A few weeks ago, I was in so much desperation and rage because our National Women’s Basketball Team had been informed that it wouldn’t participate in the FIBA AfroBasketball Qualifiers Zone V. I wrote down a heartfelt piece that yielded no results other than sympathy.
A few weeks down the road, to have our U16 National Basketball Teams, both the girls and the boys, participate in the U16 Basketball Championship, it had to be first tabled by parliamentarians. This left me wondering whether this was necessary. Get me right! Sports is a whole sector in the country with Ministers, State Ministers, and officials attached to it, but, unfortunately, athletes have to cry out to receive even a drop of the funding.
Jr. Gazelles singing the National Anthem at the recently concluded U16 Basketball Games in Egypt. Image source: FUBA
A fortnight or less down the drain, the Silverbacks are now faced with the same situation. Same talk again. The government has no money to fund you! The FIBA AfroBasketball games are taking place in our neighboring country Rwanda. A stone throw away, but the government and the concerned stakeholders can’t afford to throw the boys over.
The last time we checked, Ssekitoleko informed us of how he financed his way to the Olympics. The best I know, these boys have worked hard with little or no support from the concerned stakeholders. Uganda has all the money and resources, but its priorities set, don’t favor sports. With all due respect, it’s disheartening to watch our leaders jubilate when our athletes win. Their success ends in just being celebrated with a presentation of what merely contributes to long sustainable solutions for the sports industry. Sports is one of the most underrated sectors in our country, yet it is one of the most developed and economically growing sectors globally.
A few weeks ago, the basketball fraternity was jubilant over the signing of a Ugandan to the Toronto Raptors, making him the first Ugandan in the NBA. It was of least concern to me because this is a young man who has not lived the true Ugandan life of an athlete. Let’s build on this. We can’t compare the facilities and support of an athlete who has lived all his life in the States with one who has grown his game through playing pick-up at pool court. We are happy for you, Mr. Wainwright, but we need to be realistic. I would be jubilant if our own Enabu or Drileba were invested in by his own country and given a right to display his talent at different International tournaments competitively. We are quick to celebrate what we have not invested in.
The performance of the U16 National teams should be the nudge to the concerned stakeholders. Young enthusiastic players are let down by their own system. How did we expect players who camped for three days to have a competitive advantage over their opponents? Actually, it is an extreme sport to build a career in sports in Uganda. It messes with all your senses; psychologically, emotionally, physically, and economically. An athlete has to buy their own sports merch, equipment, and finance their daily sporting engagements and only will be appreciated if they successfully make it with gold or silver or make it out of the country.
Peruth Chemutai, Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei at Kololo Grounds where they were accorded with a state reception and gifted cars with a promise of a monthly salary of five million. Image source: Xinhua
My articles for the past weeks have all been around this issue. It is high time we prioritized sports just as we prioritize our kidandali, kadongo Kamu, hip hop, and upcoming musicians. Sports should be prioritized, not made an option! We can’t keep running on a system of lobbying for funds each time a National team represents us.
Promises won’t do justice to the sports sector; instead, establish systems and structures for long-term sustainability and growth of the industry.
Silverbacks keep strong and stay focused. “Help” finally came through, but the sports industry shouldn’t be helped; it’s a whole industry not a charity case—all the best to the Silverbacks in Rwanda at the Afrobasketball Games.
Article by Elizabeth Kisolo | kisolo@basketball256.com| Twitter: Big_Foot115
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