Legend Barnes conducts clinic on ‘Liverpool Way’
Liverpool and England legend Barnes (right) takes kids through drills at Lugogo on Saturday. Barnes is in the country on a Vodafone invitation. Photo by JB Ssenkubuge
KAMPALA. Liverpool legend John Barnes might only be on his first trip to Uganda, thanks to Vodafone, but his “strange” connection with the Pearl of Africa dates way back to 1972.
His father Roderick returned from the Olympics in Munich with Barnes’ first football boots but the memory of Ugandan athlete, “with a strange surname,” John Akii-Bua’s power run to win gold in the 400m hurdles sticks.
“I had two heroes in 1972, Pele and Akii-Bua. When I saw him beat his opponents by over 20 yards, I thought this man must be very special and I want to be like him,” Barnes revealed at a press conference held at Lugogo Hockey Grounds.
After a decade of traveling to Africa, Barnes, who jetted in on Friday and leaves tomorrow, is in Uganda to grace a 10 days adrenaline-filled coaching programme for children.
Opportunity
“All these passionate children are asking for is an opportunity, and Vodafone has given it to them to experience coaching from coaches of the Liverpool Academy,” Barnes said before emphasizing that not all of the 480 kids can have opportunities to become professional footballers but they are entirely in control of preparations for future opportunities.
“When we talk about the Liverpool Way; it is about developing young people thinking about things that are more important than football; discipline, humility, togetherness, spirit, dedication. They can become decent members of society in whatever walk of life they go into,” he added.
