And Others

KCCA Leopards during a league game in the ongoing NBL season 2022. Image source: FUBA

Recently I was jogging while listening to one of this generation’s great radio stations known for playing the latest music and having the hottest news around town. It was 6:00 pm sports updates.

“Good evening to you, our listeners. Thank you for tuning in. In today’s sports news, we shall start with football on the local scene ….. Basketball at the local scene has also become exciting to catch over the weekend. This weekend Our Saviour beat Namuwongo Blazers. The other games were KIU men against UCU (all the men’s games that took place over the weekend)….. The women’s league is also ongoing. Now for sports at the International Scene…”

The irony, I was jogging to keep fit and ensure that I post a good performance for an audience that barely gives half a thought to women’s sports. All the efforts to have women’s sports aired or given media attention were withered down in a fraction of a second. It was totally out of place for women’s basketball or sports, in general, to be categorized as the other. I didn’t want to be biased and assume that since it was a man giving the updates, he had to give less attention to women’s sports. We have seen men actively engaged in women’s sports spheres and are at the forefront of promoting women’s sports. Could the issue have been with the reporters? I suspect they watched only the men’s games, and whenever the women’s games came live, they would go out of the arena or YMCA grounds to take a breather as they waited for the men’s game. 

The sport’s administrators indirectly support this media attitude towards women’s sports without prior knowledge of the harm they are causing. Who wouldn’t think that the men’s game was the first game of the season (Return of basketball), given the guard of honor bestowed upon the teams while the women took a shower in the locker rooms? As a writer, I would love to focus on the area that the administrators emphasize. Running an article about how the men’s National team is camping at the best sports facility on the continent over an article on how the women’s National team is camping near the source of the Nile would definitely gain me more clicks on my link. We have indirectly become the perpetrators of the narrow, stereotype-filled media circles regarding women’s sports.

Today we celebrate the milestones; tomorrow, we are holding our heads in dismay, reminding ourselves that women’s sports is also SPORTS! The continuous increase in the number of women in media spaces should be garnering more attention towards women’s sports. Women’s Sports allies have also registered a rise in recent years, and this should also present an opportunity to have more women’s sports events or activities aired. The repetitive cycle of just highlighting women’s sports or even lack of media air time shouldn’t still be one of the issues women sports face. We deserve consistency and proper media presentation of women in sports.

We should take advantage of the leadership spaces that women now enjoy in different Sports arenas to advocate and push for women in sports. Women and women sports allies in sports media should devise strategic ways to have women sports given more air time. Media houses should aim at striking a balance between reporting about women’s and men’s sports. Finally, administrators or sports leaders should be at the forefront of designing programs and implementing policies that will support the growth of women’s sports and draw the right media attention. 

Support women in sports.

What a year for women in sports!

One of the prominent news that has been in the sports circles this year is Women Head Coaches. Many may not understand the fuss about this. But I will take the courtesy to break it down. Sports used to be considered a men’s field (and maybe some individuals still hold onto that old belief). Since time immemorial, so many views have been against women’s participation following Aristotle’s Philosophy that undermined women’s position in society and their ability to engage in physical activities. Fears of becoming infertile or losing virginity also blocked women’s engagement in sports. Women that engaged in any games in the 19th Century were expected to be as graceful as not looking forward to winning, and their sports attire had to maintain a feminine look! The most women would do in sports was spectate not until the 20th Century when women could participate but under strict regulations. Women were subject to naked parades where they would undress and be groped to justify if their genitals were female or male. This was dropped with time. Sports had always been commercialized, but women were considered unworthy of receiving pay or funding, such as the Tennis Grand Slam, which has its roots in the 1970s – a monetary award was presented to both men and women with Ilie Nastase receiving $3,500 and Billie Jean King receiving $600. With the growth of feminist movements and women empowerment groups, reforms have been brought to the table. Women are relatively participating in sports more freely even though the ground hasn’t been fully leveled.

Coach Shillah Omuriwe Buyungo, the Uganda National Men’s Volleyball team coach.

So what’s the fuss about women coaches? Contextualize this as a senior one student getting summoned to take a textbook to the senior six class. There is that immense fear and tension over what could possibly happen or if the student will even deliver the book.

The Senior one student represents women in sports. It can actually pass for women involved in formerly regarded masculine sectors. It calls for confidence to penetrate the patriarchal system that was deeply rooted in many fields. Snaps for the Trail Blazers that have confidently managed to walk in front of the Senior six students and delivered beyond expectations…actually go-ahead to give lessons to the students. 

