Red Ball Drop Day #5: Finale!

My last official day for the Red Ball Drop in Uganda, and Ball Drop #23 and #24, took place at the ENGAGE Uganda, Namuwongo Youth Soccer Tournament (attended by over 500 people) and Uganda's School for the Disabled. 10 youth from GYPA who live in Namuwongo, some of which also participate in Gomo Tong Football Club, participated in sporting matches with the children and youth including, hand ball and tug-o-war. View the photos here and more details coming soon!

Red Ball Drop #23 - Namuwongo
We distributed 5 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls for the ENGAGE Uganda, Namuwongo Youth Soccer Tournament, which included more than 80 children in the matches.

Red Ball Drop #24 - Mengo
We distributed 4 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls and 5 Molten Balls to over 200 children and youth.

In just 5 days here are the numbers:

Number of Red Balls and Molten Balls Distributed: 162
Number of Cities and Towns: 10
Number of Districts: 3
Number of Ball Drop Sites: 23
Estimated number of Ball Drop Uganda Beneficiaries: 3,000

The GYPA staff will embark on Ball Drops in Gulu later this week, and some of the balls will be used for the Gomo Tong Football Club preparations and practices for Homeless World Cup Melbourne.

Stay tuned...

Red Ball Drop Day 3 and 4 - Ntinda, Lugogo, Mukono, Masese and Jinja

Here is the latest photo album from Red Ball Drops Day #3 and #4. Commentary coming soon! Our days took us to a variety of inspiring and challenging places in Central and Eastern Uganda. Enjoy the photos here

We conducted the following Red Ball Drops:

Day # 3
Red Ball Drop #17 - Uganda School for the Deaf (Located in Mengo); 7 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls and 7 Molten Balls. Total number of students at the school is 200.

Day # 4
Red Ball Drop #18 - Ferdinand's Proline Academy; 4 Molten Balls to 30 under-10 children

Red Ball Drop #19 - Mukono; 5 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls and 5 Molten Balls to 100 youth

Red Ball Drop #20 - Uganda Remand Center and Prison (Jinja); 2 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls and 6 Molten Balls to 600 people

Red Ball Drop #21 - Masese Landing Site (located near Lake Victoria); 4 Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls and 4 Molten Balls to 80 youth and children

Red Ball Drop #22 - Africa Youth Development Organisation; 4 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls and 4 Molten Balls to 100 youth and children

On Day # 3 and Day # 4, we distributed a a total of 23 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Balls and 31 Molten Balls. The balls are estimated to reach more than 1,100 people.

A Break in the Ball Drop....

Like many people here in Uganda, I've started to follow the various early stage Olympic Games. Right now, I am watching Nigeria v.s. Japan in soccer (and Nigeria just scored the first goal of the match). In 1996, and maybe you wouldn't believe it, but Nigeria won the Gold Medal in soccer. Don't believe me?

Tonight I'll look forward to the USA v.s. China basketball game. The stage is set for the U.S. to redeem itself from it's terrible performance at Athens in 2004.

However, this morning, I watched Russia v.s. Iran. Russia, who has star NBA player Andrei Kirilenko, was the overwhelming favorite, and defeated Iran 71-49. However, Iran played a fantastic game and fans cheered them on throughout the game.

After the game was truly the BIG moment (and thanks to ESPN for putting this on their homepage). Reporters had questioned the team members about the tensions between Iran and Israel. In response, it is reported that Russian Coach, David Blatt (who holds dual Israeli and American Citizenship) and Iranian Team Captain, Mohammed Nikkah, shared a hug and pat on the back. The questions came about after an Iranian swimmer refused to participate in a pre Olympic meet because an Israeli athlete was competing in the same race.

This demonstration of hope, and friendship through sport - even in the face of prejudice - is alive across the globe.

In fact, to bring it back to Africa for a moment in 1999, the East and Central Africa Club Championship was being held in Uganda between two countries that have been in conflict for several years, Ethiopia and Eritrea. During their stay in Kampala, the media and locals reported that the teams were sharing smiles, laughs and a meal before the match.

There is more work ahead and the challenges are many, but sports is a way that we can further embrace cultures, societies, and peace in our world.

