Odur Calls on Government and FUFA to Invest More in Grassroots Football

Former Uganda national team player Tony Odur has called on the government and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to place greater emphasis on developing grassroots football.

Odur, whose biggest recognition in Ugandan football came during his spells with Express FC, KCCA FC and Vipers SC, made the remarks in an interview in which he stressed the abundance of football talent in Uganda, while expressing concern about the limited investment in developing young players.

“Through my experience, I understand that we are richer in football talent than all the countries I played in during my career, yet almost nothing is done to develop that talent,” Odur said.

“Grassroots football needs investment because the passion for football is present, and the people to help develop that talent exist, but they are not supported.”

The government of Uganda and FUFA are currently working to improve the quality of football in the country, including efforts to naturalise players of Ugandan descent from across the globe.

However, Odur, who played in Zambia and Denmark during his career, believes more attention should be directed towards developing local talent from the grassroots.

“Yes, we are committed to developing football, but the top league is weak and there is nothing significant to fight for,” he noted.

“The players who will make that league stronger are those who come through our lower divisions—the grassroots. But they are coming up not fully developed.”

According to some District and Regional Football Associations, there is currently no funding provided by FUFA to support their activities. The regions are reportedly only supported with balls, which are then distributed to teams competing in the third division.

In previous generations, associations responsible for organising lower-division leagues received financial support, but those programmes have since disappeared, leaving teams in the lower divisions facing significant challenges.

Some clubs are reportedly struggling even to complete their registration within the required time frame, further highlighting the financial difficulties affecting grassroots and lower-division football in Uganda.

Odur believes increased investment at the grassroots level would help create a stronger pathway for young players and, ultimately, improve the quality of football at the top level.