When Coach Liz was finally unveiled as the Head coach of the Morans, many were astounded at how a woman would ably lead a men’s basketball team. A woman in a men’s locker room or at the sideline screaming? No way! It was a no different case for Coach Shilla Buyungo, who was revealed to the World as the National Men’s Volleyball Coach. I don’t think it should have been a surprise as these women have worked for and deserve these positions. Down the road, the Kenya Morans were finally able to qualify for the FIBA Afro Basketball games in Kigali Rwanda, casting out a dry spell after twenty-eight years. The Volleyball Cranes finished 5th in the Africa Volleyball Championships that took place in Kigali, Rwanda. This placed the Uganda Volleyball team as the best team in East Africa. Coach Shilla becomes the first female head coach in African history to head a Men’s National Volleyball Team in the 54 years the games have taken place. Similarly, Coach Liz becomes the first woman to lead a men’s basketball team at a continental level. 

Mid this year, Coach Becky Hammon stated, “Please don’t hire me to check a box. That’s the worst thing you can do for me … Hire me because of my skill sets and coaching, who am I as a person, hire me for those.” She was on the verge of becoming a head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers in July during the search for a new head coach. She has served as an Assistant Head coach with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. Reflecting on her statement, it’s impressive to see how women have worked to deserve and have a competitive advantage in sports based on their skill set and qualifications rather than hiring women for purposes of making history.

There is still room for celebrations away from the coaches as women have penetrated sports leadership positions. We witnessed Usher Komugisha and Silalei Shani become the first women duo to commentate for the FIBA Women’s AfroBasketball games in Cameroon. Women referees and umpires have become a common sight at international matches on the continent—shout-outs to Monica Nassuna of Uganda that has outrightly performed excellently in this field. 

Silalei Shani (left) and Usher Komugisha at the Women AfroBasketball games in Cameroon.

I recently attended the Makerere University Sports Dinner, where the old sports council was handing over power to the new sports council. I was shaken by the new council that had two men to five women. I am not rejoicing over having few men, but I was happy that women are finally shifting out of their comfort zones to occupy spaces that were formerly not paths taken by women.

There is progress, and it’s not getting withered any time soon. However, we can’t celebrate yet as some individuals still entertain old beliefs. Stories of female head coaches being referred to as assistants or disrespect from officials and other people still make it to the media. It’s high time we set strategies to bring more women into sports leadership come next year, for example, talking of having one of our best and most experienced women’s coaches to head the Uganda National Women’s team. 

Monica Nassuna (right) during the officiating of a league game in the Uganda National Basketball League

Women Can. Women Will. Support Women in Sports.

Recapping basketball in COVID times

RUN! Just scatter to the nearest safe haven whenever you heard this during the COVID times (the lockdown time). Either the police have ambushed you, or someone is just scaring you – but go with the flow. RUN!

Uganda has had the longest lockdown, and maybe we have earned our place once again in the World Book of Records after being formerly featured as the country with the highest unemployment rates among the youth. With these lockdown(s) reinstated a week or earlier before the former lockdown is done, a lot has been affected, and sports has definitely faced it rough. Leagues were canceled, fans were banned, players rusted, and Federations slept!

Anyway, the approximately two-year lengthy lockdown placed a ban on sports during specific lockdown periods, which seemed like centuries. Efforts to follow the trend of the Head of States jogging in his office made no progress as our home spaces are small enough to be covered by just a few strides. Soon the police were arresting those jogging on the streets as people had resorted to jogging for transportation means to their lovers. Games like basketball that demand consistency in work out tested one’s self drive to weld a substandard rim and place it at the extreme outer wall at home. It all got boring, and soon we hit the streets.

By 2:00 pm, the concerned informed parties would begin their trekking from their different homes to the rendezvous point. Imagine the distance between Naalya and Najjera/Kira, but we would move all the way through the mastered “panyas” till our point of play. Even playing basketball was about who knew who; the Naalya spot was word of mouth selected few Old Boys (Don’t ask me how I got to play there). Just an added invitation to the only select players, we were all chased from using the premises. Yet another couple of weeks, we were stranded. A young man from Ntinda, Minister’s village, had just erected his hoop in the slanting compound, and he needed company. On day one, just a couple of us showed up. We were tasked to tip just two or one people to join us, but the swarm of athletes that flocked his compound for almost a week before being chased by the granny seemed like we had run an ad on YouTube. To remind you, public means were banned, so we walked from our areas of residence (Kira/Najjera/Kireka) to Ntinda and walked back in the evenings. As you played, you had to keep in mind that you have a whole 6 – 10 km to walk back home.

Minister’s Village basketball hotspot during lockdown.