From Uganda's Villages to the Olympic Village

The world may not expect Uganda to win a gold medals - or any medals for that matter in Beijing - but, considering the country's history of conflict in the 1970's and 1980's, Uganda has performed well over the years, and is churning out some exceptional young talent.

Over the last 6 days I've studied a bit about Uganda's Olympic and Sporting History. I learned that the best of times (and the worst of times) was during the regime of General Idi Amin.

Amin was well known as a sports enthusiast and athlete. He was a boxer, basketball and rugby player (oh, and by the way, he stood a imposing 6'4" and weighed 280 lbs). Today, he is considered both an evil tyrant that you never wanted to enter the ring against, and a sports hero who advocated and financially backed Ugandan athletes. Amin, some say, viewed this as an easy way to promote his country to the world.

The evidence of his backing is the following:

During his regime, the national boxing team, the Bombers, was ranked 3rd in the world amateur boxing. In 1978, the Uganda national soccer team, the Cranes, qualified for the Ghana African Cup of Nations finals where it finished second place after losing to Ghana 2-0, but they have since not achieved this level of success on the soccer pitch at any Africa or international tournament.



So, where are Ugandan sports today? Thanks to informative reporting by the Daily Monitor and New Vision, Team Uganda Athlete Profiles, Uganda's Olympic History, and and color commentary, it's been enlightening to learn a bit more about the state of Ugandan sports.

Uganda's Medal History


Uganda first took part in the Olympic Games in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia and have won a total of six medals, with the late John Akii Bua (photo left) winning the country’s only gold medal in the 1972 Munich Games in 400 meter hurdles.

Bua became a national hero and upon returning to Uganda, he received a city bungalow, a street and a stadium in Lira, northern Uganda, were also named after him.

Other notables from Uganda includes

• Mexico 1968: Eridadi Mukwanga, Silver, Boxing (bantam weight)
• Munich 1972: Leo Rwabdogo, Silver, Boxing (flyweight)
• Moscow 1980: John Mugabi, Silver, Boxing (welterweight)
• Atlanta 1996: Davis Kamoga, Bronze 400 meter

Additionally, according to the Daily Monitor, only 12 countries (of 54) have won Olympic Gold: South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Algeria, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Cameroon, Mozambique and Burundi.

In Beijing, the Uganda Olympic Team features 12 athletes in running, track and field, swimming, weightlifting, and badminton. They are:

Moses Kipsiro - Track and Field
Alex Malinga - Marathon
Boniface Kiprop - Track and Field
Geoffrey Kusuro - Track and Field
Benjamin Kiplagat - Track and Field
Abraham Chepkirwok - Track and Field
Justine Bayiga - Track and Field
Ronald Serugo - Boxing
Gilbert Kaburu - Swimming
Sam Mubarak Kivumbi - Weightlifting
Edwin Ekiring - Badminton
Aya Nakitanda - Swimming

From The Village to the Olympic Village
These young people, representing Uganda in Beijing, come from many of the same remote villages and communities that Global Youth Partnership for Africa (GYPA) youth come from or that GYPA works. In fact, the stories of the Olympic athletes over-coming adversity are similar. Starting with very little, without much formal training and without a real grasp of how sports can change your life.

For example, Alex Malinga (33 years old)was born in Kapchorwa - which borders Kenya to the East. According to him, "I hated running. At school (primary) I would refuse every time they told us to run." It was not until high-school, in 1996, that he started serious running. Since that time, he's participated in nearly a dozen regional and international track and field events, and placed 6th at the IAAF World Athletics Championships (2005) in Helsinki.

Aya Olivia Nakitanda, the only female representative on Team Uganda thanks her mother for her success as a swimmer. Aya is asthmatic, but with training and support from coaches and her mother, she has beat the odds. At the 2004 East Africa University Games hosted in Nairobi, Aya picked up 11 gold medals, two silver and one bronze. Yet, no matte how busy, Aya has kept up with her studies and is now in her fourth year at Makerere University in the department of medicine.

According to the Daily Monitor, her dream.... "I would love to see more and more girls turn into top class swimmers and compete internationally like me."

