With Africa having the fastest growing, youngest population of any continent, it’s vital that young professionals step up into leadership roles across many fields, including sports, to help shape a fairer, better future, says sports lawyer Timothy Kajja.
“Building the Africa that we want, we cannot keep youth out of that process,” says Timothy, referencing Agenda 2063, the African Union’s fifty-year vision for sustainable development and economic growth, and to transform Africa into a global powerhouse.
“Young people have to be actively involved, but no one is going to wake you up in your bed and give you a slot,” continues Timothy, who combined his passions for sport, law, and service by establishing Young African Leaders in Sport in early 2023. “We have to show that we are present and that we are people who can work in this industry.”
Young African Leaders in Sport (YALS) is a pan-African body headquartered in Uganda that brings together young professionals from various fields who wish to be of service, develop skills, and become leaders in the growing field of African sports.
Timothy notes that while young African voices are heard in other areas, from equality issues to climate change, there was a gulf in African sports. Generally, younger people were only seen on the field of play, not in organisation and leadership.
“We know there are brilliant young minds out there who wish to serve the game. Not all of us break through at the top level as players. But if we stay in sport, we’re not only working to put bread on the table, but with passion, and likely to do a better job.”
YALs members include the likes of Kenyan advocate Gordon Gogo, who has created an app to safeguard, empower, and expose athletes to the opportunities they deserve; Ugandan sports lawyer and licensed FIFA agent Fidel Mugarura Otafiire; Kenyan sports marketer and football analyst Hilda Cheptoo; Dr. Kiptolo Boit, the founder of Nextgen Multi-Sport Academy in Kenya; and Doeju Momolu Goodluck, founder of Liberia-based sports consultancy firm DMG Global and US college recruitment tool Uburu Africa.
“YALs brings together a pool of talent to deliberately create opportunities to upskill ourselves, to have a single voice with stakeholders, and create and advocate for young people to take up leadership opportunities in the field of sports,” says Timothy, who established YALS while working as an associate at leading Ugandan firm KTA Advocates.
He recently struck out on his own to become a specialist sports lawyer, while also lecturing on the subject at Kampala International and Uganda Christian universities. Timothy also represented footballer Fahad Bayo in a recent case before the FIFA Tribunal, a successful employment dispute against Czech club MFK Vyskov.
“Growing up, I always wanted to do something beneficial, not only for myself, but for the global village that we live in,” says Timothy, noting that more Africans nowadays are taking ‘sports law’ seriously, with governments bringing in new laws, and athletes realising they may have recourse if their rights are violated. “I believe this is how we grow the industry and benefit many of these athletes while also getting attention of those with the political mind and political will to better African sports in general.”