I was blessed to be one of those famous kids in high school because of various reasons, ranging from my strong Rukiga accent to my sports abilities. This singled me out to students in lower classes who needed connections with my classmates. It’s because of this that I was introduced to the business of selling sweets while in school. By Senior two, I was the resident sweet seller of my class though working under someone else, so my commission wasn’t that much, but it was just enough for a first timer in business at school. I recall I saved 40,000 UGX which I wanted to use to buy me a pair of basketball shoes. While joining high school, it was compulsory to report to school with a pair of sports shoes. My mother had bought me a second hand Kappa pair that I used to their last stitch.
When my interactions with the school court increased, I was delighted to see the senior team members take interest in me. My hopes of joining the team came true, but I still lacked a good pair of shoes. I used to admire the shoes worn by the senior team and I was excited to buy myself a pair. The need for a good pair was also driven by the coach who considered non – basketball shoes to be ‘dancing shoes’. Sometimes, he’d send you off-court because of inappropriate footwear. As soon as the holidays came around, I moved from stall to stall at the market, bargaining to the best of my abilities, and by the time school started, I had my first pair of basketball shoes. Unfortunately, by Nationals they were worn out. Last year, I watched from afar as Score Beyond, a non-profit organization, led a campaign to buy shoes for girls in Northern Uganda, in anticipation of forthcoming tournaments and camps. There’s a joy that comes with owning a good pair of shoes, and a great initiative that centers around a seemingly small issue. Seeing girls’ teams from St. Mary’s Kitende and St. Noa Mawaggali looking smart, clad in their tracksuits and shoes causes one to have a mix of admiration and awe, with a pinch of envy. Those that have played or witnessed “village football” understand the pride that is held by a team that can suitably give all its players boots. Just a reminder; each year I have successfully managed to demolish 3 – 4 pairs of shoes beyond repair. A shoe that has a worn outsole is as important as a new shoe as a rubber tire can be added as you plan your finances (a few can relate).
When your daughter decides to join sports the least you can do as a parent is to support her. I recall the theme of the hockey team 2017 at my school, “Where the weak are eaten and the cowards are killed”. Harsh! I think that is the exact description I will give you for the sports field. So the last thing a daughter would require from you is a discouraging voice. Your support can stream in different ways. Become her number one fan. Become her number one cheerleader. Become her number one sponsor. You may not be available fully at all times to watch her train or participate in a competition but you can be her number one motivator. The institutions or teams we play for don’t fully fund or even don’t fund at all the materials we need such as sports attire or shoes or equipment. Consider sponsoring her for the required equipment or her needs. Sports is still a world that many argue to be for the boy child, blindly eliminating the proven beauty it has with the girl child. Let’s talk about confidence or let’s chat about friendships or let’s present a wealthy mind and healthy body or let’s sort the different opportunities available for your daughter. I believe there is a direct correlation between the attitude of a parent and the daughter’s performance. Either it motivates or derails her engagement. The fruits of sports don’t ripen overnight and they are non-dependent on how impatient or thirsty one is to see them. We can argue that we have the lucky blessed athletes who will get recognition effortlessly; however, another athlete will only get the required attention in a year’s time or more. Some people may not even get past the District level in sports! The issue shouldn’t be how high they have played rather the discipline they exercise as well as other skills such as teamwork, self-regulation, and personal development which they have derived from sports.
They say education has greatly reduced the number/occurrences of early pregnancy, but sports is the right ingredient to add to the mix needed to prevent early pregnancy. ‘Hats off!’ to parents fearlessly supporting the wildest dreams of your daughters in sports. The results will soon manifest and at last, the pleasure will be yours. Support women/girls in sports.
Support Women In Sports
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