Allan Okello, celebrating his objective

Ben Misagga

Even Brazil, the 5-time World Cup champions, is crying in the identical nook as us. The product is gone as a result of the gamers are gone.

Soccer is about PLAYERS. And our gamers are poached earlier than they will even stroll correctly within the den.

A boy performs 5 good video games for Vipers; his agent is already packing his bag to Morocco, Vietnam, Israel. Earlier than the Ugandan baby has memorized his title, earlier than the stadium has learnt to chant his title – he’s gone.

Brazil, identical illness. Boy scores 3 targets for Santos at 16; subsequent month he’s in Actual Madrid. The Brazilian league stays empty.

No stars. No product. No followers.

LESSON FROM OUR HISTORY: MAGID MUSISI MADE VILLA, VILLA DID NOT MAKE MAGID ALONE

That is the place our directors neglect historical past.

Earlier than Magid Musisi was taken to Rennes, France, he was Prime Scorer for 3 seasons, with a median of 25 targets. 25 targets! Each season!

However did Villa SC die when Magid left? No.

Why? As a result of Villa was smart. That they had already introduced and stored Mutakabala, Idd Batambuze, Mukasa and Mubiru to maintain the followers with enjoyable. When one star left, one other was shining. The membership stored the product alive.

So the followers didn’t depart. Villa grew large. Villa grew to become a practice, not due to one participant, however as a result of they managed the exodus.

Evaluate to as we speak.

Now the coach is the supervisor of the participant. The coach is feared. Only one season, the child is taken to a median league in North Africa, then routed to Prime Tier leagues. The coach will get fee, the agent will get fee, however the native membership? The native followers? We stay with an empty stadium.

We aren’t promoting gamers anymore; we’re promoting our soccer.

LESSON 2: FOOTBALL IS A PRODUCT, NOT A TRADITION

When Onduparaka was enjoying nice soccer, certainly, many Ugandans worshipped it! Only one season, Onduparaka bought their prized participant, Shaban, to the very best native bidder.

Individuals don’t come for custom. They arrive for high quality. Cook dinner the meals properly first.

*SOLUTION: WE NEED A RING-FENCED APPROACH – IT IS IN THE HANDS OF UPL AND FUFA*

My enchantment – directors, return to the drafting board. However as a result of we’ve textual content e-book leaders, they are going to convey all FIFA statutes to carry your hand behind.

We have to regulate and management the exodus of gamers. It’s within the palms of UPL and FUFA to provide you with a ring-fenced method to maintain the native league vibrant.

1. The Villa Mannequin – Substitute Earlier than You Launch: No membership ought to launch a star participant till they’ve groomed and unveiled 2 replacements. Like Villa did with Mukasa and Mubiru when Magid was leaving. This have to be a licensing rule.

2. Ring-Fence The League: Introduce a Protected Star Rule. Every UPL membership should retain a minimum of 5 marquee native gamers for no less than 3 seasons. If a overseas membership desires them, they have to pay a Actual Improvement Payment – not $20k, however $150k. Sufficient cash for the native membership to remain vibrant and purchase high quality.

3. Kill The Coach-Agent Cartel: Ban a sitting head coach from being a participant agent. This battle of curiosity is killing us. A coach ought to construct the crew, not promote the crew. FUFA should license brokers and punish coaches who double as brokers.

*4. Refine The Product Over Time:* Constant kick-off time – Each Saturday 4pm is UPL time. Good grass. Good TV. Good story. Construct rivalries for five years, not 5 months.

Magid scored 25 targets for 3 years, and Ugandans grew to become Villa followers for all times. That’s how custom is made.

If this soccer product is refined over a protracted interval, if we ring-fence it and shield our stars like Villa did, it might maybe develop into a practice!

Custom is just not born. Custom is made.

Make the soccer candy. Hold the gamers for us to see. Then Namboole will likely be full once more with out forcing anybody.