Former footballers meet Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama

Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama believes sports play a big role in marketing the country.

Wanyama was speaking in a meeting with former footballers under their umbrella body Former Footballers Initiatives (FFI) at Vision Group offices in Kampala.

“I appreciate you for the service you rendered to this country when you were active. We know one of the ways the country can market itself is through sports. The other day, I was watching the New York Half Marathon and we had two Ugandans Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei. I don't know how much publicity we got since everybody was talking about Uganda,” said Wanyama, who was flanked by Vision Group Chief Finance Officer Augustine Tamale.

“I believe the fact you gave service to a country is fair, we support you. I’m glad that Vision group has had a long-standing relationship where you can use our platform to reach out to different audiences. I want to assure you that we shall continue with that partnership as Vision Group.” 

Tamale urged other disciplines to borrow a leaf from former footballers.

“As Vision Group, we have interacted with ex-internationals and we have pledged our continued support towards their welfare. We shall give them the media space so that they can explain their plight and in the end, sports lovers will support them to ensure they have a decent life.  They also have a savings scheme and other government agencies can be key in supporting them. The other sports should copy the initiative of these Ex-internationals,” noted Tamale.

The former players were represented by initiative chairman Pastor Paul Musisi. Others included Polly Ouma, Obadia Ssemakula, Saul Kizito, Edward Baguma, Edward Nsubuga, Isaac Nkaada, Kennedy Lubogo, Jimmy Ssekandi, Godfrey Nyola, and John Baptist Ntensibe.

Musisi thanked Vision Group for the support they have rendered to former footballers.

“We don’t know where we would have been without Vision Group because we managed to help many former players through your awareness. Our slogan is there is life after football. There are many things we can do to help other upcoming players. When we were playing, no one advised us although we were taken as heroes. We didn’t know that we would play football for a certain time and then face the World,” said Musisi.

“The reason we started this initiative is to mobilise ourselves to help our friends since football was like a family. Before, former footballers used to storm the FUFA House since they were desperate. So, we said there is no need to storm FUFA but rather we can help one another”.