Challenges facing youth football academies in Kampala city.

Abstract

This study investigated the challenges facing youth football academies in Uganda. A case study design was used in which individual youth football academies in Kampala region were studied. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 15 respondents from different football academies. The data was collected using a questionnaire which was designed in accordance with the objectives of the study. The study revealed that Kampala region has around 40 youth football academies that are registered by Uganda youth football association (UYFA), a body under Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) and some other few non-registered football academies. Among the challenges faced by the football academies was lack of administration, funding, and sponsors. Most of the athletes (60%) used personal funds to buy training kits and access academy services. Therefore, it was recommended that academy owners and managers may lobby for financial assistance from organisations (sponsors) and other stakeholders that have interest in soccer. Also, periodic inter-academy competition may enable the football academies to show case talent of their players and attract funding. Academies need to employ professional administrators to run various activities as it was discovered that coaches were doing almost all the activities of the academy. Finally, the academies are recommended to get registered with UYFA in order to benefit from the associated rewards.