Having the courage and zeal to overcome a disability is no easy task especially in a society where disabled people are ostracized and treated as outcasts. One man who has proved that disability is not inability is Kulumba Noor Din a senior four student at Entebbe Parents Secondary School who is also the school’s Games Prefect and Football Team Captain. Entebbe News’ Isaac Ainebyona caught up with him where he shared his passion for the beautiful game.
Born in 1996 Kulumba is the last born in a family of four children. I begun by asking him when he started playing football, the 19 year old asserts that right from childhood he has been passionate about football and he has no plans of quitting the beautiful game.
“I’ll remain in football for the rest of my life and I would like to become a sports journalist after completing my studies” he says. Asked how he is able to balance studies and playing football at the same time, he says that he manages both Academics and his role as Games prefect well.
“I’m managing my studies and sports well. I balance my time for academics and sports properly” Kulumba stresses.
He also praises his parents who have supported him all the way to play football. “My parents are supportive, they provide me with whatever I need to play and enjoy football” he states.
Entebbe Parents S.S Administration offers him a Bursary.
Kulumba discloses that he was eager to join Entebbe Parents Secondary school in Senior one because he loved the school.
“When I joined in senior one I requested the school Administration for a bursary but they first underestimated me but eventually they agreed to give me a half bursary” Kulumba reveals.
He adds that in senior two the school Administration awarded him with a full bursary after they saw his passion and commitment towards the game of football.
“I have been on full bursary since senior two and I’m grateful to the School administration for supporting me” he says.
The 19 year old has served as the school’s Games Prefect for the last two years while as captain of the School’s football team he has served for four years and captained his side at the Entebbe Zonal Secondary Schools Football Championships where Entebbe Parents lost to Merry Land High School 2-1 in the semifinal stage at St.Mary’s College Kisubi Play Ground.
He discloses his love for Uganda Premier League side Lweza FC and Arsenal FC in the English Premier League. “I’m a loyal fan of Lweza FC because they play well, I even attend their training sessions” he reveals.
The Entebbe Parents S.S football team attacking Midfielder reveals that he trains a lot and does a lot of road work in the morning and evening in addition to juggling.
“Though I’m disabled in my left leg, I play football for the full 90 minutes” he adds.
Aside from football Kulumba plays cricket at the Cricket grounds in Kakeeka. His two best friends Kizito Uwazairu and Birungi Rashid both in senior four are supportive in times of need. “They protect me from danger and we support each other financially” he states.
He prefers Christiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi because according to him Ronaldo proved he is a talented and skilled footballer while at Manchester United and now with Real Madrid in Spain where he is performing excellently well.
To people living with disabilities he says they should be confident and avoid undermining themselves.
Deputy Head Master, Director of Studies and Games Mistress Speak out on Kulumba Noor Din.
Deputy Head Master Ssebunya Hamidu Kawuka
Kulumba has the zeal, passion and determination to play football. He is hard working and above all he is disciplined.
Director of Studies Wamala Jonathan.
He is a well disciplined, hard working and committed student with a high degree of team spirit. We saw his disability and commitment to sports and decided to offer him a bursary.
Games Mistress Rose Balungi
He is disciplined and passionate about sports. He is also determined and hard working and knows how to mobilize other students.
