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Former Uganda Cranes star Godfrey Walusimbi has commended the Sports Association of Ugandans in North America (SAUNA) for championing talent development in schools and local communities.

“I commend SAUNA and Motherwell Schools for this initiative. This is what we need in Uganda. We need to develop young talent to feed the national teams,” Walusimbi stated.

He challenged parents to support their children in their sporting careers.

Walusimbi was speaking to parents and children during the closure of the ten-day SAUNA-Motherwell ‘summer sports camp’ for holiday makers aged 6-14 years on December 13, 2024.

Directors of the Sports Association of Ugandans in North America (SAUNA) Fred Kaweesi, Laurian Lubulwa and Moses Kabugo and a team from Motherwell schools presided over the closing ceremony.

“I call on the parents to support their children because it is them that are in charge of them currently,” he stated.

“When a parent is around when his or her child is doing sports, they are going to be fired up and enthused to impress,” he said.

Walusimbi represented the national team in 105 international matches. He is best remembered for defending very well against Liverpool star striker Mohammad Salah during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Salah came with the Egypt team at Namboole and Walusimbi dealt with him very well as Uganda Cranes beat Egypt 1-0. Salah had no impact.

Kaweesi pointed that the initiative falls within the association’s ambitions of finding a mechanism for developing talent at an early stage.

“It is one thing to identify talent but another to nurture and develop it. We have a four-year development strategy in place for young talent and we are glad to have partnered with Motherwell Schools to champion this agenda,” he said.

“We are confident that the products from our schools holiday camps will be ready for elite football in Uganda, Canada and United States of America.”

SAUNA acknowledges the critical role of young people in fostering creative and innovative solutions to current challenges, and in driving positive social change.

Our association rolls out activities that incorporate young people and empowers them to participate fully in promoting particular values in their communities. While utilizing sports as a platform, SAUNA supports youth development through physical education, physical activity, and career development.

The camp was aimed at sharpening the youngsters’ skills in football, volleyball, netball and the woodball sport.

Walusimbi hailed the initiative fronted by SAUNA.

“This initiative is a timely intervention because first of all the children in the locality and from the school are going to benefit,” Walusimbi stated.

Physical activity is vital to the holistic development of young people, fostering their physical, social and emotional health. The benefits of sport reach beyond the impact on physical well-being and the value of the educational benefits of sport should not be under-estimated.

It’s against this background that SAUNA joined hands with Motherwell Sports Academy to organize a summer sports camp that will give holidaymakers (aged 6-14) a chance to improve their talent and life skills.

Director of Motherwell schools Mark Kayongo thanked parents for supporting their children.

“We want the kids to learn many skills as we prepare them for their future job environments which remains a complex environment,” Kayongo stated.

“We want to produce children who are multi-skilled and talented because that is what the world requires of them,”. Sixty children participated in the inaugural training camp.

Similar camps will be organized during school holidays.

The Sports Association of Ugandans in North America (SAUNA) and their partners Motherwell Sports Academy have organized a summer sports camp that will identify and develop the next generation of stars.

SAUNA acknowledges the critical role of young people in fostering creative and innovative solutions to current challenges, and in driving positive social change.

Our association rolls out activities that incorporate young people and empowers them to participate fully in promoting particular values in their communities. While utilizing sports as a platform, SAUNA supports youth development through physical education, physical activity, and career development.

Physical activity is vital to the holistic development of young people, fostering their physical, social and emotional health. The benefits of sport reach beyond the impact on physical well-being and the value of the educational benefits of sport should not be under-estimated.

It is against this background that SAUNA joined hands with Motherwell Sports Academy to organize a summer sports camp that will give holidaymakers (aged 6-14) a chance to improve their talent and life skills.

The camp was officially launched on Friday (December 5, 2024).

National Council of Sports (NCS) Assistant General Secretary-Administration Joseph Oluka, who was the chief guest during the launch, lauded the initiative that falls within the government’s ambitions of finding a mechanism for developing talent at an early stage.

“I want to thank the administration for this visionary dream so that the children use their holiday time profitably,” Oluka said.

“It is one thing to identify talent but another to nurture and develop it so that the shift of the mindset about sports should be seen clearly that it is not for leisure alone.

“We should be able to identify the exceptional ones, develop them and enable them to benefit economically; this is where the world is going through partnerships and collaborations,” Oluka stated.

He said strategically Uganda’s vision is going towards the commercialization of sports, which is why the government is planning to set up regional sports academies that will run both academic and sports programs.

