Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA) in conjunction with the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) successfully held the first ever media workshop on the African continent in Uganda.
The day long workshop was held at Holiday Express Hotel in the heart of the Ugandan capital city, Kampala on Wednesday.
Eighteen sports journalists under the umbrella of the Uganda Sports Press Association were trained about the basics of the game, its internal set up (organization), competitions with in the country, on the continental as well as on the global scene.
The workshop was aimed at building the brand of the game, creating a media network from national and continental levels, as well as the further sensitization across the divide.
It was coordinated by the Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) in conjunction with the African parent body.
Sahir Edoo from Mauritius and Uganda’s Richard Ssali, a BCA trained events’ coordinator and team coordinator of Shuttle Time Uganda chapter were the workshop moderators.
Edoo is a former player who is now the Operations Manager at the Badminton Confederation Africa body.
He appealed to the media to preach the gospel of the sport across the masses as a way of building the game’s popularity.
Badminton is a universal sport that started in the 5th Century.
It is a sport that combines agility, speedy reaction, skill, quick thinking, excitement, commitment and passion.
The game is gaining popularity in Africa and Uganda too, is on the right track. I appeal to media to give this sport more light through continued coverage so that partners and sponsors come on board
Simon Mugabi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uganda Badminton Association lauded the continental body for the efforts of developing the game not only in Uganda but the entire continent.
Uganda is privileged to be hosting the first ever media workshop for badminton on the African continent.
We are grateful to the BCA for the offer and who hope and believe that this will steer the game in the right direction
Mugabi pledged a mini tournament for the journalists as they further get acquitted to the basics of the game.
Journalists learnt the A,B,C thesis of the game, management, administration and current development programmes within the national, continental and world bodies.
Also, aspects concerning the Africa and World Confederation operations as development (especially the children’s shuttle time programe), coaching development, technical, women, administration, marketing, communication, para-badminton and events (local vis-a-vis international) were highlighted.
USPA Vice President, Ritah Aliguma lauded the organizers (Africa and Uganda Badminton bodies) and the journalists for the successful educative workshop.
I thank Badminton Confederation Africa, Uganda Badminton Association for organizing such an educative workshop.
To the journalists who attended, I salute them in a special way for sacrificing their valuable time resource to attend the workshop as they acquired knowledge.
As USPA, we shall continue to work with other sports associations to promote sports development in Uganda
Aliguma also called upon the Uganda Badminton Association for further training opportunities during the body’s monthly assembly.
USPA has in the past joined hands with the Cricket fraternity, Equestrian Association, Special Olympics and Uganda Woodball Federation in a similar arrangement.
The badminton workshop comes at a timely basis, hours to the kick off of the 2017 Uganda International Badminton tournament.
The Uganda international starts on Thursday at the Lugogo indoor stadium with the qualification matches.
The tournament will run until Sunday when the finals and official prize giving ceremony shall be held.
At least $8000 is ear marked as the total prize money at the Uganda International tournament.
Participants:
Olivia Nakate (Life Television, Uganda Television Network), David Isabirye (Kawowo Sports Media), Solomon Ssaka (Innerman, Sanyuka TV), Ritah Aliguma (UBC TV), Silvano Kibuuka (Bukedde Print), Dorothy Nekesa (Freelancer), Makhtum Muziransa (Daily Monitor), Mahad Ssali (Kamunye Newspaper), Drake Sentongo (Bukedde Newspaper), Johnson Were (New Vision), Irene Deborah Nannyonjo (Namirembe F.M), Uthuman Ssempembwa (UBC T.V), Emma Magembe (UBC T.V), Godfrey Sseruinda Kakungulu (Eastern Uganda Sports Press Association and Elgon F.M), Francisco Bwambaale (Star F.M/Star T.V), Ronnie Mayanja (Prime F.M), Mubarak Kasule (Freelancer), Kent Arereng (Metro F.M)