A popular spot in Ntinda, VCC (Victory City Church), was all about who knew who to let you play from their vicinity. The next resort was Kyambogo, where the punishment lives up to date with the hoops still lying in the storeroom. All players seemed to have turned this into their safe haven, but the LDU camp within the area wasn’t an easy one. Let alone the police that came at leisure, and depending on their moods, they would scare you away or just warn you. These scared no basketball warriors, but the numbers grew steadily. The police had to do something. Random day X out of the 1000 days we have persevered, we returned to empty boards as the hoops had been taken down. This was the blow that was needed. You joke with ballers! Someone quickly offered to weld a ring that was tied to the board as we played. Dunk at your own risk! The continuous raids by the police felt like raids in History class as soon we were weakened and divided to go hunt for other courts.

Bulindo. The famous hidden court became the one-stop center for all athletes. This seemed safer, and all was flowing well until the higher power in charge of the facility felt uncomfortable by the many athletes at the court. Access to the facility was denied. Again we spread far North and South. Kireka courts attracted masses when the Nakawa Institution based court was also cut off. The struggle to play was real.

With all these escapades taking place, it would take two or fewer weeks for someone to mention that there is a court in location x. I used that time to grow fond of our neighbors, and we would play soccer in the dusty compound of the house under construction in the neighborhood. Someone took an interest in training me to grow my handling skills, which saved me from court mongering. Kyambogo became the place, whether with a hoop or not.

Basketball pastoralists. For the love of the game!

Why all this struggle? The distance we used to walk to access these courts almost outnumbers the distance one covers as they play. We didn’t tire the search for a court each time we were displaced from any court. COVID seemed distant, and I am grateful none of us was diagnosed with it or succumbed to it. The pandemic was such a memorable time for me. I wonder how other athletes managed to keep fit and grow in their fields.

We grew in the sport, had the thrill we desired while having fun.

Basketball is life.

How Much a Smile Cost?

“Why did it have to be one week?” “Will you ever come back?” “Hey, coach Liz,” says one of the little girls holding a sweet which she hands over to me. “Thank you, and this is for you.”

Thunder Clap. Photo credit: kaptcha photography

Sports is a universal language. When I got to interview MacDoo, I learned that even before spreading the basketball game, he desired to spread the word of God. But how could he spread it without an audience or gain a larger audience? It’s then that Basketball came to his mind. Albeit, Coach Mavita Ali knew that the conventional way of just having the never-ending talks with girls would not create the impact she desired hence the birth of Score Beyond to use Basketball as a tool and teach life skills to girls.

To popularize the sport of basketball among girls across the globe, FIBA engineered a program, Her World Her Rules. Score Beyond through FUBA was the implementing partner in Uganda, and Kitgum was the select district for the five-day basketball boot camp.

On arrival in Kitgum, we were served a buffet prepared by the lovely chef Francis whose meals we would always look forward to each day of our being in Kitgum. The nasty humps in Kitgum were a summation of the long journey from Kampala. We were not sure how the whole project would turn out. Would we attract the desired number of girls? Who knew how to greet in Acholi? We had heard of the sun and how hot it got, but we had our gear ready; shades and caps. How would a life skill session roll without any knowledge about the language?

During a life skills session guided by the UNICEF Toolkit. Image credit: Kaptcha Photography

On day one of implementation, we arrived with a boxful of balls, which excited young boys and girls playing basketball using an American football ball. [Some top-bottom approach individuals may have gotten rid of these balls in this upcountry district without grounding root for the sport.] Nevertheless, we rolled out the balls on the court, and each kid excitedly picked a ball and, with minimum success, tried throwing the ball to the hoop. Oops, we came for the girl child. Soon we fished out our target group, and the journey began. Out of 10 girls, at most, two girls could try to speak to us or engage with us. One would conclude that the girls were taught to be silent or silenced; hence, creating a safe and free space seemed challenging for most girls. This wasn’t a worry since we were strangers and had to build rapport with these girls to open up. Almost all spoke English, so at least communication wasn’t a problem. And translators came in handy.

Each day came with its joy. The smiles on the courts as the coaches chorused, “Who killed the chicken?” and the girls screamed back in unison, “Us, Us, Us,” outshined the blazing rays of the sun. Each new hype song taught to the girls soon got one or two girls loosening up. The UNICEF toolkit model-focused sessions seemed dull at the start with minimal participation, but by day 5, the girls literally facilitated their sessions with just guidance from the coaches and trainers. Referee aspirants carried their Nice House of plastics chairs to the mango tree while the sun shone at its brightest to tap words of wisdom from Uganda’s finest female referees. No stone was left unturned.

