Monitor, UHA in landmark Shs100m hockey deal
Monitor Publications Limited managing director Tony Glencross hands hockey chairman Dunstan Nsubuga the company’s commitment to the sport. PHOTO By Rachel Mabala
KAMPALA.
The feeling in the local hockey fraternity is that, this year they can make firm inroads towards massive development of the sport.
Just a day after Africa Hockey Federation (AfHF) president Ahmed Seif ended his five-day trip to establish grounds for setting up an academy at Lugogo, Monitor Publications Limited (MPL) has come on board to sponsor the 2016 National Hockey League (NHL) that starts this Saturday.
What started, last October, as a plan to get Monitor to market a national team ahead of the 2016 Olympic qualifiers in South Africa, has culminated into a deal worth Shs100m where MPL will take over the marketing and publicity duties to “increase awareness and love for the sport” in our editorial platforms. Uganda last sent a hockey team to the 1972 Olympics in Germany.
“I am firm believer in sports as a nation builder and if hockey can send a team to the Africa Games, then it has the potential to do incredibly well,” MPL managing director Tony Glencross, who showed he wasn’t lost on the issues affecting the development of the sports, explained the company’s decision to get involved.
“We believe we can make a meaningful impact and we expect to see development and growth turned into results. There is a world class facility here and and with the right amount of emphasis hockey can become a representative sport for Uganda,” Glencross, who urged UHA (Uganda Hockey Association) to target the 2024 Olympics, added at a press conference held at MPL offices in Namuwongo yesterday.
UHA chairman Dunstan Nsubuga, called the deal “very timely and the catalyst we needed to get where we want to be.”
“Monitor couldn’t have come on board at a better time and when Tony speaks of 2024, this is in line with our five year plan for the academy at Lugogo. It is a tall order by we are dedicated to ensuring by 2028, Uganda will be at the Olympics,” Nsubuga said.
The academy is expected to be heavily involved in the development of coaches, umpires and players at the grassroots under the guidance of Teddy Jhite, an Indian coach trainer.
“We shall start development with the under 14 years category, make baby steps then pretty much after 12 years, such a group is ready to represent at the top level,” Nsubuga added.
