Football has four types of club ownership and these are; Institutional, Private (Individual), Community (membership) and Hybrid clubs. However, defining and publicly listing Club ownership has been one of the biggest challenges to football professionalization in Uganda.
Well aligned ownership breeds good governance, administration and sense of belonging by the people owning the clubs depending on the model chosen.
The 27th FUFA Exco took a decision on 31st August 2022 and approved the proposal for creation of community clubs; a model that will create sustainable and accountable clubs built to last.
The FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim in company of Executive Committee members Rogers Byamukama, Ronnie Kalema and Dan Obote held a consultative meeting with stakeholders from Acholi region to share ideas on the possible creation of a Community club in their region. The meeting was held on Sunday 11th September 2022 at Acholi Inn, Gulu City.
The FUFA Professional Leagues Manager Shawn Mubiru also attended the meeting.
The launch of the framework on Community Clubs was to guide the football passionate regions create strong founded and self-sustaining football clubs that will have an attachment and appeal to the masses of selected regions.
The FUFA Executive identified and provided potential areas of focus where the programme will be first implemented with Acholi, Tooro and Masaka being earmarked as the areas to kick start the programme.
The FUFA President opened his speech with words of praise to the people of Northern Uganda on a day Acholi Province took on Buganda Province in the 1st leg quarterfinals of the FUFA Drum.
‘Thank you, the people of Acholi, for welcoming us dearly and in such big numbers. Most importantly thank you for loving and embracing the FUFA Drum. The people of Northern Uganda you are undoubtedly the biggest supporters of the ‘FUFA Drum. Thank you for loving and supporting football,’ FUFA President began his presentation.
‘FUFA together with the people of Acholi we are in the process of giving guidance on creating a football club in your Province. Support us and we shall deliver it. We want a club that can win the Uganda Premier league, a club that can host international matches in the facilities that are in Acholi.’ He added.
‘Community clubs are the future. We want a platform that is going to tell the Acholi story; how do you dance? How do you celebrate among other things?’ noted the FUFA President.
Decorated UPDF General Charles Otema Awany who is the Patron of the Acholi Province team led a host of high-profile officials from Acholi region that included Business Owners, Members of Parliament, district chairpersons and Mayors, district sports officials, Northern regions district officials, District Football Association (DFA) officers among other opinion leaders and high-profile personalities from Acholi.
The meeting culminated into the creation of a 10-man committee that has been charged with the responsibility of organizing and overseeing the initial stages of creating a community club in Acholi.
Calvin Okello
Anthony Akera
Bernard Loum
Emmanuel Ogik
Alfred Okwonga
Phillip Lukara
Gilbert Olanyah
John Paul Kifasi
Mathew Dickens Canamitu Jolly Laker
The four (4) types of club ownership
- Institutional Clubs
Owned by a private company or government institution that is created by an act of parliament or a government parastatal.
This model is principally setup as a PR and/or CSR tool for the institution.
- Private Clubs
Owned by a shareholding of natural and/or legal persons. This model is principally setup for football business purposes.
- Community Clubs
Owned by a membership of more than 100 or so fans. This model is setup for sport but proven most suitable for posterity and sports business.
- Hybrid Model
A combination of the above models. This model is normally a compromise position of various inherited ownerships.
Challenges to find a suiting governance model practices.
Depending on the objectives and history of the club, different models suit different clubs and they have different advantages and disadvantages.
Social return on investment which include; increased social connectedness, wellbeing, employment outcomes; personal development; physical health; civic pride and support of other community groups.
Members of community clubs gain greater social support than through their other social networks. They help people develop skills in public speaking, problem solving, decision making, conflict resolution, and dealing with people from diverse backgrounds.
Community Football clubs are important and effective vehicles for delivering health and safety campaign messages for the people.They harness the collective energy of players, coaches, administrators, volunteers and supporters to not only deliver sport and social activities for members, but for their respective communities.
Creation of direct employment opportunities for their communities and they are large consumers within their own communities, supporting local businesses such as bakeries, cafes, hotels, butchers, boda bodas, bars, restaurants and local trades people.