Project implementers with some of the Coach and referee trainees. Photo credit: Ndani Africa Films

The burning desire to learn the sport and become a better version of themselves beamed on the girls’ faces in whatever activity they partook in. Gifty is just one of the girls that came on the first day and couldn’t even look straight in the eye with someone to say her name, but by the 3rd day, Gifty was leading her peers in dancing, and her outstanding character couldn’t be ignored. Like Gifty, we had so many girls raised to the challenge and could freely express themselves by the 3rd day.

Even with barriers to achieving what they desired, the girls showed resilience. Charity’s young brother couldn’t let her turn her head away from his presence, but Charity desired to play like any other girl without restrictions. She would carry her brother and play like nothing else mattered at that moment. It all got emotional. Some of the girls were the heads back home and were faced with doing chores and engaging with their peers and the sport. News flash; you will get amused by the fact that these girls who had a lot to balance were the outstanding individuals on the court. A few carried their babies and watched from a distance as they didn’t have anyone to babysit their offspring but tried as much to attend the life skills sessions.

Claire Lamunu joins in during the hype/warmup session. Photo credit: Kaptcha photography

We just couldn’t turn down the girls that kept coming through. We had come for the girl child. We had limited ourselves to 100, but each day came with more 10 girls. How could we tell them to go back home yet we had come for them? A little more 50 girls didn’t hurt. How can I describe the million little things that humanity is capable of? Let us talk about Clare Lamunu. Just the night she was crowned MVP Zone V in Dar es Salaam, she boarded the plane for Uganda, and without hesitation, she arrived in Kitgum a day later to spend a morning with the girls.

Alas, what is work without play? After the scorching sun tanning us, we visited the Aruu falls. This is a must-visit for anyone that goes to the North. The experience is breathtaking as you paddle your way above rocks in the streams of water flowing from the falls. At one point, I felt my tiny legs give way to the flow of the stream, but the chain of support kept me moving. I resound; this is a must-visit while in the North.

Score Beyond and FUBA team at Aruu falls in Kitgum.

What a week! By the last day of traveling back to Kampala, at least every team member had that body part that hurt from the effort they had applied during the week. Let it be loss of voice, buggy eyes, fatigue, or general body tiredness. The return journey was characterized by sleep as the body had given way to the hard work that it had done throughout the week.

Thank you, Kitgum, for welcoming us and, more so, the sport of basketball. Our host, who we referred to as the town itself, really made our stay worthwhile. We lacked nothing. Grateful to FIBA through FUBA that made the camp possible. The UNICEF toolkit is a must-add for any teenage girls’ engagement. Thank you, UNICEF Uganda, for supporting the project. What would the week have been without the implementers on the ground? Well done, Score Beyond and team.

Support the girl child. Let the girl child play—Her World Her Rules.

Rugby Vibes

The first love of my life was a Namilyango Boy. You know that Gungas-Ngo stuff or SMACK-Gungas stuff, so I was a verdict. During the Nationals games, other than sports, “mingling” was the next big thing. With little or no knowledge about the sport, we would gather and head to cheer on the Ngonians or Smackists as they battled out. Let it be basketball, the hockey girls would be at the sideline, as if they understood the game just like they comprehended the backside of their hockey stick. It was just the second motivation to go for the National Games other than the certificate. My “baby boo” happened to be the rugby captain, and soon I gained so much fame for dating the most dangerous “ruga” player in the G8 schools. That was my first interaction with rugby. I would spend my extra time at the games, watching him play. I grew to believe that rugby was all about beating the other person that comes your way.

In action, Makerere University (green) against the University of Johannesburg.

I recall discussing rugby with my father, who referred to it as an ugly sport. Little did I know that years down the road, I would be the ugly athlete in the shoes of my lover boy!

This year Makerere University hosted the 2nd Kings of Africa games. I presume the University considered it essential to have the women’s team as well. But well, we all have gotten accustomed to last-minute preparations, so after a convincing tongue camped in my inbox, I was soon in the corridors of Mary Stuart to reside and get ready for the games in three weeks. I repeat, three weeks!

Just like any other sport, you begin with the basics. Looking at the ball, touching the ball, learning the different dimensions of the field, making the weirdest passes, and playing around with what you thought the game was really about.

Week one, all we could do was hold and throw the ball to the person next to us (as long as it reaches the person). The most challenging part was learning that rugby is played in any weather. As if to confirm this assertion, we were blessed with rainy mornings where you would expect the Coach to look at you and say,

“Hey Liz, let’s go get some roof above us.”

Instead, the rains provided more time to work out till they ceased. It all seemed crazy.