It begs to ask the question, who else is out there is dreaming BIG? Who in Uganda will represent Uganda in 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024.... Who are the other youth of today in the streets of Kampala? In the rural areas of the North or the East or the West? Who else will one day qualify for the Olympics in other sports dominated by the United States, China and Europe. Basketball? Soccer? Tennis?

There are many out there, but without financial investment in sports, without the commitment to training and practice and coaching, these dreams will not be realized. The timing is now when the world's eyes are on sports and soon will be on South Africa for the World Cup (2010). Fortunately, the private sector and public sector do have the ability and should endorse the sports for social change movement in Uganda. The organizations, the youth and the country is ready. Let's not miss the opportunity... let the games REALLY begin!

Football In Real Life

So, I may not get to see Messi v.s. Ronaldinho? You mean, I’ll only get to watch that on YouTube set to techno-music? I about lost it when I opened up the Daily Monitor Today (one of Uganda’s Daily Newspapers) to these headlines from the Beijing Olympics.

As we all know, the Olympics have been heavily politicized and criticized for more than the past year. And today, more bad news headlines, the football (read: Soccer) had also become politicized, and my favorite team (after the U.S. team), Argentina, was at the center of the controversy.

As most would argue today, Argentine football is two-words: Lionel Messi. Argentina selected Messi for the Argentine Olympic Team for Beijing in-line with FIFA’s rule that club teams must release under-23 players for the Olympics. Initially, FC Barcelona did not comply and took him off to a pre-season training camp located in Scotland. However, eventually, they allowed him to travel with his native country to Beijing. Yet, just a few days ago, FC Barcelona appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the FIFA ruling. Unfortunately, CAS ruled in favor of Barcelona.

Messi has made it clear that he wants to play for Argentina in Beijing, and it sounds like he will play no matter the CAS ruling. However, this politics hurts the game and harms the fans (Read: A Possible Argentina v.s. Brazil match-up for the gold medal becomes impossible)

So, in light of this saga, and hoping that Messi does play because he loves the game and wants to represent his country, this is my humble ode…. “Football in Real Life.”

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In the United States it’s baseball diamonds and basketball courts. In the rest of the world it’s football fields. Every football field has distinct features and everyone has their favorite field. Something at the field that leaves an indelible mark on any football fan from Boca to Chelsea.

Some of the fields are surrounded by mountains and mango trees while others are located on the grounds of a church, a primary school or an old industrial site.

Some have wooden football goals whose roots sink deep into the earth and serve as “the oxygen” for aspiring young players. Others are rusted orange metal pipes or wooden sticks plugged into the ground. No matter, it all works.

Some fields have rocks that come from a nearby quarry to mark out of bounds, and dirt or mud to draw the mid-field line.

Ultimately, each football field is a unique expression of the football artists in the community.

The field itself is usually the central space of the community and thus, the heart of the community. The football field is the place where the youth, the children, the young boys and girls create, ask questions, discuss, and play. The football field belongs to each and every one of them, it is their home and where their dreams are nourished.

So, simple, yet so life changing, the football field explains why the game makes so much sense wherever it appears. All you need is an open space – whether its 100 yards, or 20 yards – the game can be played, the ball can be passed… the game is shared.

It’s not about the bleachers, because the fans and players will come whether or not there are bleachers.

It’s not about lighting, because at sun-down players still dream and replay the practice, the tournament, the game. And tomorrow, the sun will rise, the rain will fall, but a game will be played.

And, it’s not about having nets in each goal, some player will chase after the ball once it goes through the goal, and play will always resume. Why? Because as in life, in football it’s about the journey and it is impossible to be entirely individualistic. You need your team, and you need coaches if you are going to score the goals, cross the ball, or stop a defensive strike.

Yesterday, in Bukomero and Kiboga, those football fields, those players, those coaches, those mountains, mango trees, primary schools and churches that I’ve passed many times driving across Uganda, became a place I visited.

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The images remain so vivid….children scrambling the field their blue or yellow school uniforms, goats roaming (and grazing) on the field, young kids in torn t-shirts and pants or without shoes sweating around the pitch and forgetting about life for a while. In fact, in the rural areas, I’ve even seen the young cattle herders park their cows as they take a little break in the middle of their afternoon to play.