The academy director, Mark Kayongo, thanked all the stakeholders for their support of the academy

“This academy is here to stay because we have bigger ambitions, and we want this academy to keep on growing. The outcome of this camp is to zero in on outstanding players who can help represent the country in the Mina Cup in Dubai next year.”

The Sports Association of Ugandans in North America (SAUNA) believes Motherwell Sports Academy pupils and those within the Nakawa community will greatly get inspiration from the two English coaches, Steve Taylor and Sam White.

SAUNA is a non-profit charity organization that utilizes sports to promote healthy living/fitness, develop careers and strengthen cultural relations through various sports activities in communities in Uganda and North America.

On May 30 2024, SAUNA and Motherwell Schools have a long-term partnership.

The two institutions partnered to host former English Premier League defender Taylor.

“We as SAUNA are pleased to partner with Motherwell Schools to host Taylor. Our mission as SAUNA is to encourage youth to participate in sports as a career path. We believe Taylor’s visit will inspire many more pupils at the school and neighbouring communities to joing the sport,” SAUNA Marketing Director Fred Kaweesi stated.

SAUNA Finance Director Moses Kabugo and the Operations Director Laurian Lubulwa also attended the official visit at Motherwell Schools.

Taylor made over 200 Premier league appearances for Newcastle United and scored over 10 goals during his time at the club. He also represented England.

Taylor and Sam White came to Uganda not only to conduct a soccer clinic with the children of Motherwell schools but also to launch a partnership that will see the academy collaborate with them in many other aspects.

“We are happy to have received the two coaches. Their arrival is going to help the school and the country in many ways because it is inspiring to the young people. It also awakens them to the fact that they can enjoy dual careers and that they can also make it in life through their talent,”

Kayongo noted after the coaches visited both the nursery and primary sections of the school.

“These are icons who excelled through sports so getting them here and them talking to children helps in creating awareness and showing the children that they can also survive through their talents.

“We invited them to interact with our students and also the community of Nakawa and Kampala so that they can put across inspiring messages to them regarding the different options in life. With passion and commitment, they can make it in life.

“We have been encouraged as a school and we believe it is going to be a very big learning point for our community but also all the youth in the country,”

Kayongo stated.

He said they aim to produce holistic children with highly ‘potable skills’ so that they can be easily assimilated into society with multiple skills.

White said he is always amazed by the passion the Ugandans have for the game but also their love for the music, the arts, and hosting people.

“In previous trips here, the passion from the fans, their love for the English Premier League is amazing. I was lucky enough to grow in English football and it is great to give back and educate people about the highs and lows of football around the world and how big the game is in Europe,” White said.

Nothing quite compares to the excitement of live sports or the experience of being part of a sports festival. This is precisely why the SAUNA Sport Festival 2024 will turn out to be the biggest sports party in Canada in 2024.

And what a thriller this promises to be!

Set to be organized over three days (June 29-July 1, 2024), the SAUNA Sports Forum and Awards Night, the SAUNA Sports Festival and SAUNA Grand Soccer Finale will be the largest sporting celebration in terms of the number of sports on the programme, the number of participants present and the number of people from different cultural backgrounds gathered together at the same time, in the same place, in the spirit of friendly competition.

Summary of the programme guide:
SAUNA Sports Forum and Awards
Date: June 29, 2024
Venue: Hilton Hotel (Toronto)

SAUNA Sports Festival
Date: June 30, 2024
Venue: High Park

SAUNA Grand Soccer Finale
Date: July 1, 2024
Venue: Esther Shiner Stadium
For more details, check out our events section.

Finally, it’s here!

The Sports Association of Ugandans in North America (SAUNA) has officially launched its operations in North America.

October 7, 2023 started as an ordinary date. But in the aftermath of all the activities that transpired that day, the date will for the years to come be remembered for all historic reasons.

“This is a historic day. I want to congratulate SAUNA for this achievement. I am convinced this association will change perceptions and the lives of many in the communities it will operate,” the Chief Guest Rev. Eddie Jjumba stated during the launch of the association at 1200 Lansdowne, Toronto, ON, M6H 3Z8.

 

The launch of the association’s activities marked the start of a new chapter in the lives of those who appreciate healthy living, the need to work out, network in a stress-free environment and ultimately break social and cultural barriers among the communities.

During the launch, SAUNA Director Godfrey Ssembeguya recounted the association’s journey into existence.

“This has been a process that has been built over the last three years. We believe this will bring together all sport loving fans in North America,” he stated.

