The explosion scene was him seeing in the future. I guess waking up meant that he was going to change the present to avoid the nuclear blast.
In July 2018, Uganda Premier League (UPL) signed a 10-year broadcasting contract worth 27 billion Uganda shillings with Star times TV.
The contract seemed to be of very little value but UPL couldn’t negotiate for more because they didn’t have a lot to offer in terms of value.
Its 1st July 2028, UPL needs to search for a new sponsor because Star times has decided not to renew their broadcasting and league naming rights contract after 10 years of slow growth.
In 2028, Football globally has made huge strides. Back in 2019, the competition for Ugandan football was foreign football on TV.
Now the competition is that English Premier League (EPL) matches can be hosted in African countries with better infrastructure like South Africa.
Football clubs are run in an amateur football set up, actually worse than amateur because some corporate league teams are administered way better than most clubs in UPL.
UPL can’t have the league kicking off in August because clubs aren’t ready for an August kick-off, some clubs have to make up their minds on where they will host league matches.
UPL fixtures can’t be released early because clubs can’t honor the deadlines set for supervision to be granted a license to play in the league.
UPL clubs don’t have an active website and social media handles to keep fans engaged during the season and off-season, less fan engagement means fewer numbers which doesn’t sound good for the broadcasting and naming rights sponsor.
The majority of UPL clubs don’t honor contracts but go unpunished by UPL and the federation.
Not honoring contracts reduces the number of quality human resource working with clubs.
Without a quality human resource, it’s impossible to improve any institution.
Almost all UPL clubs don’t have a strategic plan to cater to what has to be achieved in the future.
If any strategic plan exists, then it’s on paper without any action because the supervision is extremely weak.
UPL Clubs haven’t been creative enough to get match day venues that offer comfort to fans, the majority of fans decide to stay away because they’d rather sit at home to watch foreign football.
IF any UPL matches are on TV then quality is extremely poor because the venues used for matches can’t enable good broadcasting angles.
The other reason for poor quality matches is because the product is of very low standards.
UPL has Star times and Pilsner lager as sponsors/partners but struggles to show value for sponsorship because in Uganda we still treat sponsorship as donations.
Time is the greatest currency, with nine years left on the current broadcasting contract. The work done in that period will determine how valuable UPL’s broadcasting rights will be in 2028.
After 10 years of wasted time, I hope we wake up because it’s actually July 2019.
When the Uganda Cubs (U-17 men’s national team) qualified to play at the 2019 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by lifting the CECAFA U17 trophy in 2018, the team was coached by Peter Onen (a Ugandan).
Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) decided to hunt for a coach and settled for Fabian Kwesi from Ghana.
Fabian Kwesi’s appointment was welcomed by ‘senior’ Ugandan coaches going on social media to complain about his appointment, apparently, they deserved a chance to coach the national team.
FUFA in their defense said they headhunted for a coach with experience of qualifying a team to the FUFA U17 World cup. With the 2019 AFCON U17 tournament being used as the event for world cup qualifiers.
The task ahead was qualifying for semifinals then a slot would be guaranteed to play in Brazil. Story short, Uganda Cubs didn’t qualify under the guidance of Fabian Kwesi who also hired a fellow Ghanaian to be the fitness coach for the Cubs.
WHERE DO COACHES IN UGANDA GET IT WRONG?
Asking for a chance to coach the national team without showcasing what you can do is more like entitlement, I am Ugandan, I deserve the job doesn’t work in football.
The coaches complaining about deserving the job ahead of a foreigner have never had experience handling U17 players. There’s a huge difference between coaching young players in the top flight league and coaching U17 players but don’t tell that to a coach in Uganda, to them football coaching is general.
Ahead of the 2017-18 football season, which includes FUFA Juniors’ League (FJL) FIFA sent a youth football instructor to Uganda.
He conducted a Youth Member Associations coaching course to teach coaches how to handle young players. FUFA requested each UPL club to send two coaches for training, some clubs sent only one coach while others didn’t show up.