Nearby, I could smell the women cooking local food like matoke, brick making kilns, and the horrible smell of sewage. These are not distractions, this is life in its unedited form, this is football in the barrios, the playgrounds, the favelas, the industrial parks, the rural areas, this is football in Uganda. This is “Football in Real Life.” This is why I love this beautiful game.


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Red Ball Drop Day 2, Bukomero and Kiboga

The drive from Kampala to Bukomero was just around 2 hours and Bukomero to Kiboga is another 40 minutes. Thanks to our friend Martin, we visited the soccer fields that appear along the highway that takes you throughout this District.

To view photos from Red Ball Drop Day # 2 view here

In Bukomero and Kiboga Gomo Tong Football Club encouraged the various communities, teams and organizations to continue using the soccer ball as a tool for change. Not to just play soccer, or any game for that matter, but to find new ways of learning, exploring, training and earning a little income. At a local Primary School, the administration uses soccer to bring the community together to teach life-skills and host tournaments to raise a little bit of money for text-books, or to purchase a goat to award to the winning team.

Red Ball Drop Destination #6 – Bukomero Field #1
We arrived to our first stop of the day and the young men were sitting under the shade of the trees. A few were scattered about on the football pitch, kicking a beat up white soccer ball, in their teal school uniforms. The smiles emerged and the young men eagerly engaged Joseph Ochitti (Homeless World Cup Copenhagen 2007) in the conversation about the power of practicing and training.

At this first field in Bukomero, we distributed 2 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer balls and 2 Molten Soccer Balls to a group of 30 young men.

Red Ball Drop Destination #7 – Bukomero Field # 2
About 12 feet up a hill from the highway, this soccer pitch was home to the group of local youth that call themselves the Farmers Club. The field was surrounded by the mountains and a large mango tree shaded the goal at the south-end of the pitch. The young men were dribbling about, and they had some of the most impressive juggling skills we’ve seen so far on the Ball Drop in Uganda.

At this field, we distributed 3 Molten Soccer Balls to a group of 12 young men.

Red Ball Drop Destination #8, 9, 10 and 11 - Bukomero Field # 3
This soccer field was on the site of a Primary School that enrolls more than 250 children. In front of the school is a huge soccer field that is also shaded by a mango tree. In fact, just about every step you walk, you’ll find mango peels or mangos that have fallen and been stepped on by footballers. In addition, you’ll find mangos on the bare feet of some of the youth.

We organized 4 separate distributions at Bukomero Field # 3. We distributed 2 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer balls and 5 Molten Soccer Balls to a group of 35 young men. We then distributed 3 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer balls to a group of young boys attending the Primary School. We then distributed 3 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer balls to a group of 20 girls attending the Primary School. Finally, we provided 1 Red Ball to a group of mothers and school administrators.


Red Ball Drop Destination #12 and 13 – Kiboga Field #1
We arrived to another Primary School, and the bright yellow uniforms of the children rushed to the vehicle as we arrived. The school headmaster greeted us and explained that there are 348 children attending the school. He then introduced us to some of the youth playing at the soccer pitch, but that were not in Primary School. Ochitti organized a brief training for them where the team lined up and practiced dribbling between each of the players as you would through cones.

We distributed 2 Molten Soccer Balls to this group of 7 young men. We then distributed 3 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer Balls and 4 Molten Soccer Balls to this group of 60 young children.

Red Ball Drop Destination #14 and 15 - Kiboga Field # 2
Our second to last destination point of the day before heading back to Kampala, was at smaller soccer pitch with one soccer goal and more than 40 youth and children playing. A number of kids had created balls out of various trash bag type materials and were juggling and throwing these balls about. At the same small field, a group of youth had organized and discussed their team, their goals and ideas for using sport in the community.

We distributed 4 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer balls and 1 Molten Soccer Balls to a group of 10 young men. In addition, we distributed 2 Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer Balls to a group of street children living near the area who often play at the same field as the youth.

Red Ball Drop Distribution # 16 - Bukomero
At our final stop of the day, we provided 5 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer Balls and 5 Molten Balls to the World Vision District Offices. GYPA works closely with World Vision on projects in Bukomero and Kiboga that includes health education, treatment and capacity training for youth. These balls will be used as part of the our health education outreach efforts that bring Israeli physicians to the District. These programs reach hundreds of people living in communities throughout the District.

