Edgars Youth Programme
By Edgar Watson & Yolanda Houweling

June 2007 and a packed Namboole Stadium watched the Cranes beat the Nigerian Super Leagues. Soccer is immensely popular in Uganda. Yet in school sports it is a pass-time activity for absent teachers and it’s not a structured part of their curriculum. Sport helps children to understand their potential and it teaches them how they can live a better and healthier life. They lack proper skills training and feedback from actual players– in and outside of the school environment. All the talented Ugandan sportsmen would rather go abroad to development their talents as opposed to training the school children here.

Because of a lack of these structures retired sportsmen do not often find suitable employment in the sport they excelled in. Jobs at football clubs are insecure and the young stars literally end up ‘wandering the streets’. Former Cranes captain and current FUFA technical director, Edgar Watson says: “Having played football at the highest level in Uganda, we’ve seen the mistakes we made, so we want to guide young players so that they don’t make the same mistakes – like quitting school. There is no link between internationals and youth trying to follow in their footsteps. We want to support them. For all these reasons Edgar Watson has, with his soccer buddies, Peter Makanga and Dan Mabiru, founded the soccer academy, Edgars Youth Programme (EYP). EYP started in 2004, and is now a country wide NGO with 18 coaches and an operational office in Old Kampala. EYP has worked with notable soccer players like Batabaire, Mwesigwa, Postnet Omony and Sepuuya. The coaches are all FUFA-qualified soccer players and are educated in all aspects of youth work. Core activities include soccer clubs at Aga Khan, MUBS and

Kampala Junior Academy and holiday soccer camps (last camp attracted + 100 kids). All kids aged 5-15 are welcome! The fees help sustain the office and staff.

Last, but definitely not least, Edgars Youth Programme wants to give back and assist the most vulnerable youth who cannot afford it but desperately need help to get out of their dismal situations. Sports can help them integrate. Yet, special needs facilities are inadequate or not accessible.

To give back, the EYP coaches have – with help of sponsoring - implemented soccer for development projects, targeting youngsters of the Naguru Remand Home for juveniles, war-affected kids in a.o. the Gulu Uyama IDP and street kids.

EYP also works with the deaf youth. This involvement started when a young deaf boy joined EYP who was rejected by others because of his disability. With help of an Ntinda Deaf School teacher, coaches learnt basic sign language, and what it means to work with the deaf. A deaf team has been formed, who train with EYP.

Thanks to funding from the Netherlands Embassy the 2008 Deaf League can be organized, bigger than ever.
With the consent of MoES, EYP teams up with schools from 6 districts. 8 schools will end up with better facilities & sport equipment, and better skilled deaf teachers that can continue soccer training at school afterwards. EYP expects that at least 600 students (especially girls) will actively participate.

After the school competitions in May, 18 will represent their schools in Kampala on the 8th and 9th June 2008. From these small ‘ heroes’ Edgar selects 16 for further skills training and a demo match, which is scheduled as a curtain raiser match to the Cranes match against Angola in Namboole around the 14th June 2008 and you are all invited to come and cheer!
EYP is authorized to work in any place in the country. Preparations have started for a more permanent, monthly youth league in which (deaf) teams from all over the country can participate. Eventually, EYP intends to open its own sports facilities where they can accommodate the youth for skills training and education but your support for future activities and capacity building of EYP is very much appreciated.

For more Information, please contact:
Edgars Youth Programme, Plot 10, Martin Road, Old Kampala
E-mail: coach@edgarsyouthprog.org. Website: www.edgarsyouthprogr.org
Office: +256-414-230097. Edgar Watson (team leader) 0772-408661