Baba Kizito battles Barca legend Deco for posession during the match at Namboole on Saturday. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
In Summary
A Rayco Garcia will now travel to Spain and reflect on recent events before returning to Uganda in January to lay out a grand strategy for the RG Soccer Academy
A Rayco Garcia will now travel to Spain and reflect on recent events before returning to Uganda in January to lay out a grand strategy for the RG Soccer Academy.
The 29-year-old admitted to being disappointed by the poor numbers at Namboole as Uganda All-Stars beat Barcelona Legends 5-3 last Saturday but reckons the overall initial objective had been achieved.
“Thanks to all the support of Ugandans and now we can count on even more support for the long future of the development of the academy and Ugandan football,” Rayco told Daily Monitor a day after Patrick Kluivert’s witch of a goal headlined Saturday’s exhibition match.
“Of course we didn’t hit the target,” added the ex-Barcelona trainee, who was attracted to venture into Uganda by local basketball president Ambrose Tashobya when the two met in the same Tanzanian hotel early this year. Huge chunks of Namboole – where fans paid Shs30,000 each, were empty, with the Shs150,000 VIP area hosting more people; which will have given organisers some lessons regarding target audience and marketing going forward.
Passionate
But that Rayco managed to bring down World, European and elite league winners will have gone a great distance in earning him the much needed credibility in a society that could be forgiven for pessimism given failed related ventures previously. “Now that Ugandans have seen that we are very serious and passionate about this, I hope the public and private sector will help us meet the target next time. We hope they will all come on board more and we develop Ugandan football and tourism.”
Proline Academy, who flattered to deceive despite Rio Ferdinand’s early blessings (the Manchester United legend has since pulled the plug after things in Kampala became unclear) always pop up whenever a new similar venture is talked about. “What happened before I don’t know. I want to be known for me and what I can do,” reiterated Rayco.
The Spaniard wants to build on last Saturday’s momentum and organize a match of legends from big European teams against a Ugandan select side every year but for now, he desires to have the first Ugandan play in La Liga. “I’m working to finish Baba Kizito’s visa and hopefully travel with him to Spain before Christmas so that he has trials with Getafe,” said Rayco, “If he passes, well and good and if he doesn’t, we can always try again.”
amwanguhya@ug.nationmedia.com
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