In-depth with Charlton defender Nathan Asiimwe – how pal Karoy Anderson acts as role model and position switch paid off

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Nathan Asiimwe has talked about how his rock-solid friendship with Karoy Anderson has helped drive his own development and progression at Charlton Athletic.

The two teenagers, both 18, have been part of the Addicks’ first-team fold this season with Asiimwe, following an impressive pre-season, starting the League One campaign at right-back.

Both he and Anderson have been developed by the club’s academy and risen through the ranks together.

Asiimwe joined the Addicks at the age of nine, scout Stefan Dixon noticing his talent in kickabouts at Rockbourne Youth Club in Forest Hill.

Both Asiimwe and Anderson debuted at the same time – with the former setting up the latter’s goal in an EFL Trophy defeat at Plymouth Argyle in November 2022.

And they were once again inseparable when they made their senior league bows in the League One opener against Leyton Orient in March.

With Anderson winning his first international cap for Jamaica earlier this month, you have to wonder whether Ugandan-born Asiimwe will soon be following suit.

“I’m very proud,” Asiimwe told the South London Press, when asked about Anderson’s latest achievement. “Things change so fast in football – time flies.

“When we were little and playing here you don’t really think what is possible – about who you will play for and which country. It’s crazy but I’m happy for him, of course. It is the things we work towards and goals we set for each other.

“He has the characteristics, not just as a player but as a person, with his mentality and drive, to make it to the very top – no doubt.

“He has always been special and a different type of player, that’s why he has been one step ahead. He’s been a good role model for me. We’re the same age and he is someone to work off.

“That’s how it has always been, since U9s. Karoy would play up an age group and I’d look at that and think ‘I need to work hard so I can play up as well’. We bounce off each other. I guess it is why we’ve broken through at the same time. We’ve always wanted to be one step ahead of the rest.”

Asiimwe started the first six League One matches and played the full 90 minutes in all of them.

A torn quad muscle sidelined him and since returning he made four substitute appearances with Tennai Watson, signed late in the summer transfer window, fit and available, before starting Tuesday’s 3-1 loss at Lincoln.

But no matter how the remainder of this season pans out for Asiimwe, who was raised in both Sydenham and Forest Hill before relocating to Ashford around 16, he is already grateful for the experience gained in men’s football.

“It was a massive step because it was only a couple of months ago that I signed my professional contract and I was playing in the U18s,” he said.

“Coming back into pre-season I thought I would be a regular in the U21s.

“Being in the first-team wasn’t really at the forefront of my mind.

“Obviously I was ready, if they needed me to play sometimes, but I didn’t think it would be how it was.

“When I came in you have to adjust quickly and realise ‘okay, the chance is actually there’. You have to try and take it – which we both did.

“I tried to stay as consistent as possible. There was a little bit of a mistake at the end of the Port Vale game which I was upset about but it hasn’t really thrown me off. I’ve still tried to show my worth to the team.

“Since the new gaffer has come in it is even more motivation, because it is a clean slate and I need to prove myself again.

“I had a setback with the injury for a couple of weeks, which wasn’t ideal, but now I’m getting back into the groove of things.”

Asiimwe won the Professional Development League 2 South title with the U18s and the 2023 London Senior Cup with the U21s. But in terms of a career highlight, he selects that 1-0 victory over the O’s in front of a Valley crowd of 18,512.

“The league start was the biggest one, especially as I was starting on the same side as Karoy,” said Asiimwe. “It made everything more special. It was the first game of the season and I didn’t expect to start it. When I got the news I was buzzing.

“At home, in front of our fans – expecting a result – there was so much pressure around the game.

“Since we were younger names on the teamsheet you know some people would think ‘who are they, the ones starting? Let’s see what they have got’. I’d like to think me and Karoy did that on the day.

“It was a big moment for me. When you walk out and see all the fans it is unbelievable. I saw a documentary the other day, David Beckham’s one, and Rio Ferdinand said if you could bottle the feeling and sell it then you would be so rich. You can’t explain that feeling.

“The first time is special. We had a lot of games that month, back to back to back, so you slowly get used to it and it becomes more natural.

“I suppose the higher we progress in our career there will always be another game with more pressure, like if we make the play-offs this year or high-profile FA Cup games would be as well. There is always a game that means more.”

It was Daniel Gill, youth development lead coach, who converted Asiimwe to full-back.

“When I came into the academy I was playing in a forward role, as a winger and even sometimes in midfield,” said Asiimwe.

“That was until U13s and then one of the coaches decided I should drop down and become a full-back – that it would be a good position for me. At the time, because I wanted to be attacking, I wasn’t really happy with it.

“Eventually I started revising the role, getting used to it and trying to better myself.

“Gilly told me I’d be a good full-back – that I was big and strong. He was also encouraging me to get forward as well, telling me there are two sides to being a full-back, it’s not all about defending – like you think it is.

“The modern full-back gets forward as well and helps the team in those areas. You can do a bit of both. I took the challenge.”

“I had to improve on my fitness as well. When you are young it doesn’t really matter – the pitches are not as big and you haven’t got to cover that much distance.

“As you get older and go into U16s, U18s and U21s then fitness is big, especially at full-back. Over time I’ve improved that.

“Initially when I came to Charlton it felt similar to the youth club – because no-one was signed then. People came in wearing their own kit. It wasn’t really serious, serious.

“But once you get into the academy and start growing up, you realise more and more that the competition gets better and better. People get released and new people come in. It’s a good experience coming through it.”

Asiimwe’s short-term goals are simple.

“To be involved in as many games as I can,” he said. “There are a lot of matches left this season and we have a big squad – hopefully I can keep myself in and around it and try not to drop back down to the U21s.

“I want to stay here. I don’t want to go on loan. I want to keep proving myself and hopefully get back in the starting 11.”

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