Kids in Uganda turn to competitive sports

In two years, KKL has organised four football, one basketball and two baseball seasons THIS Saturday, hundreds of children from most of Kampala's primary schools will flock Rainbow International School to make sure their names are entered for the next kids' football league. Over 500 boys and girls are expected to register for the league. The league, organised by Kampala Kids League (KKL), provides all boys and girls aged between 5-14 with the opportunity to play competitive team sports. KKL is the brainchild of two British nationals resident in Kampala who in 1998 were horrified by the fact that many schools had reduced the amount of time devoted to sport either to concentrate on academic studies or due to logistical problems. Trevor had been in Uganda for 11 years working as a chartered quantity surveyor, while Lesley Magnay had worked for the British Council in Uganda for 10 years as an Administrator. They carried out consultations with National Council of Sports' (NCS) Abbey Lutaya and the minister of state for education and sports, came up with an outline plan for KKL. They decided to model the league along similar lines to the American Little League System which had been in operation for over 50 years. Eventually a framework structure and master plan was developed. The big break through came when Stanbic Bank, who had been involved in a similar programme in Jordan agreed to be prime sponsors of the league. With this financial support and backing from NCS and local schools, KKL was born. After surveys revealed that football would be the most popular sport, Lesley and Trevor visited many schools and over 250 boys and girls aged between five and 13 registered for the first season. KKL got 18 sponsors to support teams and three leagues were played between September and November 1998. Impressed with these initial developments, Mr Anton Kleinschmidt, new MD of Stanbic Bank agreed to sponsor Kampala Kids League for a further three years and this has now given KKL the necessary support to expand their activities in the future. In the two years since inception, four football, one basketball and two Baseball seasons have been successfully completed. Over 1,950 boys and girls have graduated through the KKL drawn from 48 different schools around Kampala. Over 55 companies have sponsored teams and many more are queuing up to get involved. KKL shone in June in Egypt when they beat hosts El Masry team 3-1 in the International U14 Soccer Tournament to lift the trophy. KKL team comprised, among others, six players from the City Tyres League. Currently, 16 teams are competing in the second Baseball League which has attracted 240 boys and girls and is coached and refereed by the Uganda Baseball Association who together with KKL are trying to develop the game in Uganda. Emma Ntwatwa, KKL Kids Administrator, said that for the sh15,000 children pay as registration fee, "each player receives nearly sh100,000 of goodies including a full professional colourful strip of shirt, shorts and socks." The shirt is printed with the name of the sponsor, the logo of the league sponsor and the KKL logo, he added. In addition each player receives a medal, a framed team photograph, and a certificate confirming successful completion of the KKL league. Players receive free sodas and mineral water every week to prevent dehydration. Each player of the teams winning the leagues also receives a special trophy. All team sponsors also receive a 10inch by 8inch specially framed team photograph and certificate in recognition of their support for KKL. In addition, team sponsors winning the league receive large trophies specially engraved with the winning team name. Sue Farmer, KKL Sponsor Liaison, said: "Without sponsorship, sporting development is limited. Everyday companies receive hundreds of requests for assistance. In Uganda, as elsewhere, you must keep your sponsors happy. In this way sponsors will continue to support you." Trevor and Lesley said that there are several expansion plans at the moment. "Nearly 2000 children have so far graduated through KKL," Lesley said. James Bagonza, KKL Development Officer, said, "We have been offered many plots of land to buy for us to develop a sports centre for children. Several schools have also offered us their facilities for us to develop and Alfred Omony Ogaba, minister of state for education and sports, has also told us he will support us and request land on our behalf from Kampala City Council. "The Mayor is also kindly looking into this. This is a wonderful offer and we hope that this request is successful," he said. KKL have provided assistance and donations to The Tigers Street children soccer club, City Tyres Soccer League , Special Olympics, Schools Basketball Association, and Uganda Baseball Association to try and assist grass root development around the country. They also assisted Red Barnet Danish Save the Children and GUSCO in organising a football and netball tournament in Gulu District last year for war orphans. KKL are also looking into the possibility of setting up similar leagues in upcountry districts under its Rural Development Programme. "There is no better investment in Uganda than in our children. There is tremendous raw talent and potential in this country and it is a pity that it is not being developed fully," Trevor said. "We like to think that with the right messages and action from government our kids of today will be competing in the 2008 Olympics and 2010 World Cup." It is hoped that government does not turn a blind eye to this golden opportunity to improve sporting facilities for the good of the children in the new millennium. Let the children turn up at Rainbow International School this Saturday. Ends.