Psychosocial competency is a crucial pillar in shaping a footballer’s career — helping players adapt, maintain positive behaviour, and navigate the demands and challenges of life both on and off the pitch.
Over the weekend, URA FC players and officials, led by head coach Alex Isabirye, gathered at Brisk Recreation Hotel in Jinja for a two-day preseason retreat and bonding session. The highlight of the program was an impactful life skills session led by Livingstone Kyambadde, Chairman of the Uganda Football Coaches Association, who spoke passionately about the value of discipline as the bedrock of sustainable success.
The retreat was also attended by URA FC executive members, including club chairman Dr. Micah Gaalya, team manager Sam Okabo, and CEO Allan Munaaba.
“Discipline is the difference between success and failure. It touches everything — from time management and attitude to character and teamwork,” Kyambadde told the squad.
He urged players to plan wisely for their finances, regardless of the amount, and to invest in ventures that can secure their future. Drawing from real-life examples, he spoke about legendary footballers such as Ronaldinho and Adriano, who faced financial hardship post-retirement due to poor planning, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba, who have built lasting wealth through smart investments and business ventures.
Kyambadde also shared guiding principles for a successful football career:
- If you lie, you make the problem part of the future.
- Short-term gain creates long-term pain.
- Freedom is dangerous; it demands responsibility.
- Patience is bitter, but the fruits are sweet.
- Pay now and play later, or play now and pay later.
- Success and failure are predictable.
- What made you qualify cannot make you champions.
- There is no future in a team or school — the future lies in the player or student.
- The best way to predict the future is to create it.
- Growth is a process; if you don’t wait, you don’t grow.
- Growth is the only guarantee that tomorrow will be better.
He closed by advising players to embrace accountability:
- Admit mistakes
- Learn from them
- Avoid repeating them
As part of the Jinja retreat, URA FC also played their first preseason friendly match, edging Walukuba Select 2-1 at the Walukuba grounds, with goals from Moses Aliro and George Masembe.