Samuel Opira is a seasoned basketball player and coach. He spoke to Deborah Nakyanzi of Monday Times about his life and work.
Deborah Nakyanzi: What exactly do you as Samuel Opira?
Samuel Opira: I am a basketball player with Phoenix Basketball Camp. We used to be based at Kabira Club but we shifted to the newly opened Pearl of Africa Hotel.
Deborah Nakyanzi: As a Basketball player which role do you play in the team
Samuel Opira: I play number 3 as a forward
Deborah Nakyanzi: When did you start playing basketball?
Samuel Opira: I started back in school in Senior one in 2011, at Kololo SS.
Deborah Nakyanzi: What made you get into basketball instead of other sports?
Samuel Opira: I used to do two sports football and basketball. But when I reached senior one I was in the school team.I moved to Basketball
Deborah Nakyanzi: What challenges do you face as a basketball player?
Samuel Opira: Attitude.At times you can feel that you are down, you can feel that other guys are better than you. Sometimes I ask where is this taking me. I just play to enjoy. Then I come to real senses.
Working out the time to balance it with other stuff is another challenge. It takes a lot of time and my career suffers. I am planning to do human nutrition or food science next year and this can be affected by the basketball schedules.
Finding the materials to use. The shoes the balls the attire are very expensive. You might have to buy a pair of shoes or two each month because our courts are not smooth enough
But there are good things I have got from this as well. The work is kind of good. I coach basket ball in one of the schools and get some money from it.
Deborah Nakyanzi: If someone wants to be coached individually can you do it?
Samuel Opira: Yes I can. Parents call me to do it. I really do coach many people
Deborah Nakyanzi: Where do you see you in five years in five years in terms of basketball?
Samuel Opira: I see myself as a professional basketball player in Uganda playing for my national team. I see myself as a master trainer or coach. I see myself changing the community using basketball.
Deborah Nakyanzi: In what way can the community be changed using basketball?
Samuel Opira: Bringing the game to the people down at the grassroots is one of my dreams. Some people think basketball is for the rich people’s kids who have money to play with. I want to teach the young generation from the other side of town that they can participate in basketball and it can take them very far. It gives them connections with other people.
Deborah Nakyanzi: What do you want to change about the basketball in Uganda?
Samuel Opira: Investors should come in because there is money in it. The government should build basketball courts in different parts of the country. To encourage those who know basketball to take the game across the country.
Deborah Nankyanzi: How can an investor make money in basketball?
Samuel Opira: This is the second most loved game in the world. Basketball courts can be built everywhere in the country. The investor can get money from the teams who are there to rent the playground. Like at Pearl of Africa where we train from we rent it. Each player at Pearl of Africa pays 20,000 to play everyday. Sometimes we are 50 players there in a day. That is 1,000,000 shillings. In a month he makes 30,000,000 shillings. Elsewhere it is higher.
Another way an investor can benefit is that they can sponsor a team in the league and if you are a businessman you can market your business. Like Citi Oil has done. Another way is to organize competitions people come to watch, money is collected from participants in the league and you get money from sponsors the tickets they buy. Then spectators can pay to watch the games.
Deborah Nakyanzi: What are your final words for those who are interested in basketball?
Samuel Opira: You should change attitude and think positive. That you can do it. It is a lot of hardwork. In basketball hard work and repetition of the things you do everyday is key. You have to practice and repeat and repeat until you get it right.
To contact Samuel Opira, his phone number is: 0704987146
