FUFA President Moses Magogo met with members of the Former Footballers Initiative (FFI) at the FUFA Complex in Mengo, marking the first step towards establishing a formal partnership between the two organizations. FUFA Executive Committee member Rogers Mulindwa also attended the meeting.
The meeting focused on exploring ways for the federation to support retiring footballers, aligning with the goals outlined in the FUFA Technical Master Plan. This plan aims to ensure that retired footballers lead a dignified life after their playing careers.
Magogo expressed his support for the Former Footballers Initiative, praising their efforts in helping retired footballers transition to an organized life after their playing careers.
“I want to assure you of our support as the federation. We are very comfortable dealing with an initiative that helps former footballers live an organized way of life after playing,” said FUFA President Moses Magogo.
Acknowledging that the federation’s attention had been elsewhere due to their busy schedule, Magogo welcomed FFI as an organized group that can facilitate support for retired footballers, particularly in the crucial aspect of life after football.
“As a federation, we have had our focus elsewhere because we are indeed busy. When an initiative like this comes through, it helps us understand that there is an organized group of former footballers we can deal with. If this initiative’s core delivery is life after football, it makes a lot of sense,” Magogo added.
Eng Isaac Ngobya, Treasurer of the Former Footballers Initiative, expressed his satisfaction with the meeting. He highlighted the objectives the objectives of the meeting and welcomed Magogo’s promise to consult with the FUFA Executive Committee and follow up on potential collaboration.
“It was a very fruitful meeting. We want to be recognized and work with FUFA to see how we can support retiring footballers,” said Ngobya.
Ngobya also stressed the need to teach young footballers financial literacy skills to prevent them from squandering their earnings, enabling them to make informed decisions about their finances and secure their futures.
“We should also teach the young ones about financial literacy to help them avoid spending all their money so that when they retire, they have some savongs to hit the ground running,” he added.
The Former Footballers Initiative is an organization funded by the free will of former and active footballers, fans, and other humanitarian individuals and groups. It aims to help former footballers who are struggling with life after football.