By Bash Mutumba
Many of us ordinary Ugandans, just see football players on TV, and rubbing shoulders with a Premier League star like Paul Pogba, or Arsenal legend Ian Wright; or even just seeing them live, is nothing more than a dream. For 22-year-old Arif Sempala, a UK-born Ugandan model, the Manchester United midfielder is a client.
“Huge team… it was like being in a movie. They made the basketball ring and even the set that day… Cameras, smoke machines… everything was amazing and jaw-dropping.” Arif told the tale of how they shot the ad for Pogba’s Adidas boot collection.
Actually, Arif is also the first ever Ugandan model to walk for Puma. It was through this deal that he walked with Adriana Lima, and met J. Cole and Usain Bolt.
At such a young age, Sempala also co-owns a venture with his friend Jerelle Okoro in the UK, and their young brand, Vodo Green Tea is booming. Arif also hopes to play for Uganda’s basketball national team. Check out his stunts with Pogba in their commercial.
Inspired by the courts of Paris.@paulpogba capsule collection season 5, exclusively available tomorrow through https://t.co/tJwR68heBN and adidas stores.#LimitedCollection pic.twitter.com/thwcmQEQAh
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) April 14, 2019