Training without football boots, proper kits and enough footballs was the reality at Saved Athleticos Soccer Academy in Kitebi.
That reality is now changing after the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) extended equipment support to the academy during an outreach at African Heritage Nursery and Primary School.
The academy received 20 Zakayo footballs, 18 brand new pairs of football boots, Janzi branded team playing kits and Uganda Cranes jerseys to improve its training environment and support the development of its young players.
The support came after a tweet by Saved Athleticos on X seeking sports equipment assistance. The story drew attention and was followed up by FUFA as part of its commitment through corporate social responsibility activities.
Saved Athleticos Academy is attached to African Academy Nursery and Primary School, where the academy players study.
The academy and the school use the same coach for both training and school programmes.
The FUFA delegation was led by Executive Committee Member Rogers Mulindwa.
Mulindwa said the intervention is in line with FUFA’s Strategic Plan and Corporate Social Responsibility commitments to ensure football development reaches the grassroots and supports communities.
The intervention follows efforts by Head Coach Calvin Nyombi to keep the academy running despite limited resources.
A former Kampala Junior Team player, Nyombi established Saved Athleticos with the belief that talent in the community can be nurtured into players capable of representing Uganda.
His commitment included selling his own phone to raise money to register the academy and making personal sacrifices to pursue his CAF D coaching qualification.
Rogers Mulindwa, FUFA Executive Committee Member
‘It is in the interest of FUFA and the entire football governing body in this country that we have football played across the country. We cannot build football without starting from the grassroots,’ he said.
‘One of these boys could perhaps make the national team in the future. Whether we shall be alive or not, you never know. That is why we shall keep monitoring their progress,’ he said.
Calvin Nyombi, Head Coach Saved Athleticos Soccer Academy
‘This is going to be a booster for my academy. I am extremely happy and grateful for the support, and I promise to promote these children to the highest level,’ Nyombi said.
‘I believe there is a lot of talent in the ghetto and in our communities. If we work hard at the grassroots, we shall be able to develop good players for the national level,’ he said.
Kanya Moses, Deputy Head Teacher and Games Teacher
‘Previously, these children were training barefooted, but now they have football shoes and the equipment they need. This is going to motivate them and encourage more talent to come into the programme,’ Kanya said.