I would expect any coach interested in coaching youth players to show up but that’s the mentality of coaches in Uganda. Gaining knowledge or going through the process of unlearning to relearn new trends in football coaching is a problem for coaches in Uganda.
Ignoring that course had a lot to do with that but they expect to coach a U17 National team in 2019.
When Tanzania hosted the 2018 CECAFA U17 tournament, an interested coach should have been in Tanzania to observe what the Uganda cubs went through, they should have acquired footage (should be very easy these days) of all regional qualifiers then present to FUFA how they would pull off world cup qualification.
A busy coach would have hired an analyst to help them do opposition analysis but a coach in Uganda finds investing (paying for knowledge acquisition) in themselves as offensive.
The majority of football coaches in Uganda will walk into a training session without planning ahead.
They plan a training session as it goes on so they expect to plan U17 world cup qualification during qualifiers. Hint: U17 World cup qualification starts at working with U15 players two years prior to the qualification. Good luck expecting someone that can’t plan a day’s training session planning for two years.
Youth football has U-17, U-20 and in some rare cases U-23. It’s a specialized area of coaching in football.
A coach has to earn badges in normal football coaching then get specialized education in youth football to practice as a youth coach.
It’s only in Uganda where we think that being a senior coach automatically guarantees you the ability to coach youth players. Sorry!!!!!!
YOUTH FOOTBALL VS SENIOR FOOTBALL.
Youth football requires working and following a set syllabus for coaching the players to learn while senior football has a lot to do with solving problems in a previous match.
Example: If a U17 team is being coached how to break down a compact defense by effective use of wing play, this lesson might last three months. All matches that happen during that period will have the coach place emphasis on whether players are able to transfer what is being taught into the matches played.
Success will be rated in that particular area. Should the team play a match and have problems with attacking and defending set-pieces then no need to panic because the time for that will show up. In Senior football, every problem is documented and broken down as team problems, group/unit/line problems, and individual problems.
Corrections are usually done in the days after the match. In most cases, clubs will need to sign players because they need to succeed instantly (the pressure too)
Youth football requires using all players by giving all players an equal amount of playing time because it’s the only way they can all be assessed fairly because playing a match is best and perhaps the only way to gain experience.
During the league (FJL) if a club has registered three goalkeepers then a schedule has to be drawn on how all the three goalkeepers will be used during the season.
Senior football requires having the best players on the pitch as much as possible although in the modern era, teams using fringe players for cup matches to keep them active throughout the season.
If coaches in Uganda want to coach the national team(s) they need to invest in acquiring knowledge then build competent coaching teams to work better. For now, Fabian Kwesi is more than welcome.
Disclaimer:
The writer is a football coach in Uganda and doesn’t have anything against
‘senior’ coaches.
In February 2019, an image of the 1995 Uganda league table was shared on social media. In this image, the league had 15 teams, 11 of the 15 clubs were institutional teams.
The PodcastAn image of the 1995 top flight league table in Uganda showing the number of institutional owned clubs.
Back then, institutions injected funds into football because they had the capacity to pay salaries and handle other costs that come with playing the league.
These institutions must have relied on tax payer’s money, something you can’t rely on upon forever to fund football.
Fast forward to 2019, only KCCA FC among the 11 institutional clubs that played in the 1995 league is still active.
Considering that Uganda’s budget was generally funded by donors and some taxes (I stand to be corrected) they were sane enough to ensure that money allocated from the budget doesn’t end up as recurring expenses in football.
The other 10 clubs have since closed shop because they didn’t have funds to operate a football club in the league.
The 2018-19 UPL season had seven institutional clubs. Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Police, Maroons, Ndejje University, Kirinya Jinja SS, Bidco (BUL) and Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) in addition to those clubs in the top flight, Plascon, Army (UPDF) and Water FC are other institution teams in the second-tier league.
It’s shocking that 10 institutions exited football years ago but a separate group of institutional clubs are still active in football. Have they researched why the other institutions exited?
