It's OFFICIAL: We Are Going Back To Uganda!!!
First off, I would like to thank Pardon My Cheesesteak for sponsoring the Africa Bowl. But the even better news is that they are now sponsoring the WHOLE AFRICAN ZONE SERIES!
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Look I know people wonder why would we go back to Uganda after what transpired.
The first trip to Uganda, on the outside, looks like a total failure on the football front. There was so much hype so much promise. I literally felt like I was in an uplifting sports movie that was bound for a happy ending. Unfortunately, the only media that surfaced, with the live stream not working on YouTube, was Uganda, which got shut out and let up 14 points. The worst part is the only media that has been uploaded has been from the Kenyan side, which has had a much more established program, brought the refs, and released their own highlights.
All of these tell a story that makes the Ugandan team look terrible, but I also look like I was yelling and blaming the Ugandans for our loss.
Yeah, this is an absolutely terrible look but keep in mind this does not paint anywhere near the real picture. The reality is, and you can see it from the only two plays that Uganda looks decent in, that we were getting positive yards on every carry and making big stops; we gave up one real touchdown on defense from only having 9 or 10 men on the field. If you think I looked harsh yelling at them and it's fucked up, then I absolutely know you never played ball, even at a middle school level. We practiced personnel and substitutions every day, and then, on game day, we did not have the right personnel on the field because a guy who took off his pads after getting out of the game was going to elicit direct commands in the heat of battle. These are grown men, anywhere from 18-35, I was actually one of the younger dudes; they can handle it.
The reality is the Ugandans actually played amazingly. Getting off the field, I was praying that the live stream showed the egregious first down marker moving, which was the only thing that stopped our offense, and the crazy calling of halftime when the Ugandans had the Kenyans at a 4th and 30. It was demoralizing knowing that the full story wouldn't come out till the video came out. I know it sounds like an excuse when I say the refs robbed us, but literally, you can't run an offense when the nose tackle on the other team is hitting the ball out of the center's hands before he can even attempt to snap it. Seriously, the Ugandans had one subbing mistake on defense, costing one touchdown. Most of the other plays looked like this. Finally, the Ugandan highlights are being posted:
The worst part about the loss was finding out that the Youtube livestream hadn't worked and the public wasn't going to see how egregious the reffing was. Hearing 14-0 and seeing all the Kenyan highlights makes the whole situation look terrible. Enough complaining. That was the past. We are on to Nairobi.
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We couldn't fathom not going back. I was going to go anyway, with or without funding or Donny. It would be egregious not too. Job not finished. The thing is, we don't have to change anything about our game plan, Personnel. Anything. We literally just need to bring referees.
The thing is, the Kenyans have beaten Uganda time and time again. Who knows how much robbing of yardage using the 1st down markers has happened to them in the past? I was so focused on coaching the team that I never thought about ensuring the organization in general, They had to find it worth it to pay refs. They have low funding due to their lack of success. The sports minister personally asked me to play because if they did not have any success, it was likely the program would be cut (if you are wondering why I was playing) (also, once I realized the game was unwinnable from a reffing standpoint, I put in the Ugandan QB who I text every day different drills and instructional stuff, he has a great arm just needs to learn how to run the offense and put touch on the ball).
The most successful Ugandan sports get the most funding, and a sport called netball gets tons due to its world champion success (A team that hasn't beaten Kenya in 3 years does not get the same monetary allocation). Kenya tends to be drier than Uganda; the foot of red Ugandan mud we played in gave us a whole half of our playbook we didn't use. We didn't attempt any passes (they only have rubber balls that you can't throw in the rain) (Refs and leather footballs are all we need to bring to Nairobi to win). Uganda has way better Wide Receivers than Kenya. Kenya has better linemen. If we get a dry day in Nairobi, it's four verts every play, and once we get up a couple of scores, I'm sending in George the Fort Portal Slinger to get some in-game reps.
We need to win this game for the future of Ugandan football and American football in Africa. Kenya has the most competitive program on the continent, and other countries need to get more competitive, or they will just stop playing and get 0 funding. (This is why I am playing, and trust me, I am the best option they have, but I am mentoring George. tbh, his biggest challenge is English. He speaks a different dialect than the rest of the players, which is a major hurdle in play calling, but we are getting there). I message these dudes every day. The beauty of the internet is you can find drills on YouTube with translations if needed. Ever since leaving Uganda, all I can think about is Uganda football and beating Kenya.
A lot of college football players leave college a little jaded when it comes to football. They lose the obsession and passion for their first true love (Football). Going to Uganda made me fall back in greater love with football again. The playbook we installed is customized for the country of Uganda; the terminology is all Ugandan, using places, names, and historical figures, all as terminology in the playbook. Not only coaching players but training coaches on how to play call and run the offense and defense effectively. Our efforts there are not just temporary flashes in the pan but laying a foundation for longterm success for the Ugandan program.
The modern world allows for revolutionary coaching techniques internationally. I can send defensive linemen video examples of stunting and pass-rush techniques from a continent away. I've never met guys so eager to play football and not give a fuck about the suck. These guys send me videos of working out every day. Hardest working players that cut 0 corners.
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These guys are an inspiration to anyone who plays the game. You can't not just go back for guys like this. They say that D3 football players love the game the most because they don't play for scholarships or money like D1 or NFL. These guys love the game way more because they play for their country for absolutely nothing except for their passion for the game. I would be a man of no honor if I gave up on these guys. They won that game in my book. They stayed disciplined, didn't false start or jump a single snap, and the undisciplined Kenyans were allowed to run offsides unpenalized and robbed them.
We gotta go back. I am figuring out how to get an international ref there as well as holding a reffing seminar. The guys are coached up. I blame myself for not thinking of ensuring the game would be reffed fairly, it's something we take for granted in the States.
Here's the ref admitting it was fucked
Also, I really need this video to come to show my highlights; everyone is only seeing the one time I went down soft like Travis Kelce. Our backfield was running the ball down their throats. We gotta beat Kenya for the sake of spreading the great sport of American football across the world because no two American football-playing nations have ever gone to war. Democracies have ended up going to war now, so that trope doesn't work. American football is the only way to world peace. Also, we have to run Weganda (Tush Push) without the nose tackle hitting the ball out of our center's hand before he can snap it. It's unstoppable except for that crazy moment that no one could predict.
I am very thankful to Pardon My Cheesesteak for once again being a Patron of the Art of Football.
The kind individuals at Pardon My Cheesesteak not only will sponsor this trip BUT ALSO sponsor your next Pardon My Cheesesteak using Promo Code: WEGANDA for $5 off your next Cheesesteak order through