OLDEST LIVING FOOTBALL CLUB FALLS PREY TO UGANDAN SPORTS’ INFRASTRUCTURE ANATHEMA
In projection, for about the next decade, Sports will arguably be one of the biggest revenue generators to the Black Continent but for Sport to live, infrastructures are pivotal. These particulars seem to be falling on the deaf ears of many stakeholders and well wishers in the pearl to a unit of not protecting and developing the few structures at bay.
From Kasina Playgrounds in Kyenjojo through Nakigo in Iganga to Villa park, the poor hen has hatched as many bad eggs to the sporting sector and Nsambya Playgrounds commonly referred to as (Mu Miti e Gogonya) located along Hanlon road in the suburbs of Makindye Kampala becomes the latest bad egg.
Nsambya grounds providing homeage for FUFA 3rd Division side Nsambya Sports Club and Netball rising stars Nsambya Divas ,National Volleyball League club SPORT-S and 4th Division side Hammers Football club owned by the FUFA Deputy CEO is yet to follow the path of the ancestors.
Founded in 1911 by BISHOP J.N.KAPLING to harbour Catholic talent, Nsambya SC’s rich history of being the oldest living football club and also nurturing talents like Former Uganda Cranes Captain Denis Onyango,Robert Aloro , Ivan Anguyo might be coming to a dot.
For about a week, a group of people led by the Former Kampala Archdiocese Youth Chaplain Fr.Joseph Luzindana camped at the grounds, built a temporary fence (iron sheets barricade),removed goal posts and also deployed heavily not to allow any sporting action to take stage. The last Five years have beared plans to develop this playground only if all parties concerned sign a memorandum of understanding.
“In the last meeting,we resolved that there must be an order from the Archbishop of Kampala who is also the patron of the club as per the Founders’ constitution but it’s absurd to see this happening even after the intervention of the Makindye Resident city commissioner last Thursday ” says Coach Boban Fredrick Tusubira, the head coach of Nsambya SC.
This Website understands that a whopping 300 millions Ugandan shillings has been traded for the 1.5 acres piece to an Italian investor put up a commercial center.
In a call interview, Fr.Joseph Luzindana whose street life to being a priest gave him a second chance for life insists “There are plans to develop this playground”
The (Mu Miti e Gogonya) playgrounds is not just a sporting ground but also space for health camps, religious gatherings and political activities which help locals generate revenues from roadside ventures.
“I call upon the Archbishop of Kampala Dr.Paul Ssemwogere and all well-wishers to come and fight for our history” added gloomy Boban who also doubles as the Local Council III of this area.
Task sums at How such grounds should be protected and developed or the course remains with the highest bidder who is not sport probably taking the block vote!!
