Armed with sh30,000 and passion he built a strong kids' soccer team

By Owen Wagabaza

SOME teachers go to class, teach and leave. Some teachers go an extra mile. They teach and still fi nd time and initiative to inspire fellow teachers, students and the community as well. Walter Oyet is one such teacher. Oyet is a teacher at City Parents School in Kampala where, in addition to teaching, he started a soccer academy to impart sporting skills to pupils. With an initial investment of sh30,000, he purchased a soccer ball and two kits.

Today he runs a sports programme called Soccer League for Children Uganda, where over 200 children from diverse origins and socio-economic backgrounds learn football. His boys have travelled widely, participating in a number of tournaments in Spain and other European countries.

Today, his academy boasts of a number of trophies. Humble beginnings It all started with a job interview for teaching at City Parents School four years ago. Impressed with his sporting record as a teacher and trainer, the interviewers asked him whether he could uplift sporting standards if he were given a job. He agreed. Once he was confirmed on the job, he initiated City Parents Football Society.

He then took on an active coaching role, recruiting and coaching the pupils in football. “I was particularly driven by the talent that lay unutilised in these little boys,” Oyet recalls. The beginning was hard. “I had only sh30,000 which I used to buy a soccer ball. With this one ball, he invited his own students and a few others from a neighbouring school. Only two turned up from my school.

They were joined by four others from the neighbouring school,” he recalls. Four more students came in later and with a team of 10, Oyet’s sporting academy began to take shape. Without equipment, without money and with lukewarm response, the programme seemed to slow down.

He was only encouraged to go on by the head teacher, Martin Isagara. With sheer persistence, Oyet took his boys out every day, training them, encouraging them to bring their friends and making contacts for better equipment. Slowly, the numbers began to grow as more boys joined the academy. As the soccer sessions became more intense and exciting, the school supported him.

By the end of 2011, over 30 pupils had enrolled. In 2012, the academy was invited to a soccer tournament in Nairobi which they won. On return, more boys joined the group. “After our Nairobi trip, the numbers soared from 30 to 150,” Oyet says. Today, the academy trains pupils from City Parents School and neighbouring schoolsschool. Only two turned up from my school.

They were joined by four others from the neighbouring school,” he recalls. Four more students came in later and with a team of 10, Oyet’s sporting academy began to take shape. Without equipment, without money and with lukewarm response, the programme seemed to slow down.

He was only encouraged to go on by the head teacher, Martin Isagara. With sheer persistence, Oyet took his boys out every day, training them, encouraging them to bring their friends and making contacts for better equipment. Slowly, the numbers began to grow as more boys joined the academy.

As the soccer sessions became more intense and exciting, the school supported him. By the end of 2011, over 30 pupils had enrolled. In 2012, the academy was invited to a soccer tournament in Nairobi which they won. On return, more boys joined the group. “After our Nairobi trip, the numbers soared from 30 to 150,” Oyet says. Today, the academy trains pupils from City Parents School and neighbouring schoolsschool. Only two turned up from my school. They were joined by four others from the neighbouring school,” he recalls.

Four more students came in later and with a team of 10, Oyet’s sporting academy began to take shape. Without equipment, without money and with lukewarm response, the programme seemed to slow down. He was only encouraged to go on by the head teacher, Martin Isagara. With sheer persistence, Oyet took his boys out every day, training them, encouraging them to bring their friends and making contacts for better equipment. Slowly, the numbers began to grow as more boys joined the academy.

As the soccer sessions became more intense and exciting, the school supported him. By the end of 2011, over 30 pupils had enrolled. In 2012, the academy was invited to a soccer tournament in Nairobi which they won. On return, more boys joined the group. “After our Nairobi trip, the numbers soared from 30 to 150,” Oyet says. Today, the academy trains pupils from City Parents School and neighbouring schools  Rigorous exercise Training involves rigorous drills carried out every Saturday at City Parents grounds.

Oyet says the training sessions thrive on hard work and a safe playing atmosphere for the lads. “We inculcate values of fairness, endurance, sharing, team spirit, confi dence, respect for one another and many other values,” Oyet says. Within just three years the academy has won major titles.“We have participated in “We have participated in over 20 tournaments winning trophies in Kigali, Nairobi, and Arusha,” he says.

Last year, his team participated in the International Youth Football Tournament in Spain and won the ‘solidarity team of the tournament’ award. “We will be going back next year,” he says proudly. As a result of the academy’s growing stature and international exposure, they have since opened a website www.sl4cuganda.org to enable them publicise their activities. “We have also acquired a vehicle to transport the team,” he says.

The academy has also opened their own tournament and attracted 72 teams this year. “We will hopefully host European teams by 2017,” he says. And yet, it has not been all rosy. “Our biggest challenge has been building the academy and sustaining numbers,” Oyet says, further explaining that because of the demanding academic schedules of many of his trainees, some do not consistently turn up for training. “This stifl es training activities.”

The academy also lacks permanent training grounds, making it very diffi cult for them to settle and concentrate on training.

Who is Walter Oyet?

Born in 1977 in Kitgum district to Santa Langweni and Charles Bukenya Oneka, Oyet attended East Kololo and Iganga Boys Primary School; then St Joseph’s College Layibi and Lubiri Secondary School for his high school education. When he failed to raise money to pursue his desired water engineering course at Kyambogo University, his friend advised him to train as a teacher.

He graduated as a professional primary school teacher at Kitgum Core Primary Teachers College and later got a job as a Community Development Offi cer for Kid’s League, in charge of Pader and Kitgum district for three years. At the end of his contract, he joined Childcare International Primary School in Kitgum from where he later joined City Parents school.

Advice to fellow teachers

Oyet advises fellow teachers to overcome the fear of risk and try out new enterprises. “I encourage you not to fear risk, but rather learn to manage the risk and manage your enterprises with passion and patience,” he says.

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT OYET
Conrad Ddungu, P4, City Parents School: Mr Oyet has done a great job. He has given us a lot of support. He always gives us hope even when we lose. We also got a chance to travel to Spain.

Martin Isagara, head teacher, City Parents School: Oyet is very hardworking and we have given him our assurances. Parents appreciate what he is doing. The entire project really needs our support and we are doing exactly that. Charles Mulagwe, parent, City Parents: It is a great project and I am in total support of it. I believe children should be given a chance to explore their talents at an early age.