Overall, the total number of Balls distributed today was 40. We estimate that the total number of people who these balls will reach is 800.

On Friday, we’ll continue the Red Ball Drop in a few locations in and around Kampala. We anticipate to reach Jinja (which is about 1 hour East of Kampala), Mengo (which is about 20 minutes outside of Kampala), and a team is headed to Gulu located in Northern Uganda (5 hours from Kampala) within the coming week.

Red Ball Drop Day 1, Kampala: A Message of Unity and Friendship

There are times in life when you have those “WOW” moments and you wonder why you’ve been so fortunate to be there. Today, in entirety, was one of those WOW moments. (To view the Red Ball Drop Uganda Day 1 Album click here)

We were up early, unpacking, organizing and planning for Red Ball Drop Uganda Day # 1. Joseph (GYPA Country Director) and Ritah (GYPA Staff) coordinated and planned out a terrific schedule for the day, and it all started in nearby Namuwongo.

Around noon, members of Gomo Tong Football Club kicked-off the events, and throughout the day they described how sports have changed their lives from Kampala to Cape Town to Copenhangen. Each of them motivated and challenged youth in and around Kampala to use the power of sport to build new friendships and unify their community.

Joseph Ochitti (Homeless World Cup Copenhagen 2007) put it perfectly, “How many people can play with this red ball? 1,000? 2,000?” Students at Kiwuliriza (Ball Drop Destination #2) responded, “Everyone can.” With his trademark smile Joseph responded, “Yes, you are right. The world can play with this ball and we all can and must play together!”

Our trip in and around Greater Kampala took us to many special places and introduced us to many special organizations and individuals.

Ball Drop Destination #1: Namuwongo, an urban slum community where Project Namuwongo, which eventually evolved into the Global Youth Partnership for Africa, was founded 5 years ago this month (August 2003).

We arrived to Kisugu Junior Academy which is the center of primary school education for more than 600 students between 5 – 13 years old. Ronald Mukibi, the Headmaster, is not just an inspiring educator, but a long-time friend and supporter of the Global Youth Partnership for Africa. He welcomed the group to Kisugu and informed the members of Gomo Tong that they should come back and implement the Sports Outreach Program that Gomo Tong and GYPA Youth Group Members lead in various communities.

We distributed 6 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer Balls and 10 Molten Soccer Balls. Some of these balls, as Mukibi told us, will be used at the “School Sports Day” this coming Saturday, August 9, 2008.


Ball Drop Destination #2: We arrived the Kiwuliriza COU Boarding and Primary School also located in Namuwongo. More than 40 students, primarily young women, greeted the team at the site of the basketball court that Kevin Carroll funded in 2004.

The members of Gomo Tong Football Club Distributed 4 Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer Balls and 8 Molten Soccer Balls.

Ball Drop Destination #3: We arrived "Tigers Club," an organization that offers safe place to stay for street kids living in Kampala, around 3pm. This organization works with children and youth up to the age of 25. Many of them have been involved in drugs, petty-theft, and prostitution. The Tigers Club successfully uses sports as a tool to rehabilitate them.

The members of Gomo Tong Football Club distributed 6 Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer Balls and 8 Molten Soccer Balls. In addition, the Tigers Club issued a “soccer challenge” to the members of Gomo Tong Football Club. We hope that the Tigers Club and Gomo Tong will organize a sports for social change soccer tournament in the near future.

Ball Drop Destination #4: We then headed 25 minutes outside of Kampala to Chiwanga. Chiwanga is just past the Nelson Mandela Stadium, the home of Uganda’s National Team, the Cranes. At Chiwanga, we visited the Phillips House. Phillips House is a home for young men and women who are orphaned and disabled. I have been fortunate to visit Phillips House on 3 occasions since 2003. Philips House is maintained by a tremendous team of women who feed, teach and provide social services with heck of a lot of love and friendship.

Currently, Philips House is home for 10 young men and women who live with physical and mental disabilities. In addition, they deal with an unacceptable degree of stigma and are ridiculed by most of Ugandan society. However, as we witnessed first hand when the balls were distributed the smiles, the laughing, the playing, tossing and kicking didn’t end. Sport IS the great equalizer.