Institutions
had the funds to operate football clubs because government expenditure wasn’t
monitored and football was amateur. Let me stick to the amateur football
explanation for the rest of the article.
Amateur football doesn’t care how much revenue you make, all you need is to show up and play. The organization is basic too, all you need is a committee of volunteers earning allowances to do whatever has to be done.
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
Football is now professional, not fully in Uganda but at least it’s starting to paint the picture of being professional.
Professionalism comes with its demands. You have to EMPLOY the RIGHT people; you need a corporate governance module to ensure self-sustainability and the other basics that come with being professional.
In football, the challenges of being professional are much more demanding because a club is expected to spend according to how much money it makes from football-related activities.
KCCA FC has
done very well to start its journey to self-sustainability, they have employed
the right people and managed to attract sponsorship that funds almost 60% of
the club’s budget.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER INSTITUTIONAL CLUBS?
As football in Uganda continues on the journey to professionalism, the other institutional clubs will drop out of football because they have struggled to do the basics of football management.
Starting with employing the right people that work full time to make the club professional.
Maroons will give you reasons for borrowing a playing kit from KCCA FC but no sane mind would entertain that excuse.
There are plenty of examples in which institution clubs have struggled to show the kind of organization expected out of them. When Police FC hosted Paidha Black Angels (PBA) at Lugogo, the match was stopped at a certain point after a PBA fan threw objects at the assistant referee, officially the stop was recorded as a water break while the offender was dealt with swiftly. Is that security lacking at a Police match or a case of the offender being daring?
URA FC is
working on employees wearing jerseys as a sign to support the club but by the
time a person joins URA as an employee at an average age of 25, good luck
turning them into supporters.
Police FC had merchandise to sell for the 2018-19 UPL season, on inquiry, a customer needed to move to Naguru to buy a Police FC branded cup/flask.
Was it possible to have those cups available in every police post to make it easier for buyers? I am not a marketing expert but neither am I moving to Naguru for a flask I can easily get next door.
In the 2017-18 UPL season, Stanbic Bank donated (lack of a better word) money to support Maroons then for the 2018-19 season, Centenary bank donated money to support Police FC.
Those two banks don’t appear on playing kits. Have those two clubs attempted to find out why a corporate company is willing to give them money but not appear on their jerseys?
SOLUTIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL CLUBS
KCCA FC is
able to attract sponsorship revenue because they have a combination of
pedigree, fan base and organized at the moment. Apart from the name, they have
tried to be independent of their mother body.
URA, Police, Ndejje University, Kirinya Jinja SS and the rest can attract sponsorship revenue by changing football team names.
Let’s use an example of URA FC since they already have land in Naggalama (I had better be right on that).
If URA FC renamed to Mapenzi FC, URA would be the owners of Mapenzi FC operating as an independent company, the club would initially benefit from being funded by owners to set up a stadium in Naggalama.
The residents would identify with the club and start supporting it, more supporters would increase revenue from matchday, commercial activities like selling club merchandise and TV rights which would attract sponsors.
How long would it take for Mapenzi FC to break even?
Why shouldn’t URA FC use Naggalama FC as a name? Using Naggalama FC would have restricted URA to one area yet URA has a nationwide presence.
When URA stops funding Mapenzi FC, the funds can be used to set up grassroots structures across the country.
Imagine having a Mapenzi FC grassroots structure in every region of Uganda. Mapenzi would have achieved in having first sight on talent that can go on to play for the club and generate money when transferred secondly, Mapenzi FC would have extended its footprint across the country to attract supporters (more revenue) when they are still young (then it will be possible to make an employee proudly wear a Mapenzi FC jersey).
DO INSTITUTIONAL CLUBS HAVE ROLE MODELS?
My example of what URA FC and other institutional clubs need to do by changing names might be coming from an amateur that lacks an informed opinion.
I suggest they benchmark CSKA Moscow in Russia because it’s owned by the army.
I am sure Police, UPDF, URA, Maroons and the rest can easily afford a trip to Moscow.
