Motherwell Schools summer sports camp ends on a high

Former Cranes left back Godfrey Walusimbi, known as ‘Jajja Walu,’ has advised parents to support their children in their sporting careers alongside their academic endeavours.

Walusimbi was speaking to parents and children during the closure of the ten-day Motherwell 'summer sports camp' for holidaymakers aged 6-14 years, aimed at sharpening the youngsters’ skills in football, volleyball, netball, and woodball.

“If a parent is around when their child is doing sports, the child is going to be fired up and enthused to impress. They are still young and cannot guarantee what they will become in the future, so you shouldn’t limit their abilities,” Walusimbi said.

He also advised coaches to ensure they pass on the right tactics because the information children consume at a tender age is what they will carry with them wherever they go.

The Most Valuable Player-Netball Emmanuel Wamala from the Motherwell Sports Academy Summer Camp receives prizes from former Cranes defender Godfrey Walusimbi. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“Keep the youngsters on the right track by feeding them the right information so that they can become professionals,” Walusimbi advised.

He noted that parents often ignore sports, yet it is another avenue through which one can earn a living in the modern world. “This initiative is a timely intervention because, first of all, the children in the locality and from the school are going to benefit, and eventually, the country will also benefit from their talents that can be showcased on the world stage,” Walusimbi added.

“This is a good initiative, and I call on the parents to support their children because it is them who are currently in charge of them,” he emphasized.

Walusimbi advised the youngsters to listen to their coaches to grow up with the right techniques and skills while learning about the tactical requirements of the game. He also encouraged them to work on their mindset, physical abilities, and to maintain a balanced diet.

Motherwell CEO Billy Ssemusu said they are keen on producing holistic children who can excel in both academics and sports because they complement each other very well.

“Our vision is to run an academy that can teach different sports to nurture and develop young talents into professionals. Our mission is to create an environment that helps our youngsters become multi-skilled, confident, self-reliant, and dynamic in both the academic and sports worlds,” Ssemusu stated.

He said the objective of the summer camp was to identify and develop the talents of the youth around Mutungo and the whole country, and to recognize their abilities in various sports, not just football.

“We also want the youngsters to develop life skills so that they can manage their careers well and exploit the abundant opportunities around us,” Ssemusu added.

The director of Motherwell Schools, Mark Kayongo, thanked the children for their eagerness to learn as many skills as possible from the various sports, which have impacted their lives. He also thanked the parents for supporting their children.

“The children have learned a lot of skills and have been inspired by the best coaches in the different disciplines. We want the kids to learn many skills as we prepare them for their future job environments, which remain complex,” Kayongo stated.

“We want to produce children who are multi-skilled and talented because that is what the world requires of them,” he concluded. Sixty children participated in the inaugural training camp.

Motherwell Summer Camp bests

Best goalkeeper

Sharif Mutebi

Top scorer

Jeremiah Afaayo Musaazi

MVP

Christian Kaye

Promising player

Andrew Jeron Asiimwe

Girls football

Josephine Nakibuuka

Volleyball MVP

Saabir Asiimwe

Netball MVP

Emmanuel Aaaron Wamala