Members of Gomo Tong Football Club gave all 10 youth the Special Edition Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer Ball.

Ball Drop Destination #5: Our final Red Ball Drop of the day also took place in Chiwanga at a nearby grass field with two wooden soccer goals. We randomly spotted a group scrambling around the soccer pitch. So, we stopped by. After all, all of this distributing of the balls made us eager to kick the ball around, too. At the pitch, we found out that the young men playing were between 20 and 28 years old and organized themselves into a local football club called the “Uganda Boca Juniors” in honor of the great Diego Maradona.

As the player/coach of the team explained, this team was formed by their older brothers about 5 years ago and they have continued it on in their name, but because they love football.

Again, Gomo Tong Football Club was challenged to a soccer match by the Uganda Boca Juniors and invited the players to come back to Chiwanga in the near future. We provided 2 Molten Soccer balls to this “field of dreams” in Chiwanga that would make Diego proud.

By the end of the day, we distributed 54 balls that we estimate will reach over 800 young men and women in Uganda.

Tomorrow, for Day # 2, we are off bright and early to the Kiboga District, located just under 2 hours west of Kampala.

Yes... let's practice

Today begins the Red Ball Drop Uganda. In preparation, I talked with local organizers, students and youth who participate in the GYPA soccer programming and peer-to-peer youth leadership training programs in Namuwongo. One of the common themes is that the youth want to get better at sports, but primarily want to become better leaders. In their mind, the more time they put in, the more they will get out. Essentially, "practice makes perfect."

Unfortunately, too many kids around the world don't have the opportunity to practice. Yes, because they do not have a ball, or the equipment needed, but more so because they don't have role models, coaches or others to give them a pat on the back, or a thumbs up after great hustle. As the sports for social change movement grows, these important elements MUST be central ingredients, otherwise the movement falls short of its goals: to empower individuals, and uplift and fundamentally improve communities.

Fortunately for my organization, the Global Youth Partnership for Africa (GYPA), over the past 2 months the GYPA youth in Namuwongo have worked with students from Northwestern University as part of the ENGAGE Uganda (founded by my friend and fellow social entrepreneur, Nathaniel Whittemore) program. The students, in collaboration with the youth implemented a peer-to-peer, life skills learning program with soccer, net ball and arts and drama as central elements of the curriculum.

As I was told last evening, the youth are retaining the lessons, but also practicing what they preach in the larger community. They are looking beyond stereotypes and stigma, advocating for gender equality, and all in the spirit of volunteerism. Every day, on and off of the soccer pitch, they are perfecting the lessons, asking questions, being creative and and making their community a better place.

These examples are inspiring not only to the students or the GYPA staff, but to other younger kids in the community and to their parents. Sports for social change is working in this community.

I found the timing of these conversations unique since I recently read an article written by A.J. Thomson at Philly.com. The article, “Let’s Talk About Practice” emphasizes the power of sport, but the power and importance of “practice.”

As A.J. writes, practice has become a word that for thousands of kids "has little significance." Thousands of kids are missing out on important life lessons like discipline, team-building, sportsmanship, and the opportunities afforded are only qualified by the amount of time, passion and dedication that one puts into the game he or she plays.

Tragically, sports fans are drowning in the ‘lights, camera, action” of today’s professional sports world. It’s no longer about spending time as a volunteer coach with a young player who's shooting 1,000 free-throws after dark at the local playground.

Take for example, Michael Phelps. Is he a supernatural talent, yes? But, his rigorous work-out routines, and unfathomable hours spent in the pool is what leads most to believe that he will win 8 gold medals in Beijing and break Mark Spitz's record. Phelps did not get to where he is today magically, the "lights, camera, action" came as a result of his achievements of course, but because of his dedication to practice, and the coaches and mentors surrounding him.

I agree with A.J., let’s practice, let’s put more time, more effort, more funding into practicing. Kids in Africa, Kids in Latin America, Kids in the United States today are craving the opportunity to play sports, but seeking mentors, role models, and a safe place to play. But, until those of us make time to volunteer, save a little money to donate, young people with big dreams, but without a helping hand will suffer, and we as a society will too.

