UJL's Baaza calls for investment in academies

Moi Youth Football Cup

U11

French Sch. (Kenya) 1 UJL 1

Elite (Kenya) 3 UTL 1

Sokafrica (Kenya) 2 UJL 0

MEC (Kenya) 0 UJL 1

U8

Elite 0 UJL 3

Elite 1 UJL 2

MEC 1 UJL 1

Lakers (Kenya) 0 UJL 1

Uganda Junior League (UJL) coach Ronald Baaz is optimistic that if Ugandan kids are given special training in football, the country's future in the sport will be bright.

Baaz who guided UJL children to a second placed finish at the Moi International Cup in Nairobi said if players are consistently interested in football with different training at different levels of growth, Uganda will benefit from their talent.

"Of course because we travelled, the environment was not as normal but if you compare our (Ugandan) children with others, the country will benefit. It may look like a dream for now but it will certainly come true," Baaz explained on their return to Entebbe Airport.

Uganda Junior League official Charles Ssendagire (R) welcomes back some of the kids who participated in the tournament. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Sports academies in Uganda face a general problem of consistency because their players, parents and sports administrators in the country do not consider developing talent of their players as a priority but rather as a pastime activity.

FUFA has put in place junior football league and offered to pay coaches in all the clubs attached to premier league clubs as a move to develop, youth football that should feed the senior national team with players but this has been met with resistance among many of the clubs.