Disclaimer: The writer doesn’t have anything against institutional football clubs, all examples were used in good faith.
Football has 17 laws of the game but referees are allowed to add an unwritten 18th law that requires them to use common sense especially in grassroots football.
Law 1 covers the field of play Law 2 covers the ball Law 3 covers the players Law 4 covers the players’ equipment Law 5 covers the referee Law 6 covers the other match officials Law 7 covers the duration of the match Law 8 covers the start and restart of play Law 9 covers the ball in and out of play Law 10 covers determining the outcome of the match Law 11 covers offside Law 12 covers fouls and misconduct Law 13 covers free kicks Law 14 covers the penalty kick Law 15 covers the throw-in Law 16 covers the goal kick Law 17 covers the corner kick
The Laws of the game: Worry for Ugandan Football Podcast.
These laws are formulated and amended by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
They usually do this after research from major tournaments.
One of the biggest law changes came in 1992 when goalkeepers were no longer allowed to handle a ball passed intentionally by a teammate using the foot. They can handle the ball if it’s passed by a teammate using any body part from the knee and above.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
The football clubs that plan player development (not in Uganda) worked out how a goalkeeper would be more involved in the game.
They started training young goalkeepers how to be comfortable with the ball at their feet because, before that, goalkeepers mainly used their hands and only used their feet to kick.
They embraced the new change and greatly worked on goalkeepers being able to use their feet to receive the ball, pass the ball short, medium or long and to dribble.
Ball-playing goalkeepers are now common but not all of them, some of the goalkeepers in clubs that weren’t playing the ball out from the back didn’t work on goalkeepers having neat footwork to move the ball.
Those goal keepers are in their 30’s and about to retire.
Of course, it has risks (Ugandans hate risks) because sometimes a back pass is under-hit or the goalkeeper messes up while passing the ball which usually results in an attempt on goal.
Playing out from the back was popularized by Pep Guardiola at FC Barcelona between 2008-2012.
That tactic has since spread out to the rest of the world but not in Uganda because we can’t apply it properly.
Every time there’s a major FIFA tournament, a technical study group (TSG) is formulated by FIFA to analyze new trends in football.
When football scouts are sent to watch potential signings, they have a profile for each position.
Goalkeepers in the modern era MUST be comfortable with the ball at their feet especially in open play.
Worry for goalkeepers in Uganda hoping to be scouted.
Watch a game in Uganda at any level, you’ll struggle to find a team that is comfortable building up the ball from the back.
Most goalkeepers aren’t comfortable with the ball at their feet in open play. Ugandans hate risks (especially in football) it’s understandable with competitive football that relies on results but development tournaments are filled with coaches and players scared of building up from the back just in case they make a mistake.
At the 2019 AFCON U-17 tournament, Uganda Cubs (men’s U-17 national team) struggled to build up from the back which resulted in possession being sacrificed easily on many occasions.
An underage team not having players comfortable with building up from the back is a sign that work has to be done in the junior league because that’s where the majority of coaching happens.
The other worry is that because most goalkeepers struggle with the ball at their feet in open play, it affects the coach’s ability to use certain tactics.
Starting with the 2019-20 season, goal keepers will be allowed to pass the ball to a player inside the penalty area when restarting play for a goal kick.
As Ugandan football struggles to deal with a law amended 27 years ago, here comes a sliding tackle.
For us to overcome the worry that is caused by amending the football laws of the game;
We need to redefine the meaning of success in under age football.
Is it winning matches and tournaments at all costs or players improving to become better than they were yesterday?
We need to learn how to teach football in the proper way by accepting that mistakes are part of learning.
It’s through this that we shall adopt a no fear of failure approach in football.
This will enable us to develop players that are capable of handling the demands of modern football that include the ability to easily adapt to amendments in the laws of the game.
Disclaimer: The writer doesn’t have anything against taking long kicks or goal kicks in football.
In March 2019 Bank of Africa (BOA) published a job advert for sales positions.
