Coach Mustafa dreams of turning street children into champion gymnasts

The Kataka Gymnastics Club has dreams of making it big in Uganda. This group of more than 60 children, aged 3 to 13, meets daily to practice gymnastics, tumbling and acrobatics. The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to their coach, Yiga Mustafa, about his love of gymnastics and his mission to help children on the streets of Katwe.

Mustafa, who just finished high school, started working full time with the neighbourhood children at the end of May:

I am a former street child, I grew up in an orphanage. In the orphanage, we used to do many activities. We had music, acrobatics, cultural dances. I joined acrobatics when I was 10 years old. In the organisation, I headed the group for acrobatics and I was the captain of the team. So when I finished my studies, I left the organisation and I set up a club for gymnastics because I love the sport.

So many kids knew that I was an acrobat. Whenever I passed by kids in the community, they would always call to me: “Teacher, teacher, Coach Mustafa.” I told them we should meet and do some practice. Now that I have finished high school, I told them we would work together as a team, and develop to the national level.