SAUNA utilizes sports to promote healthy living/fitness, develop careers and strengthen cultural relations through various activities in communities in North America and Uganda.

On the eventful day, Toronto Cranes West battled Toronto Cranes East in a match that lived-up to its billing in commemoration of the launch of the association.

The Wise Men from the East edged their counterparts from the West 1-0 before being rewarded with a glittering trophy, and City Tyres T-shirts while the stand-out performers were recognized with balls.

In appreciation of their commitment and dedication to the event, all participants were offered certificates.

While speaking at the event, SAUNA director Fred Kaweesi emphasized the ambitions of the association.

“We are here to change perceptions and create opportunities for everyone in the communities of Canada. We believe everyone has the potential to be relevant in society and all that is required is a platform to allow those special skills come through,” Kaweesi stated.

“We plan to grow the SAUNA family over time through a variety of well-thought-out activities that will serve the interests of all communities and age brackets,” he added.

“We want to have Ugandans and Africans play a major role in major activities like the FIFA World Cup that will be happening here in 2026.”

Directors Laurian Lubuulwa and Moses Kabugo held one-on-one engagements with the over 100 guests at the function.

Rene Kwol, the President and Director of Canada First Academy attended the event.

It was a party atmosphere during the launch of the Sports Association of Ugandans in North America (SAUNA) on October 7, 2023.

A number of high-profile guests attended the event and number of Ugandans competed in the football gala in commemoration of the activity and here’s what they had to say:

Chief Guest: Rev. Eddie Jjumba

“This is a historic day. I want to congratulate SAUNA for this achievement. I am convinced this association will change perceptions and the lives of many in the communities it will operate.”

SAUNA director Fred Kaweesi

“We are here to change perceptions and create opportunities for everyone in the communities of Canada. We believe everyone has the potential to be relevant in society and all that is required is a platform to allow those special skills come through.”

SAUNA director/ Player Thomas Muluka

“I am proud to have been part of this event as a director and also player. The match was competitive but I managed to keep a clean sheet and inspire my team to victory on this historic day.”

Player Shafik Najib

“This has been an exciting day for me and all the players. I believe this will grow into something much bigger in the near future.”

It’s a Tuesday afternoon –three days after launching the Sports Association of Ugandans in North America (SAUNA).

One of the several activities on the SAUNA launch trail were one-on-one engagements with the next generation of stars training with a number of academies in Toronto.

Our first stop was the Canada First Academy.

After a couple of grueling hours of working out, we get a chance to interact with a number of young players –many of whom would love to be the next Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

Then, there is Ibrahim, who has a full head of height on most of his contemporaries. Ibrahim is the most popular among the players. Those who don’t know his name, when they watch him from the sidelines, simply refer to him as “the big lad.”

Ibrahim hopes to be the world’s best defender in the years to come.

 

SAUNA director Fred Kaweesi spoke to kids from the academy to answer any questions they had about football.

Besides sharing insights of what SAUNA is all about and the opportunities it presents to communities, Kaweesi told the youngsters that if there is any advice he would share with them, it was to make the most of their time at the academy and learn all they can.

He also explained why their aim at the academy should be trying to become the best in everything they do at the academy.

IT’S TIME TO PARTY

Toronto East Cranes were crowned champions of the SAUNA Inaugural Title after their players had sprinted around the pitch at 1200 Lansdowne, Toronto, ON, M6H 3Z8 in a joyful explosion at the final whistle.

During the crowning ceremony, Toronto Cranes East players huddled as the Chief Guest Rev. Eddie Jjumba handed over the trophy to the team captain.

The entire team burst into frantic celebrations, taking selfies with the glittering trophy.

Below are some pictorial moments from the crowning ceremony.

You are all winners

Minutes after the Wise Men from the East edged their counterparts from the West 1-0, that sense of rivalry was aside for an ambiance of unity.

The two sides felt winners in more ways than one.

The overall winners were rewarded with a glittering trophy, and City Tyres T-shirts while the stand-out performers were recognized with balls.

In appreciation of their commitment and dedication to the event, all participants were offered certificates.

Below are some of the pictorial moments from the match.

TORONTO CRANES EAST BATTLE TORONTO CRANES WEST

One of the most interesting activities held during the launch of the Sports Association of Ugandans in North America (SAUNA) on October 7, 2023, was a fascinating football match.

On the eventful day, Toronto Cranes West battled Toronto Cranes East in a match that lived-up to its billing in commemoration of the launch of the association.

Below are some of the pictorial moments from the match.