Upon getting my special invite for the 2015 Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) symposium, I sighed with two extreme end marks – euphoric but ironically with desolation.
Reasons – the Football Federation had woken up from deep slumber, apparently on the bright and right side of the bed to forge a way forward to the country’s continuous failure to AFCON for now 37 years.
But again, the worry lines pasted over my face were definitely the major concern for most Ugandans on how applicable the resolutions from the symposium would be handled.
Just like one of the presenters, Kennedy Mutenyo boldly put it with a philosophical assertion;
The Patient has finally accepted to leave his home and explain to the doctor what happened to him’, FUFA scored on that particular front of organizing the stake holders’ workshop.
Personally, I would not query the raison d’être of the symposium but cast question marks on its timing and the choice of participants that attended.
Uganda Cranes 1978 goal keeper, Paul Ssali (second left) received a standing ovation at the symposium. He was spot on as he castigated FUFA for segregation in the planned guest list.
An earlier peep into the intended guest list rose even my expectations higher with the hope nations that participants from the nations that have regularly prospered would present the Ugandans with that much needed sense of direction.
Perhaps, the President of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s speech (read at the symposium by Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi) enthralled many, including yours truly;
Quick Fixes, however popular they may appear, will not yield meaningful results. The team we have now should help train our young players. It is a long term project but I believe this is how most countries that are famous in the football world have made it
This was one of the most captivating statements my ear pinnar has heard throughout my 27 year life span.
FUFA President, Moses Magogo highlighted the usual problems affecting Uganda’s football. But the several questions still remain, what needs to be done right, how to do the basics, when and who to do them.
The president’s message spoke volume of all the planned strategies, many of which were discussed by the lively gallery.
A Million pound question still looms; ‘How viable will be symposium resolutions be applicable?’
Speaker after speaker expressed with emphasis that desire and love for the prosperity of Uganda’s football given all the varying odds.
At one stage, I really felt the Prime Rose Hall at Imperial Royale Hotel where the symposium was taking place would be the destiny for those souls – living and dead that bore the best ideas on earth.
Bar the positive exchange of ideas on how appropriate football matters in the country ought to be handled, the symposium surely registered its obvious drawbacks- a basis on which the future similar forums would be based.
Many felt cheated why several administrative and technical issues, many of which have over the years determined the destiny of the game were ‘left in the dark’.
Accountability of federation funds, crucial questionable management decisions and the continuous unanswered questions about FUFA’s business wing remained unanswered.
The criterion of determining symposium participants left something to be desired.
The football family is an extended kin where every member is equally important.
Celebrated former FIFA referees, players (active and retired), Federation past leaders, renown football journalists all needed a fair representation.
FUFA president Moses Magogo has time over and again remarked, Uganda’s qualification to AFCON will never be a bench mark to determine football success.
His remarks are true to some extent although the millions of Ugandans will never be told such stories given the fact football is the most adored sport not only in Uganda but globally.
Speaker after speaker urged ‘going back to the drawing board’, seeking proper football management strategies, grass root development programmes and the like.
How the discussed ideas and resolutions come into force remains the headache now.
