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’ll 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 youngster has memorized his title, earlier than the stadium has learnt to chant his title – he’s gone.
Brazil, identical illness. Boy scores 3 objectives 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 overlook historical past.
Earlier than Magid Musisi was taken to Rennes, France, he was High Scorer for 3 seasons, with a mean of 25 objectives. 25 objectives! Each season!
However did Villa SC die when Magid left? No.
Why? As a result of Villa was sensible. 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 go away. Villa grew huge. Villa grew to become a convention, 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 mean league in North Africa, then routed to High 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 taking part in nice soccer, certainly, many Ugandans worshipped it! Only one season, Onduparaka offered their prized participant, Shaban, to the very best native bidder.
Individuals don’t come for custom. They arrive for high quality. Prepare dinner the meals nicely first.
*SOLUTION: WE NEED A RING-FENCED APPROACH – IT IS IN THE HANDS OF UPL AND FUFA*
My attraction – directors, return to the drafting board. However as a result of we’ve got textual content ebook leaders, they are going to carry all FIFA statutes to carry your hand behind.
We have to regulate and management the exodus of gamers. It’s within the fingers of UPL and FUFA to provide you with a ring-fenced strategy to maintain the native league vibrant.
1. The Villa Mannequin – Change 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 no less than 5 marquee native gamers for at least 3 seasons. If a overseas membership desires them, they need to pay a Actual Improvement Price – 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 staff, not promote the staff. 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 objectives 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 an extended interval, if we ring-fence it and shield our stars like Villa did, it could maybe turn out to be a convention!
Custom shouldn’t be born. Custom is made.
Make the soccer candy. Hold the gamers for us to see. Then Namboole will probably be full once more with out forcing anybody.