So, as I embark today on the Red Ball Drop Uganda, it will be about chasing your dreams and your passions, but it will also be a challenge to those who receive the Red Balls. The leaders in each organization, in each school, in each community, to each of the Namuowongo Youth leaders, to commit to teaching, training and mentoring. Because, sports, as we more are learning from this sports movement, are more than just about the game.....it is about improving the world that we live.

From Uganda's Remote Villages to the Olympic Village...

The world may not expect Uganda to win a gold medal, or any medals for that matter in Beijing. But, considering the country's history of conflict in the 1970's and 1980's, Uganda has performed well over the years, and is churning out some exceptional young talent.

Over the last 6 days I've studied a bit about Uganda's Olympic and Sporting History. The best of times (and the worst of times) as I learned were during the regime of General Idi Amin. Amin was well known as a sports enthusiast and was a boxer, basketball and rugby player (oh, and by the way, (he stood a imposing 6'4" and weighed 280 lbs). Amongst many, he is considered both an evil tyrant that you never wanted to enter the ring against, and a sports hero who advocated for sports and financially backed Ugandan athletes. Amin, some say, viewed this as an easy way to promote his country to the world.

The evidence of his backing is the following:

During his regime, the national boxing team, the Bombers, was ranked 3rd in the world amateur boxing. In 1978, the Uganda national soccer team, the Cranes, qualified for the Ghana African Cup of Nations finals where it finished second place after losing to Ghana 2-0, but they have since not achieved this level of success on the soccer pitch at any Africa or international tournament.



So, where are Ugandan sports today? Thanks to interesting reporting by the Daily Monitor and New Vision Team Uganda's Athlete Profiles, Uganda's Olympic History and and color commentary, it's been an enlightening to learn a bit more about the state of Ugandan sports.

Uganda's Medal History


Uganda first took part in the Olympic Games in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia and have won a total of six medals, with the late John Akii Bua (photo left) winning the country’s only gold medal in the 1972 Munich Games in 400 meter hurdles.

Bua became a national hero and upon returning to Uganda, he received a city bungalow, a street and a stadium in Lira, northern Uganda, were also named after him.

Other notables from Uganda includes

• Mexico 1968: Eridadi Mukwanga, Silver, Boxing (bantam weight)
• Munich 1972: Leo Rwabdogo, Silver, Boxing (flyweight)
• Moscow 1980: John Mugabi, Silver, Boxing (welterweight)
• Atlanta 1996: Davis Kamoga, Bronze 400 meter

Additionally, according to the Daily Monitor, only 12 countries (of 54) have won Olympic Gold: South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Algeria, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Cameroon, Mozambique and Burundi.

In Beijing, the Uganda Olympic Team features 12 athletes in running, track and field, swimming, weightlifting, and badminton. They are:

Moses Kipsiro - Track and Field
Alex Malinga - Marathon
Boniface Kiprop - Track and Field
Geoffrey Kusuro - Track and Field
Benjamin Kiplagat - Track and Field
Abraham Chepkirwok - Track and Field
Justine Bayiga - Track and Field
Ronald Serugo - Boxing
Gilbert Kaburu - Swimming
Sam Mubarak Kivumbi - Weightlifting
Edwin Ekiring - Badminton
Aya Nakitanda - Swimming

From The Village to the Olympic Village
These young people, representing Uganda in Beijing, come from many of the same remote villages and communities that Global Youth Partnership for Africa (GYPA) youth come from or that GYPA works. In fact, the stories of the Olympic athletes over-coming adversity are similar. Starting with very little, without much formal training and without a real grasp of how sports can change your life.

For example, Alex Malinga (33 years old)was born in Kapchorwa - which borders Kenya to the East. According to him, "I hated running. At school (primary) I would refuse every time they told us to run." It was not until high-school, in 1996, that he started serious running. Since that time, he's participated in nearly a dozen regional and international track and field events, and placed 6th at the IAAF World Athletics Championships (2005) in Helsinki.

Aya Olivia Nakitanda, the only female representative on Team Uganda thanks her mother for her success as a swimmer. Aya is asthmatic, but with training and support from coaches and her mother, she has beat the odds. At the 2004 East Africa University Games hosted in Nairobi, Aya picked up 11 gold medals, two silver and one bronze. Yet, no matte how busy, Aya has kept up with her studies and is now in her fourth year at Makerere University in the department of medicine.