Week two, at least we knew how to pass in a line formation, and soon we would pass the ball and run to gain mileage. It all seemed not to be the kind of rugby we had come thinking about. The rugby where you BEAT, and the weak scatter for their lives.

Week three, we could finally pass, rack, scrum down, and form a line out. The numbers had increased from day one, and the sport was slowly winning portions of our hearts that had been predominantly occupied by our former sports.

Three days before the games, the coach initiated contact in the game. It was scary at first as anytime you knew, even your closest friend would be carrying you to the ground. With time, it brought joy to us, revenging on each other with the tough tackles and most of all grabbing your shirt and ensuring that it’s torn to shreds by the end of the day. We were not familiar with a contact yet. Still, we knew that anything that comes from the opposite direction to which your running deserves to be thrust to the ground as long as you didn’t touch its* hair or neck or eyebrows.

Game Day Live. I am not sure how I managed to score a try against those well-trained and built South African ladies, but they couldn’t let my tiny legs carry me past their try again! Team spirit it is; even if the Uganda National Team is lined up against the USA team, some unshaken spirits will take the risk to bet a win for Uganda. Makerere University versus the University of Johannesburg or Makerere University versus the University of Pretoria; which game should I build on. Actually, let’s go generic; we lost all the games, but we played our hearts out and had fun carrying and tackling. We barely passed by the opponent’s try line.

For the injuries, that’s part of the game. I bet that is what makes the game such a thrill. After my first day of the games, I needed a whole-body massage and a cold or warm touch. My body felt like it was an entity of its own away from the soul. The soul was excited about the next day’s games, but the body demanded a rest. Soon, this becomes a normal feeling that you most likely will get addicted to.

Long story short, out of the three girls teams that participated, we managed to come in 3rd and received our medals at the podium. After all, we were victors; hold your peace if you disagree.

Makerere University Women’s Rugby team receiving its medals and trophy.

Who knew that some of the girls who had joined the team a week before the games would be called to represent the country at the National Team level? Rugby was such a thrill, and it remains one. When I head for rugby, I know I will come back tired and ready to sleep like a baby with added physical fitness.

Rugby is a beautiful sport.

Men in Skirts

Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi (left), Caster Semenya of South Africa (Centre), and Wambui Margaret Wambui of Kenya at the Rio Games in 2016. Image source: CNN

During my second year of high school, a rumor spread like wildfire about the apparent men that masqueraded among us at night. Being a single-sex school, the fear that gripped us was enormous. It was either a tale brought up by some dark humor lovers or by some girls who had “trans-nighted” and masterminded the account. In reality, the Men in Skirts was the school warden. She used to jog as early as 4:00 am wearing a long skirt, but her masculine looks deceived us that we had a man in a skirt on the compound.

I wonder for how long our girls/women shall be referred to as men just because of their unique appearances and genetic blessings. The Olympics came to an end but missing in action were the likes of our fast cheetah ladies, the likes of Caster Semenya from South Africa, Francine Niyonsaba from Burundi, Margaret Wambui from Kenya, and Negesa Annet from Uganda. A week or two from the Olympics, a former Polish sprinter filed a complaint targeting the 18-year-old Christine Mboma of Namibia because her construction, movement, technique, speed, and endurance can’t be for a woman! In 2016, at the Rio Olympics, the 800m podium had Caster Semenya with Gold, Francine Niyonsaba with Silver, and Margaret Wambui with Bronze, who have all since been banned from participating in the 800m run at the international level. The ban on participating in the 800m came with an offer of 1500m….1500m, such a hefty exchange for 800m!

It so happens that the rules governing the athletes under the World Athletics Testerone rules have been modified over the years, which has arguably been believed that these rules are systematically targeting a specific group of individuals. In 2018, the International Association of Athletics Federations released new rules for the eligibility of women to participate in races which focused on; the athlete to be recognized as a female or intersex (or equivalent), reduction of blood testosterone levels below 5nmol/L with continuous assessment, and maintenance of the testosterone levels below 5nmol/L. At puberty, testosterone levels for men can go as high as 31.8 nmol/L and as low as 9.8nmol/L, while in women, testosterone levels lay between 0.3 – 2.4 nmol/L. Testosterone is an androgen hormone responsible for developing the testicles and prostate glands and promoting secondary sexual characteristics like increased muscle, deepened voice, body hair, and stronger bones. So what is the case? The likes of Caster, Negesa, Wambui, and Francine have their testosterone hormone levels above 5 nmol/L which has seen some writers or analysts refer to them as hermaphrodites, a rather disparaging term.

