Developing Talent In Budaka
Kanyago Trenah, Uganda
Kanyago Trenah, 13, plays with DIDA Sports Organisation in the Budaka District of Eastern Uganda. DIDA (Develop, Inspire, Discipline, Achieve) is an initiative whose goal is to strengthen grassroots sporting development and life skills of children via chess, boxing, and football, empowering youth to transform their future prospects.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?
My name is Kanyago Trenah, aged thirteen in S.1 at Gonzaga Secondary School. I come from the Budaka district, I am Ugandan, and my mother is Betty who is an English teacher at Budaka primary school.
I am passionate about playing football. I started playing football at the age of four. I used to play football with my local friends, and we would play football as a way of passing time and having fun.
I got interested in playing the game and wished I could get a chance to develop my talent. When the DIDA Sports Organization visited Budaka district, I was happy to be one of the beneficiaries. My talent has been developed and I thank God for DIDA Sports Organization for the opportunity I was given, and for also making my dream come true. I also thank DIDA for supporting and thinking about the young people who can help Uganda progress. DIDA has helped me to get everything, like getting new special friends from different teams and different areas.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
The photos showed the football at Budaka Saza ground on 8th March 2021 during the annual DIDA Women’s Day Cup (celebrating International Women’s Day) that was organized by the DIDA Sports Organisation. I was so excited on the women’s day when we played football, but this was my first time playing with any team. I tried my best by scoring many goals.
The best team was awarded a trophy, and the rest of the players of the winning team were awarded medals and T-shirts for participating in the game. It was such an amazing time and a special moment in my life.
How has Covid-19 affected soccer in your community?
The Covid-19 pandemic has really affected soccer in our community. Due to the fact that Uganda is locked down, the sports industry came to a standstill and currently we do not play football or even go for training. We are now staying home trying to cope with this period of confinement.
We have faced a lot of challenges since the sports activities and football - which have always kept us busy and developed our talents - were halted by the government until further notice.
What are the opportunities for female football players in Uganda?
We have a chance to join the Crested Cranes, which is Uganda’s national female football team and also participate in the world female football championships and tournaments. We also have a chance of winning ourselves bursaries to aid our higher learning in future. I want to become the best footballer in Uganda.
What does football mean to you and your community?
To me football is my life, and I am passionate about playing football. Football has helped me to achieve many things, football has helped me to get different types of friends, it has helped me to be loved by different people. Football has helped me to become strong and confident, while playing and speaking to people.
For the community, football has helped keep young girls in schools, preventing them from being married young, which is very common in most societies in Uganda today. Football also comes with a lot of opportunities among which are getting scholarships and keeping our bodies fit and healthy. I hope football will help me to move to different areas and countries for national competitions.