One of the MUST have requirements for applicants, was having scored a minimum of a credit 3 in English and Mathematics in Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE).
In those two examples, the two banks SET A MINIMUM STANDARD for applicants, whether someone with lower grades can do a better job or not, that’s an entirely different debate.
When Bolton Wanderers gained promotion to the English Premier League (EPL) for the 2001-02 season, they were outright relegation candidates.
By the end of the season, Bolton had survived relegation. Sam Allardyce who coached Bolton at that time had researched about opposition teams in EPL.
He made sure that during the preseason, players were fit enough to handle the demands of being able to sprint the entire length of a pitch in less than 11 seconds.
The demands to play in EPL are much more than just sprinting but in that case, a STANDARD had been set to compete in EPL.
Tottenham Hotspurs has recently built a new stadium to replace White Hart Lane.
FC Barcelona has plans to redevelop Camp Nuo because, in its current state, Camp Nuo can’t match the STANDARDS set by Barcelona’s rivals in terms of matchday revenue and experience.
In the football-related examples from Bolton Wanders, Tottenham and Barcelona, the clear observation is the need to meet set standards led to development.
WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS IN UGANDAN FOOTBALL?
At the start of the 2018-19 Uganda Premier League (UPL) season, clubs were required to have green pitches, it’s common sense to have a green pitch (standard) for a football match because it helps to have good football, reduces injuries and makes it easier to officiate among many other reasons.
Paidha Black Angels (PBA) a club based in Zombo, West Nile couldn’t have their pitch ready. They decided to play home matches 90 kilo meters away in Arua.
The cost of transporting, feeding and accommodating players and club officials from Zombo to Arua can match the cost of making a football pitch green (at least for Ugandan football standards).
PBA was allowed to play in the league sharing a stadium with Onduparaka, by the time they returned to play (not yet a green pitch) in Zombo for the start of UPL second round, PBA was facing relegation and the pitch in Arua wasn’t green anymore.
In this scenario, a standard was set but wasn’t enforced which led to reduced standards.
PBA was allowed to play without a pitch then Onduparaka used a bad pitch for the entire second round of the 2018-19 UPL season.
How will pitches develop yet no team is pushed to meet set standards?
Worse case is that accommodating PBA in the league, led to reduced standards.
What was supposed (imagining that other teams had green pitches) to be one bad pitch, created two bad pitches.
Hitting two birds (knocking out standards) with one stone.
Developing has take it or leave it conditions. If you don’t have the requirements for applying at BOU and BOA, don’t bother applying.
If Tottenham and FC Barcelona don’t redevelop their respective stadiums, then match day revenue will not increase (develop).
Ugandan Football’s challenge is that standards have been set but can’t be enforced because of the leniency to accommodate everyone. In the PBA case, a team that couldn’t meet UPL standards got welcomed with a hug.
WHAT’S THE EFFECT?
What message do BOU and BOA send out to the general public when they stick to their recruitment standards? A U.C.E candidate in 2019 will know what’s at stake should they ever wish to work at BOA and BOU in the future.
A team intending to compete in EPL will know what it takes to survive in EPL. Tottenham and FC Barcelona were able to accept their current situation then do something about it, this has led to more teams having new stadiums in Europe.
The need to meet standards helps to push development. If PBA had been kicked out of UPL for not having a green pitch, what message would be sent out to teams gaining promotion?
If PBA had worked on making the pitch green ahead of the second round. How many green pitches would be in the second tier league next season?
How easy would it be to enforce the use of green pitches in the second tier league when three relegated teams are dropping to that league with green pitches?
I don’t know about FUFA and UPL having the guts to stick to set standards but I am sure that as long as FUFA and UPL keep being lenient on who meets set standards, developing football in Uganda will continue being a myth.
In this article, I only used an example of failing to be strict with STANDARDS set for a playing pitch in UPL. That is about 1% of Ugandan football.
Disclaimer: The writer doesn’t have anything against PBA. The example was used in good faith.
Ben Mwesigwa 