Beatriz Martinez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chandler High School for AZPreps365.com. 

Juma Kashanda was 9 years old when he moved from Tanzania, Africa to Chandler, Arizona. Although having never played on an organized American football team before his freshman year at Chandler High School, Kashanda earned a starting cornerback position his senior year.

Kashanda and his family moved to the U.S. as refugees in 2014. His father Pierre Kazinguvu and mother Maria Wilondja wanted their children to have access to a better education system and an easier life. 

“Life in the U.S. is better than the life I had in Congo and Tanzania,” Kazinguvu said. “Here I have a good paying job so I’m able to provide for my family. The schools here are also better for my kids.”

His parents lived in Congo then moved to Tanzania where they had Kashanda and his two younger brothers. 

According to the World Bank in DCR, Congo is among the five poorest nations in the world and has a high crime rate in contrast to Tanzania being the sixth safest country in Africa.

During Kashanda’s eighth grade year, he went to his first Chandler football game and it was something he had never seen before. 

“The stadium was just crazy,” Kashanda said. “It was packed, everybody was yelling and it was just a good environment.”

However, that’s not what influenced his decision to become a Wolf.

His uncle Idi Kazinguvu has always been an inspiration throughout Kashanda’s life. He included Kashanda in all of his club soccer practices since he was 11 years old. 

“Idi went to Chandler and played soccer for them,” Kashanda said. “That’s really why I decided to go to Chandler and I think a lot of people were expecting me to play soccer, because of him.”

Kashanda played soccer from the age of five till his sophomore year. He never imagined football becoming his new passion. 

“My love for soccer just wasn’t there anymore,” Kashanda said. “It got boring and I felt like I didn’t even have to go to practice. My love shifted towards football.” 

Kashanda said he never watched college or professional football games, all he knew was “streetball” which was playing football on the gravel road outside of his home.  

“I’ve always played streetball,” Kashanda said. “When we play football, it's a two-hand touch but some people get a little too aggressive and tackle and I happen to be one of those guys.”

It took Kashanda about one entire season to learn how to properly put on shoulder pads. 

“For the first year my coach would put them on for me,” Kashanda said. “Towards the end of my freshman year I sort of learned but even now sometimes I’ll go find my coach and ask him to help me.”

Kashanda played four different positions throughout his first three seasons: running back, linebacker, safety and cornerback. He earned an honorable mention from the 2022 All Chandler Unified School District Team, recording 43 tackles.

Juma Kashanda tackling an opponent from Casteel High School in Queen Creek. (Photo: Liebrock Photography)

“It’s been a challenge the last three years just understanding the smallest details of the game,” Kashanda said. “I put a lot of my time into studying the game and staying after practice with my position coach. This is actually my first time playing cornerback position and I love it.”

In the summer leading up to his senior football season, Kashanda broke his hand during a 7-on-7 tournament game at the University of Arizona. He tripped and got his hand stepped on, requiring a six-to-eight week recovery but he didn’t let that put an end to his season. 

“Juma had a great tournament,” Chandler varsity cornerback coach Derrick Richardson said. “He broke his hand and was still fighting to get back in so he ended up finishing the game with a broken hand. Even all summer, he had his hand bandaged up and we were still getting work in, that’s how much of a fighter he is.”

Richardson has spent a lot of time getting to know Kashanda considering he trains him year round, coaching him in the winter for track season. He admires Kashanda ‘s desire to be the best football player he can be. 

“He has a heart and spirit of gold,” Richardson said. “He is one of the greatest kids you’ll ever meet. He’s always trying to get better. Even when I’m like ugh, Juma I’m trying to stay home, he’s always asking for extra work. I work 9-to-5 and even on my lunch breaks we’d come out and do about an hour of footwork, hand drills and eye progressions.”

In the summer Kashanda was informed that the team was short in cornerbacks and was willing to play wherever they needed him to play. 

Having an established position, Kashanda knew he had to put extra work in to improve his skills and his football IQ. 

Safeties coach Michael Underwood has been coaching Kashanda for three years and has gained a lot of insight on who he is. 

“If I were to describe Juma in one word it would be dedication,” Underwood said. “He’s dedicated to being the best player he can be. He likes to be coached hard, and he wants to learn.”

Underwood has an open-door policy at his house and Kashanda takes full advantage of the opportunity to gain knowledge on the sport and his game. 

“He’ll just come over and walk in my door and he’ll ask if we can watch film,” Underwood said. “He’s constantly all over it, he’s just a real good kid.”

However, Kashanda wasn’t too fond of Underwood when he first met him. 

“I actually didn’t like him,” Kashanda said laughing. “We were playing Perry and we were losing and he started yelling at everybody. The following week, JV and freshman had the same practice and I was guarding one of his receivers and I broke up the ball but my technique wasn’t good. Then he started yelling at me and I’m like man, I can’t deal with this dude.”

Over time, he and Underwood formed a close relationship and he became a father figure on the field for Kashanda. 

Playing a leadership role comes naturally to Kashanda being that he’s the oldest of four siblings. 

“I feel like it’s just my personality,” Kashanda said. “It’s just how my parents raised me. When I see my corners messing around I know it all starts with me.”

One of his good friends is teammate Carter Riojas, who also plays cornerback. Riojas said he views Kashanda as his brother, friend and trainer.

From left to right: Carter Riojas, Andereya Junior Nsubuga, Charles Ennis Jr. and Juma Kashanda.” (Photo: Juma Kashanda)

“He (Kashanda) really elevated my game my junior year,” Riojas said. “He’s always working so I always come along and get some work in with him.”

Riojas labels Kashanda as the “dad” of the group because he’s always holding others accountable. 

“He’s always telling us if we mess up,” Riojas said. “He’s a hard worker in the classroom, on the field and outside of school too. He always makes sure we’re on the right track.”

Kashanda has received an athletic scholarship from Westminster College but the doors for other opportunities remain open as playoffs for the Wolves is currently underway.

Chandler High takes on the Bears at Basha High School at 6 p.m. on Saturday for the semifinals. Last year, Saguaro put an end to the Wolves five-year state championship reign in the open finals.