Some of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League at the Training
By FUFA
In a bid to embrace Club Professionalism in Africa and in Uganda in particular, FIFA engaged Uganda Club administrators specifically the Chief Executive Officers, Chairmen and those heading the finance departments in a two day long workshop.
The Professionalism and Management Programme dubbed, ‘African Edition’ was successfully conducted by FIFA officials at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala and it climaxed on 1st Friday November, 2024. It attracted all StarTimes Uganda Premier League Clubs senior administrators.
The Programme aimed at enhancing club football management was officially opened by FUFA President Magogo Moses Hassim who was in the company of FUFA 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha and FUFA 3rd Vice President Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi.
Sc Villa’s Eng. William Nkemba
FIFA’s delegation was headed by Solomon Mudege, the Head of FIFA Development Programmes- Africa, Marcos Picallo Aguilar- FIFA Senior Professional Football Manager and Development, Davis Ndeyisenga- FIFA Lead Regional Office MA Division CECAFA, Silmara Sousa- MA Regional Coordinator, FIFA Development Programmes and Osman Salah- MA Africa Coordinator, Member Associations Africa.
Others included Abigail Haile Michael – MA Development Manager FIFA Member Association Regional Office and Kaly Keza- FIFA Member Association Regional Office Kigali
The FIFA instructors included Marcos Pelegrin, Javier Jose Pedro Sobribo and Pedro Manuel Correia Miranda. “We are glad that FIFA’s support is not limited to only Federations (MAs) but even Clubs are benefiting from Projects like this one. As FUFA, we extend our sincere thanks to FIFA and it is now upon the club administrators here to partake of the information and knowledge shared in order to become better brands,” he said before adding.
“Knowledge is power and you need it to transform society. I therefore implore our clubs to fully embrace this Programme.”
FIFA Head of Development Programmes-Africa Solomon Mudege indicated this Programme will in the long-run help football clubs in Africa to holistically develop.
“This Programme is a core activity of FIFA in order to build capacity in clubs and Leagues so that there is holistic growth of the game in the long run,” Mudege asserted.
Marcos Picallo Aguilar – Senior Professional Football Manager and Development- FIFA revealed that this Programme has been rolled out to 11 African countries and Clubs will be tasked to share their strategic plans later.
Chairmen/Presidents and CEOs from all the 16 Clubs spoke highly of the opportunity that was presented to equip them with knowledge and skills of transforming their teams in order to suit the modern football times.
StarTimes Uganda Premier League CEO Bernard Bainamani appreciated the experts FIFA sent to Uganda indicating their vast knowledge and experience should be a point of inspiration for the local clubs.
“We thank FIFA for the choice of instructors that they sent to us. There CVs tell it all because they have been directly involved with clubs and know how exactly our Clubs can improve. I have the belief that Club Chairmen and CEOs will put into practice the concepts they learnt from this Programme.”
What some of the Club officials said;
Abdu Kawuulu Mwanje – Lugazi FC Chairman
“As representatives from Lugazi FC, marketing and financial management topics were our major areas of interest. I want to thank the FUFA administration for the organisation and the instructors for the job well done.”
Ronald Barente – BUL FC Chairman
”We are extremely pleased with what FUFA is trying to do in terms of improving our League. Learning never stops and it is the most important aspect of life. The two days have been resourceful for us because the instructors gave us so many tips on how to become better both as individual clubs but also as a League.”
“The instructors put emphasis on governance structures of clubs, an aspect we tend to ignore as Ugandan Clubs. Once we improve on the governance of our clubs then the future is bright. I believe we have benefited a lot from this Programme and we will try to make improvements where the challenges have been.”