The Hardest Lesson in Success

I have been waiting to post this blog entry as I knew that a time for reflection would be of great benefit before writing it. I will start by telling you what has happened, before moving onto what God has done through it.

This season at Synergy has been immense. Brian, as manager, the players, and the spirit and belief of the team, combined this season to bring us an opportunity that few teams ever have: a playoff place to Uganda Premier League.

Synergy players before the play off final

A string of exceptional performances that saw us win all but one match between Christmas and the end of the season, ensured we finished second in the table propelling us into the playoffs. After winning the play off semi final 3-1, we headed into the final, where we were to meet Mbarara City, a team we had beaten just two weeks earlier, and who finished third behind us in Big League. The chances of promotion, and the fulfillment of the dream to play in Uganda’s top division, was now within touching distance.

Take a moment to reflect on the fact that Synergy remains a team of integrity and fair play in what is a very corrupt system, where bribing of referees and the football authorities is rife. When you take this into account, it is an amazing testament to what God has done through the work of Synergy, as well as the hard work of the staff and players, to have found ourselves just one win away from the elite level, only five and a half years after our genesis and entry at the very bottom of the league pyramid in the fifth division.

I wish I could give you a fairytale ending to this story, to say that we battled and won the playoff final, beating all the odds and silencing all the naysayers who said a team like Synergy could never make it. But real life is not a fairytale. There are not always the happy endings that we so long for.

From the moment the match began, we could tell it was going to be a difficult day. Nothing was going our way. The referee it seemed, had an agenda, and this agenda did not involve officiating professionally and impartially. Time after time our calls for free kicks were waved away, whilst the merest touch against our opposition would see the whistle blown. Our penalty appeals were turned down, nothing was given. Somehow, despite this we managed to enter the final minutes with the scores level at 1-1.

Picture this with me. As we enter the 90th minute, 5 minutes of stoppage time are displayed. Then a ball played into the Synergy box is cleared out by our keeper, Zake. As our back line moves up, a lone opposition striker is left in a clearly offside position. The ball comes back into him. Up go the hands accompanied by the shout, “Offside ref.” But no flag, no whistle, just dismay as the ball is slotted into the net.

“Come on lads, there’s still time!!” 
But no, the ref has blown his whistle for full time. 
“What about the 5 minutes stoppage time ref?” But he is not in a mood to discuss anything. 
As the Mbarara players celebrate, Synergy players are left speechless. There is discontent in the stands. Spectators are incensed at what they have seen. The Senior national coach of Uganda, watching from the sidelines, sheds tears at what he has witnessed this day.  

This is football in Uganda. This is what we have battled against for 6 years.

 

The referee waves our players away

All battles have casualties and this battle may well bear a great cost. As many of you know, it has been a struggle to finance the work of Synergy this season. With costs rising in Uganda, and with the wider work of River of Life Church continuing to be under serious financial strain, it is only due to the kindness and generosity of many of you, that Synergy F.C. have even made it to the end of the season. Promotion to Uganda Premier League would not only have gained us a platform on the national stage, but also financial stability as sponsorship deals to help finance the elite level clubs kick in. But instead we face an uncertain future, with the very real possibility that the senior club will now fold. Quite simply we don’t currently have the money to play Big League football next season.

As you read this, you may sense anger and sadness in my words, which is indeed the case. But that is not the end of the matter. In the weeks since that final, I have felt hope rising in my spirit. Why? Because when we launched Synergy five and a half years ago our primary aim was not to become a Premier League team, but to be a club that does things differently. Our vision was to launch a club with Christian Faith at its core, a club where investment in our players' wider lives would impact them beyond the pitch, and where we could be a shining light of integrity in the midst of the darkness of corruption.

In these things, we have achieved beyond our expectations. Our players are not commodities to be utilised and cashed in, they are individuals in whom we have invested untold time and mentoring, as well as training and education. The result of this is a group of young men who have attitudes, outlooks and opportunities they would never have had if they had been at other clubs.

Solomon, our team captain, has changed beyond recognition. Despite early struggles with drink, women and lack of focus, he has become a leader whom our younger players look up to. He has lived and shared his life with many of our players, eating, talking, praying and reading God’s word with them. He has gone from being a young man who was lost in many ways, to a man who has found purpose and identity. He has led by example, being voted Big League’s Most Valuable Player this season, and has recently been one of four Synergy players to break into the Senior National Squad, the Uganda Cranes.

 

Solomon with the MVP trophy for Big League 2016/17

Solomon and Nico (pictured) are just 2 of 4 Synergy players called up for the Uganda Cranes senior squad

The platform we have built has given us the type of exposure where being a team of integrity can make a real difference. Everywhere we go we are known as the team that doesn’t bribe, and can’t be bribed. At the end of season AGM, where all Big League teams gathered, representatives of every team stood up to commend Manager Brian and Synergy, for the way we play football and the way we run the club. Corruption, despite being rife, is now being challenged, both on the street and in the media. The referee who officiated our playoff final, a few days later went to officiate the equivalent of Uganda’s FA Cup final, involving 2 premiership teams. He was chased away by fans and players because of the way he officiated during our playoff final. They have had enough, and there is a fresh call to see the game cleaned up in Uganda.

 

Manager Brian, being interviewed by the media

This is not the end for Synergy, perhaps just the beginning of a new chapter. Even if the senior team folds, we will continue to use what little resources we have to build again from our academy. And even if we are unable to, we have not failed in our mission. Wherever our players go, they take with them valuable lessons and changed attitudes. God has used us as a catalyst to raise aspirations, to raise hope, to raise faith and to bring integrity to the game. I am proud of what we have achieved, and so grateful to all of you who have helped make it possible. Thank you!

Finally, before I sign off, I would like to give the briefest of plugs. As I have expressed I am so grateful for the generosity so many of you have shown to Synergy, and as I have asked so much of you recently please do not feel any obligation to give to what I am about to promote. As I write, out in Uganda, 20 of our players are doing an ultra marathon, running over 100km in 3 days from Masaka to Mbarara. Their aim is to raise money for school fees and requirements for around 65 Synergy players ranging from primary up to university level. If you feel you would like to give towards their efforts, you can go to the following web address to find out more and donate. 

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/synergyultramarathon

Once again, please feel no obligation.