Roads leading to Lugogo Indoor Stadium and YMCA court, Wandegeya can be as chaotic as downtown Kampala on some nights.
In fact, during last month’s Fuba League final series between DMark Power and Kyambogo Warriors, you could barely find space to drive through on roads neighbouring YMCA. “I parked at the Ministry of Public Service like 45 minutes before the game due to lack of space and had to walk to the venue,” one fan noted.
Seeing as his Warriors side lost the ultimate game 83-71 to squander the seven-game series 4-3, this fan was supposed to be downbeat and angry having parted with Sh5, 000 but couldn’t secure a seat in the arena. But he wasn’t complaining and only appreciated the quality of the contest that had seen Warriors come from 3-0 down to force a decisive clash. “The umpires were superb and handled the game well. I personally have nothing against them,” he added.
Streams of people define Ugandan basketball and this is bound to grow if the eternal self-destruct button doesn’t ruin it like it has done to other sports.
All this comes at a time when the presumed most popular sport – football – labours to attract half the crowds that throng basketball venues. It’s only when Uganda Cranes are in action that we get to see big football crowds.
Challenges
Many sports administrators would to anything to have the trouble of managing the multitudes that basketball is yet to learn how to deal with. So many challenges remain but Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) president Ambrose Tashobya is still basking in the success so far.
“As Fuba, we are pleased and have enjoyed the good following,” Tashobya said in a recent interview. Tashobya, also the Warriors patron, took over the highest hoops’ office four years ago from Falcons’ John Ssimbwa in a closely contested vote.
“When I came into administration, all I wanted was to take the game to young people and make it a lifestyle for everyone who watches. Everyone should see sport beyond just sportsmen fighting for the ball. “At this point, it’s a game for the elite but we must take it beyond that and attach it more to the personalities of the players and not administrators.” Administrators are few so they will come and go from time to time. “I always want to feel more attached to (Power’s) Norman (Blick) and (Warriors’) Ronnie (Kasewu) than anyone else because it keeps the game important,” Tashobya adds.
During his time, there’s no hiding that the game has grown to even bringing in smaller things like official statistics for games starting with last season. Tashobya is set to bow out in March after just one term at the helm.
He has faced numerous challenges, many of which come from authorities much higher than Fuba.
“Before you get into management, you look and see so much you can do for the sport then get in and find it so hard,” the president, an architect by profession, said. “Working with government is a big challenge because many don’t see sport as a business where you can get lots of revenue. I have found it hard to work in such a setting yet we can make sports very lucrative. They think the old way.”
Uganda being a small economy, its often very hard to get funding from government exceeding Sh10m. Being a member of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), Tashobya finds himself needing to look at where so many sports are lacking.
Continuity
“Right now, many are relying on private partnerships but clubs need to set up proper legally constituted structures in order to become a magnet for companies. No one can give you money unless the team is properly structured with offices, and other basics.” He took time to preach continuity in terms of programmes after the polls where he won’t stand.
“I think I have done my part though it can get better. We should have a strategic plan for all stakeholders in marketing, coaches and referees to succeed.” Sport in Uganda is run by volunteers like Tashobya, who has transformed himself from a Warriors player to coach and now Fuba boss. “This tendency of goodwill should stop if we can generate revenue and pay people to treat this like any other job. For a self-employed person like me, people never see the returns of investing in sports. However, I don’t regret putting my money into it.”
He is a founder of Warriors and an inspiration to other players, mainly Steven Okias whom he thinks he has molded into a champion. “The next ambition for clubs should be positioning themselves to sell naming rights and get money to run their affairs.”
Among his prominent failures is the inability of Fuba, mirroring other federations, to get their own facility. “If we worked with government well, it would be possible to have a court at every district and be able to have a national tournament. In future, Fuba must try to have an arena that sits about 5, 000 people.
“This can start by developing the facilities at the respective universities – Makerere, UCU, KIU and Ndejje. Thereafter, building outside town can be explored.”