Annet Negesa of Uganda who underwent an irreversible surgery because of her naturally high levels of testosterone and has never been the same on the running track. Image source: BBC

Micheal Phelps is the most decorated Olympian with 28 medals. He was celebrated for the unique genetic differences that offered him an upper hand in outstanding performance through this career. He may be considered the greatest swimmer of all time thanks to his double-jointed ankles that give him an unusual range and his cells that barely produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced in our bodies while at work, building in the muscles and causing tiredness resulting from sore muscles or pain. Its production occurs temporarily as you engage in vigorous activities. His uniqueness was celebrated and praised at the tables of the highest order!

There has been a total twist of events with the inclusion of transgender people to participate and compete actively. It’s a great idea as inclusivity and diversity are essential. However, it questions the authenticity of the rules and laws set by these governing bodies. During the transition process, a lot goes on with the body hormones in pursuit of shaping them to the desired wants. A lot of hormone therapy takes place, such as woman to man; hair growth, muscle growth, voice deepening, metoidioplasty, and masculine characteristics are catered for in the hormonal therapy one takes on. This clearly indicates that the testosterone and progesterone hormones are evolving and getting redefined. It is vital to note that as transgender, one can still compete against fellow women as their birth sex is considered over their identity regardless of the alterations.

This leaves me questioning the inclusivity and diversity that we are talking about. If we are speaking of inclusion, why can’t the naturally endowed “African” women compete? It just so happens that no other race has had its participants get banned over the testosterone law. Could it be a systematic racial target? Why were these rules and regulations developed when the athletes created dominance in the sports? Why can’t these women be left to engage in sporting activities freely? It baffles me as the so-called hermaphrodites identify as women and have maintained their birth sex.

So many unanswered questions, little unsatisfying responses. Lest we understand, these are not men in skirts instead uniquely endowed women!

PS: The author is not transphobic or racist, and neither has any intention of malicious purposes but seeks to understand the discrepancies surrounding the testosterone laws and what feasible actions are being taken to support these women beyond the option of alteration of their natural hormonal levels.

Priority not an Option

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

You Reap What You Sow

It has been a crazy 2021 with a number of sports events taking place over a short period of time due to the unavoidable Global situation that had previously halted sporting activities. For sports fanatics, we can’t deny that the past months have been quite entertaining. From the Men’s FIBA AfroBasketball Qualifiers to the inaugural Basketball Africa League, Women’s FIBA AfroBasketball Qualifiers Zone V, European Championships, the Tokyo Olympics, and just ahead, we have the Men’s and Women’s FIBA AfroBasketball, the Summer Paralympics, English Premier League and currently the U16 Africa Championship Basketball games. Uganda has been part of the competitions and missed out on some of the sporting events due to a couple of reasons. 

Participation for the U16 Gazelles and Silverbacks in the U16 Basketball Championship was at stake not until it was tabled in the parliament of Uganda. This motion saw the Junior teams finally have a three-day preparation before the games in Egypt. The resilience and determination shown by the youngsters at the tournament can’t be undermined as their performance surpasses their preparation.

U16 Gazelles in action against Gabon at the U16 Basketball Championships taking place in Egypt. Image source: FUBA

At the start of the tournament, it was devastating to watch our players performing as just participants rather than as competitors. It wasn’t applaudable to watch the U16 Gazelles and Silverbacks lose their first games terribly.

In their first game against Egypt, the Jr. Silverbacks played a scoreless first half, two quarters down, conceding 37 points to Egypt. I patiently waited till the end of the second quarter with hopes that we could miraculously try to recover. If disappointment had a face, I would have been its expression. The U16 boys spent the whole first twenty minutes running from half to half. Actually, it looked like a training session, and the boys in red had been summoned to perform suicides! I looked at how brave these young boys were to continue playing without having the scoreboard, which read 130:30 by the end of the game, getting to their minds.

The U16 Gazelles game against Mali wasn’t exciting either. Turnover after turnover. What I felt is actually indescribable seeing our girls’ possession become a steal converted into a basket each time Mali set its grip on the ball. Mali must have questioned if it had been presented with the right team to play against…92:12!!!!!!

The comment section under the official posts by the National Basketball Federation and the YouTube live totally accorded no respect to the players and the coaches. Attacking the coaches and the players for their poor performance was such a belittling act. I doubt any of the above set their foot on those courts intending to lose.

Context. For every year, just like we have a Financial year, there is also a Sports year/calendar, and all activities taking place will strategically be geared towards the success of the planned events. Unfortunately, the Jr. Gazelles and Silverbacks were prepared for an International competition two or three days before the event! The U16 Gazelles camped for 3 days while the Jr. Silverbacks had non-residential training before the games. Their performance goes beyond their circle of influence as they didn’t have the right resources available to them in time for the tournament’s preparation.

