iceland, at the age of 28.

Uganda

• CECAFA Cup: 2009, 2011, 2012