Salim enjoys a light moment with CAC instructor Turner Humphries (R) during training at Mbarara University recently. PHOTO BY COLLEB MUGUME
In Summary
SOCCER. Mbarara District used to be a footballing hub. Many youngsters would throng the pitches in Kakoba, Kakyeka and Police Quarters with hope to play in the Uganda Super League (USL) then with Mbarara United. But when the team got relegated, football became a myth.
MBARARA. Salim Blanden Twaha speaks in a soft tone. But all this is deceptive; behind his small stature lies a powerful dream to resurrect football not only in Mbarara District, but Western Uganda.
I first met Salim in 2001. He was a goalkeeper for Kakoba FC. Unlike many goalkeepers who pride themselves in hoarsely barking out instructions to their backline, Salim was always calm. Todate, nothing has changed much.
Passion for football
Salim’s footballing career took him to more than seven schools on bursaries. In 2007, his dream of playing for Mbarara United almost bore fruit but due to the presence of Laban Agaba, Salim remained just a squadsman. His chance came in 2008 when he joined City Lads in the First Division (current Fufa Big League) and helped it to the top tier. At City Lads, he pipped Emmanuel Opio (currently at KCCA) to the number one jersey but soon got injured. In 2009, he went back to Mbarara FC and played a few games. His injury resurfaced and he decided to retire, aged just 23.
Coaching journey
In 2010, Salim enrolled for a coaching course and started working with Uganda Youth Soccer Academy (UYSA), coaching kids aged between 9-14 and do the same on his travels to his home village in Mbarara.
“The kids in Mbarara would always beg me to take them to Kampala to play against their age-mates. It was a painful sight for them because they didn’t play any tournaments,” Salim says. The number of kids attending his training sessions increased and Salim got the urge to start his own academy.
Birth of Mbarara Sports Academy
In February 2010, Salim started Mbarara Sports Academy (MSA) with seven kids. It now has more than 200 kids, categorised in the U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 age brackets. At that time, there was only one annual tournament; the City Tyres U-14.
So, Salim had to organise a number of tournaments to keep the youngsters engaged. With the numbers, he embarked on ensuring his kids get proper secondary education. He approached Sentah College, Welden College, Gaddafi Intergrated, Ryakasinga, Bishop McAllister-Kyogera, Masaka SS, Blessed Sacrament Kimanya SS and Kakungulu Memorial School. Whereas the above-mentioned schools preferred players that could walk into the school teams straightaway, others like St. Andrew’s in Rubindi and Rutooma SS in Ibanda took the younger kids.
Light at the end of the tunnel
In June 2010, MSA played in their first-ever tournament and reached the U-14 regional semi-finals. In 2011, they won the Western Uganda U-17 Airtel Rising Stars tournament.
“Looking back, it was a crazy experience. We didn’t even have a jersey. We borrowed from Sentah College,” says Salim.
In the Nationals held in Kampala, MSA lost to CRO in the semi-finals. In 2012, MSA won the Orange U-17 Western Region tournament but lost to Arsenal-Uganda in the Nationals in Arua.
In February this year, they faced their biggest test when they hosted giants KCCA in the Uganda Cup at Kakyeka Stadium but lost 4-0. Despite the loss, the youngsters had made their mark.
“The stadium almost filled up for the first time. People in Mbarara had spent long without watching football and when a big team like KCCA came here, it was a big day for Mbarara. My boys also felt good playing against national team players like Joseph Ochaya,” adds Salim.
KCCA was impressed by the kids and forthwith signed goalkeeper Bashir Sekagya and left-back Hussein Kato to the KCCA U-17 team. Todate, Sweden-based Denis Komakech is MSA’s biggest product and Salim believes the doors will keep on opening for more of his young guns.
The youngsters’ confidence has since shot through the roof. Salim has arranged visits to different academies around the country to share knowledge. They have played against Edgar’s Youth Programme, Kampala Junior Team, Proline and Synergy among others. In 2015, Salim was voted the Mbarara District delegate to the Fufa Assembly. And today, he is almost the brainchild of every football activity in Mbarara.
“Before I became a delegate, we had only five teams in the Ankole Regional League, now we have nine. We also had no team in the Fufa Big League. Today we have Nyamityobora and Kireka United,” Salim boasts. He is optimistic that in five years, Mbarara will have a team in the Uganda Premier League and players in the Uganda Cranes.
“People in Ankole used to complain that the national team is primarily comprised of Baganda. Without football in Ankole, how did they expect their players to play for Cranes?” queries Salim.
Expansion plans
The Fufa delegate is in advanced plans of building a school and stadium in Mbarara. He has acquired land in Buremba, just outside Mbarara town and he believes construction will have started before the end of this year. His school will also cater for basketball and netball.
To achieve his dreams, Salim is partnering with a number of organisations including Coaches Across Continents based in USA, UK and FK Norway for exchange programs. Much as Salim’s story seems flawless, it’s full of challenges, too. Parents in Mbarara are not like those in Kampala. It is almost a taboo for a parent in Mbarara to pay for their children to enroll in academies. Hence Salim has to foot the financial needs from his shallow pockets. “Here, parents think soccer is a waste of time, even when it has educated their kids,” moans Salim.
“There are also many girls who are willing to play soccer but their parents cannot allow them. Two are playing for Western United in the Fufa Women’s Elite League but convincing their parents was a tug of war.”
To Salim, this is a calling that he is going to chase to the end, despite the enormous challenges. He is determined.
SALIM BLANDEN TWAHA
Age: 30
Height: 6’3’
Education: Karungi Primary School, Bishop Stuart PS, Nyamitanga SS, Ngabo Academy, Lake Mburo SS, Katikamu SDA, Makerere University Business School graduate with a diploma in international business
Occupation: Football coach
Qualifications: Fufa Level I, Coaches Across Continents Level III,
Plans: To enroll for a Caf C course and Community Impact with Coaches Across Continents.
skanyike@ug.nationmedia.com
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