The U16 Silverbacks playing against Team Gabon in the U16 Basketball Championships. Image source: FUBA

Although all hope is not lost as the players managed to have comebacks in their progressive games and are potential contenders to play in the semi-finals, we should not downplay the loopholes that the tournament has exposed. Preparation is crucial for a team to have a fair, competitive advantage. Basketball is a game where practice never lies. Three days of preparation sounds like a total mockery to the sport. What has happened can’t be changed, but the future can be changed. Sports teams representing the country are performing a national duty and deserve to perform it with due diligence. 

It’s high time sports as an industry is given priority at the National level, and attention is accorded to the enabling factors given to the athletes. We need to tackle the issue of sports from the grassroots level, whether it’s sports leadership or skill development. The coaches’ and players’ performance is as good as the resources available to them. 

Otherwise, congratulations to Chemutai, Cheptegei, and Kiplimo, who also managed to bring home Gold, Gold plus Silver, and Bronze Olympic medals, respectively. We are still proud of the Olympians who didn’t perform as they expected because you represented Uganda at the highest accredited games competing against fellow world-ranked athletes. 

Prioritize sports!

Article by Elizabeth Kisolo | kisolo@basketball256.com |Twitter: Big_Foot115

Young Promising Athlete

Ssekitoleko’s story is just a perfect example of what is on the ground for the young promising athletes in Uganda. Just 21 years of age, most probably facing a youthful crisis coupled with the frustration of an economy that barely supports the professional field he is building a career in. Having borrowed money to purchase food supplements as he prepared for the Olympics and leaving his pregnant wife with UGX 150,000 (USD 42), the least he needed to hear was his disqualification to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. I don’t want to imagine the sweet promises he made to his wife as he proudly clad in the truck suit embroidered with the Uganda flag and hopped on a “bodaboda” en route to the meeting point for the journey to the airport.

Team Uganda on arrival at the residential hotel in Osaka, Japan. Image source: STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP

Let’s come back home. Daphine (not real names) is a promising young basketball player. I met her during the 1st lockdown in 2020. Throughout her education system, she has leaped from school to school, willing to cater to her financial-academic needs. She completed high school in 2018, but her luck fell short. She had a wagon of friends who were also riding on sports scholarships from school to school. Out of the wagon, they all opted for marriage and abandoned the sport. A couple of teams have called her out to play, but her only term is to be given education in exchange. None seemed to be heeding to her term. Luck knocked at her door in 2020, with Uganda Christian University opening its doors to her for the September intake. She last held a smartphone in January 2020 and currently carries a sim card which she inserts in any phone that allows her to make a few calls. Online learning is the option the school offered her, and if this lockdown pushes to September this year, she will have to wait till 2022. She has dreams of playing in Kenya. During practice days, she uses a transport fare of UGX 15,000 – 20,000 (USD 4 – 5) to and fro Mukono. Young promising athlete indeed!

I imagine the day Daphine will have an opportunity to represent the country at an international event. I am not sure if her return is guaranteed.

We can keep pretending that all is fine, but deep down, we all know that it is not right to award someone a crate of beer after a game. It’s painful to see a player investing in the gym work, personal workouts, feeding and transport expenses, sports gear all year round, and when the tournament or league comes around, an adjustable chair is offered in recognition of their outstanding performance. If all is fine as the picture is painted, why are there stories of sports officials confiscating athletes’ documents as soon as they set foot in another nation? Ssekitoleko’s story came just weeks after a National Rugby 7’s player had disappeared while in Monaco. Begging for USD 5 a day while chasing a dream sounds sweeter than having a pipe dream with a USD 280 paycheck! It’s very unfortunate that we have ambitious athletes that are met with a failed system.

What enabling factors do our sports governing bodies have? A daily allowance of UGX 10,000 (USD 2.5) is worth a day’s transport fare, of which approximately 1 out of 10 athletes receive that allowance. After a heated training and workout, one is expected to feed well, but I will leave this issue at the nearest “Rolex” stands to the sports grounds. Have you ever wondered why a young athlete of 19 years of age in a developed country will have a performance way better than a 25-year-old in our country? Their worries are less about how he will secure his next meal, or another pair of shoes, or get medical attention. In contrast, Ssekitoleko’s worries stretch from what he will eat right after practice, or reach home, or get back to practice the next day, to if he will be able to get medical treatment for an Achilles rupture. With all that pending, Ssekitoleko and the likes of Daphine have to keep working hard. Most athletes dream of leaving the country and play in another country. Athletes who manage to make their way out, even if they play in the lowest Division in their newfound homes, are as comfortable as a parliamentarian in Uganda. I defer to talk about the infiltration of our national teams by mainly athletes who are building their careers away from the country—just wondering why our local bred athletes can’t be trusted enough (scoffs a bit).

