The talk of the day that has engulfed Kampala and the entire Uganda is the long awaited visit of Pope Francis Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s visit to the land christened the ‘pearl of Africa’.
Having replaced Pope Benedict XVI in March 2013, the former chemical technologist took over the official papal duties as the 266th Pontiff.
In the midst of his demanding schedule, Pope Francis has proved to the world he has a soft spot for sports development world over.
He is famously quoted when he visited football clubs in his native Argentina, as well as the national football teams of Argentina and Italy.
Highlighting the values of sports, rugby in particular the Pope noted;
It’s a tough sport, a lot of physical contact, but there is no violence. There’s great loyalty, great respect. Playing rugby is tiring. It’s no easy walk. And I think it’s useful to strengthen character, and one’s will.
In sports, as in life, he said, one must fight to reach a goal.
His message to the entire players on the two opposing teams was to fight with that same spirit in their lives, as in the field.
All of our lives leads to a goal. This search, the search for the goal, is tiring. It requires a lot of effort, commitment. But the important thing is not running alone. To get there we need to run together, and the ball must be passed from hand to hand, and carried along until we reach the goal line. Then we celebrate. I pray for you, and I wish you the best. But also pray for me, so that even I, with my collaborators, can make a good team and make it to the goal line.
The message therein drove me crazy. Pope acknowledges the value of team work.
This in a way or the other applies to the Ugandan sports setting.
Mud slinging politics in all sporting disciplines has no place if the true spirit of the game is to be adhered to.
Pope Francis has openly castigated violence and discrimination in sports, something rival fans at KCCA, SC Villa and Express F.C need to follow suit.
Sport is a unifying tool whose major purpose among others is make us happy.
At many forum, he has openly criticized what he sees as corrupting influences in sports, condemning commercialization of sports.
He warned about the incentive to win and profit at all costs reduces athletes “to mere trading material.” Instead, he wants us to remember that “sport is harmony”.
Sports serve as a great metaphor for life, with people working toward an ultimate goal; but as in life, sports shouldn’t just be about money and trophies — the allure of which often overshadow the personal, spiritual gains we make in both
Pope Francis’ athletic affinity is a great blessing to Uganda’s sports development, a timely blessing that the over 37 million Uganda should be proud of.
Uganda Cranes desires the papal blessings for the 2016 CHAN finals in Rwanda and to make it to the AFCON 2017 finals with the remaining Group D matches coming up in 2016.
Internal stability in the management of the other sporting disciplines Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey, Pool, Woodball, Roll ball, Chess, Scrabble, Beach Soccer, Ring Tennis, Rowing, Cricket, Netball, Rugby, Badminton, Boxing, Tennis, Squash, Table Tennis, mention it requires equal blessings.
A humbled gentleman Pope Francis is, true to his personal motto ; Pity and Choosing – “Miserando atque Eligendo”
