The she cranes coach Fred Mugerwa said that despite organizing the team that did wonders in just concluded Netball World Cup, he is not being paid yet he has a contract with the Federation.
He said although he was criticized for taking some of the players whom many think were not the right people to play for the national team, he had faith in them because he had tested they and they didn’t betray him.
I have never received my salary for 2 years I have been working and organizing the girls to perform it’s like I am a volunteer, for the last two years I have gotten only 500,000 after the Namibia trip.
‘’We have endured a lot of insults and abuses me and my players, the same people who are now praising us, they were abusing us before, I am grandfather , how can my children listen to such kind of abuses and insults.’’ Mugerwa wondered.
He adds; “ I have been in the sports arena for 50 years and inn netball for 40 years. What is paining me a lot is that even those who have passed in my hands, whom I have natured are the one fighting me and are also throwing insults to me and the players. ‘’
He called upon government to invest in infrastructures if we are to develop the sport because the countries we were competing with have the best infrastructures in the world and get enough time for preparation.
“ If we had better infrastructures we would be number one in the world. Our players were not exposed to such better facilities, we were only training on hard grounds in Kamyokya yet the surfaces of the pics we played on were like spring this limited our performance. “ Coach Mugrwa said.
She Cranes Captain Irene Eyaru asked government to help the girls acquire jobs because they can con sustain themselves after the prime time of their sports career. She said that in most case the sports personalities are praised and given money when they are still representing Uganda in international competitions but after they go on streets searching for jobs.
Eyaru while speaking at the dinner organized by National Council of Sports (NCS) to well come back the team at Serena Hotel, Kampala on Monday said that they pass through a lot of difficulties to make the ends meet therefore they need government to help them get permanent jobs in its different organizations.
The acting President of the Federation, Brigadier Byekwaso also pleaded with Government to invest in construction of better netball infrastructure country wide.
“You cannot grow the game without facilities, without the players. Uganda has the ability to win the Netball World Cup in 2027 and even host this tournament in 2031. All this is possible with better facilities in place” Brigadier Byekwaso stated.
She further said that South Africa which Uganda leapfrogged from the summit of Africa Netball, has 23 standard facilities and according to its leaders she talked to, were planning to increase the number to 50. She said that Uganda has the capability to perform better.
“We just can’t have a team with such a capability and display and deny them the chance. We can’t grow the game without growing the facilities and girls, they are our national ambassadors. We can’t grow when we are just here in Kampala because of lack of the necessary facilities.’’
By George Bukenya