According to the Daily Monitor, her dream.... "I would love to see more and more girls turn into top class swimmers and compete internationally like me."

It begs to ask the question, who else is out there is dreaming BIG? Who in Uganda will represent Uganda in 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024.... Who are the other youth of today in the streets of Kampala? In the rural areas of the North or the East or the West? Who else will one day qualify for the Olympics in other sports dominated by the United States, China and Europe. Basketball? Soccer? Tennis?

There are many out there, but without financial investment in sports, without the commitment to training and practice and coaching, these dreams will not be realized. The timing is now when the world's eyes are on sports and soon will be on South Africa for the World Cup (2010). Fortunately, the private sector and public sector do have the ability and should endorse the sports for social change movement in Uganda. The organizations, the youth and the country is ready. Let's not miss the opportunity... let the games REALLY begin!

A Red Ball is Changing Lives

This month, a landmark event will take place in Uganda: the selection of the 1st All Female Homeless World Cup team, who will represent their country at the Inaugural Female Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, Australia (December 1 – 7, 2008). Through the generous support of the Homeless World Cup, the players and coaches will have their airfare and accommodation covered entirely. Gomo Tong Football Club, representing Uganda at the Homeless World Cup in Cape Town 2006, Copenhagen 2007, is sponsored by Kevin Carroll Katalyst.

I first met the Kataylst in September 2004 at the Uganda North American Association (UNAA) Conference in Seattle, Washington, DC. This was shortly after my second trip to Uganda and you could say that I was on a “fundraising-spree.” My efforts were, similar to today, focused on sport and leadership programming for youth and community empowerment programs in one of Africa’s most densely populated slums, Namuwongo. In advance of the event, I reviewed the conference schedule looking for people who may be interested to support my efforts. Kevin’s name and title “Katalyst” immediately caught my attention. So, off to the UNAA Youth Forum I went, and the rest is history. It’s hard not be drawn to Kevin’s personal story from the playground in Philly chasing the red ball to the global stage. His genuine charm and ability to tap into your passion drives you to dream BIG.



However, who’d ever have predicted, that nearly 4 years later, I would find myself in Uganda with 300 Kevin Carroll Katalyst Red Soccer Balls and Red Rubber Balls, and preparing to do the largest Ball Drop in the country’s history to celebrate Kevin’s mantra, “A Ball Can Change Your Life” and the Sports for Social Change Movement.

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In conjunction with the selection of Gomo Tong Football Club for the Melbourne Homeless World Cup, I am with the Global Youth Partnership for Africa Uganda Country Office, Sports for Social Change Red Ball Drops. From Kampala to Rakai to Jinja to Gulu, Gomo Tong Football Club players who traveled to Cape Town and Copenhagen for the Homeless World Cup, and the newly selected Team for Melbourne will mobilize communities, local leaders, schools to participate and embrace the role of sports for development in their communities and country, and that “A ball can change your life.”



According to his website, Kevin’s special edition Red Soccer Ball and Red Rubber Ball represents what grabs you by the soul and captures your imagination. These customized soccer and playground balls were created by Molten USA Inc. (also a sponsor of Beijing Olympics) exclusively for Kevin. The Red Rubber Ball represents any activity, topic or purpose that excites and inspires you each day. Mark your moment of discovering what inspires you with this tangible reminder of your daily "chase" and your quest to turn your DREAM into a reality.

The timing of these ball drops, in my opinion, couldn’t be better. With the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics just a few days away (August 8), celebrating Uganda’s local Olympians and honoring them in the spirit of play and sport, we will aim, through Kevin’s leadership, organizations like the Homeless World Cup, and our team Gomo Tong Football Club, to expand the power of sport and play across Uganda.

Photos, stories and other commentary from the field will appear throughout this week. Stay tuned.

Red Ball Drop Uganda

Greetings readers and new readers of Millennial Challenge. It's been a little while, but I am pleased to rejoin the blogosphere with some great news. My travels find me back in the pearl of Africa ... Uganda.

There is an exciting development brewing, and the timing (Beijing Olympics) couldn't be better.

Stay tuned... the RB Drop is coming to Uganda.