Ssekitoleko (Blue Cap) Upon his arrival at the Uganda International Airport. Image source: Chimp Reports

Why can’t Uganda be the green pasture? The brain drain of athletes is costing the nation a significant loss. Sports is estimated to have a global economic worth of USD 300 billion and is projected to hit USD 600 billion by the end of 2021. Uganda is blessed to have the most youthful population, but it’s sitting on a time bomb if these youth are not engaged to benefit the country, and sports would be the best avenue to tap into. Let’s face the fact; athletes seeking for green pastures is not about to end for as long as their value remains as low as (or even lower) UGX 1,000,000 a month (USD 290). We shall continue to send officials each year to help in the search for the runaway young promising athletes. 

“Ebyemizannyo,” so they call sports in most local languages! You should all stop thinking that dressing one in a new track suit and having them taking pictures while screaming “ffene” in front of a plane is enough to keep them around or enhance their sports performance.

Article by Elizabeth Kisolo | kisolo@basketball256.com | Twitter: Big_Foot115

Beating the Odds

Are we promoting women’s sports to the right audience? 

Comparing women’s sports viewership and inclusivity in media at the start of the last decade, 2010.. and fast forward now the 2020’s, we can agree that there is a significant improvement. More sports bloggers have widened their scope of capturing sports and telling the women’s stories. Different media channels have created an opportunity for women to air their content and incorporate a lifestyle into the women’s sports fans. After I was hosted on a radio show to share my views on women in sports under the organization Score Beyond, I had an interaction with the host who told me that she had developed the idea of hosting women in sports every Wednesday on her radio show as a means to have more women involved in media. After being hosted on a television show to discuss women’s basketball, we were curious to know why we were selected to participate on the show, so we asked, why us? The host informed us that one of the visions of the media house is to strike a balance between women’s and men’s sports. Which was very impressive, right? Many more television and radio shows have impressively tried to strike a balance between women and men in sports media. 

With all the attention that is now being paid to women’s sports, are we appealing to the right audience, or are women in sports being represented the right way? Publicity comes with a lot of pros and cons, which include favorable competition for fundings, paid partnerships, sponsorship deals, and the growth of women in sports. However, it was disappointing recently during the FIBA Women’s Afrobasketball Zone 5 games airing when the comment section was filled with totally unrelated topics. Once again, as the South Sudan ladies team hustled against the formidable team of Egypt, a couple of people were busy discussing how many cows a player x is worth in their country! Such comments deprive an innocent viewer of seeing the beauty in women’s sports, and soon, their point of view will be leaning towards sexist thoughts about women in sports. We may underestimate the power of such small acts, but even the most minor evil can potentially cause the most significant damage. Sexist comments thrown around to women athletes will soon yield to body shaming, and when the worst comes to the worst, sexual exploitation of our women athletes. When asked to comment about sexist comments by fans, Coach Mavita responded, “It is a no-brainer! It shouldn’t be encouraged at all. We can’t control the fans, but some leagues have rules that punish that behavior.”

Image source: Chimp reports. Coach Mavita during the U18 women’s FIBA games in Maputo, Mozambique.

Let your intentions of watching or supporting women’s sport be as pure and clean as when you are watching men’s sports. We need to protect our women athletes from any potential abuse, whether it’s a sexist comment or a physical assault.

Nevertheless, we admire the direction women’s sports are taking both in visibility and having more women in the media area, with individuals like Usher Komugisha placing the bar high. Her role as a commentator at the inaugural BAL games in Kigali will forever be historic for sports media. Imagine we eliminated all the classism and sexism directed towards women, and we let them favorably compete and thrive in those formerly gendered fields. 

Let’s continue to show support to women in sports the right way. The airing of the FIBA Women’s Afrobasketball Zone 5 qualifiers on the Rwanda National Television and live on YouTube and airing of the Rugby Afrique women’s games on the Uganda National Television is one of the right strides women’s sports is taking. Put women’s sports in the media!

Image source: Uganda Women’s Rugby Facebook page. Samiya Ayikoru of Uganda in action against the Zimbabwe team on the 14th of July, 2021.

Elizabeth Kisolo | kisolo@basketball256.com | Twitter: @Big_Foot115