Author: Ahmed Marsha

The Government of Uganda will play a monthly stipend of Shs. 1M to national senior team, Uganda Cranes.

The confirmation was delivered by the FUFA President, Eng. Moses Magogo during the press conference at FUFA House in Kampala on Wednesday.

Eng. Magogo applauded the President Yoweri Museveni who passed the Shs. 4.3 billion supplementary budget to run from January to June 2018.

‘We thank His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. When he hosted the delegation from FUFA at his country home in Rwakitura, he accorded us time to discuss football ideas. Part of the money on this supplementary budget was used to support the team at the 2018 CHAN tournament in Morocco’ Eng. Magogo noted.

50 players shall be earning Shs. 1M per month for the next 6 months. 10 players shall be U-20 and 15 under 23, the rest will be an open category.

The selection process of the players shall be based on merit (current form) as guided by the national head coach Sebastien Desabre.

Also, the new Uganda Cranes bus will be procured on this money.

 

FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo addressed the media at FUFA House in Mengo on key areas driving the modern game of football.

He noted that;

‘The biggest threat to Football is its popularity, simplicity and speed of evolution. Football is migrating and the people in and around the game must adapt to the changes or else they get obsolete. 

The trends, regulations, strategies and approaches are changing so fast and without constant refreshment and knowledge enrichment the train might be too fast for both the Internal and External Stakeholders. For example what was correct yesterday could be wrong today’

Here are the key segments

• Governance; From days of Football organisations managed by Philanthropists, volunteers and supporters, the game has shifted to require fulltime attention by the Organisations and persons running it at all levels. Knowledge, Time, Versatility and Passion by the leadership is a minimum requirement.

The institutions of football from FIFA, CAF, FAs (FUFA) and the Members of FAs (Regions & Clubs) must undertake reorganization, and application of good governance practices. The Statutes, Regulations, Policies and Codes, must be promulgated, and fairly enforced to empower the football bodies  to Develop, Organise, Regulate, Promote & Protect the fast moving game.

There is need for amicable collaboration with Governments to fund and enact laws that will facilitate the football bodies to Develop, Organise, Regulate, Promote & Protect the game in interaction with the external parties.

The football bodies have a duty to build public trust and cultivate a business and/or value relationship with all potential entities inclusive but not limited to the corporate world, civil society organisations, NGOs, Religious and Cultural Institutions, Government, Media, etc

This is the segment that supervises and holds the centre for the rest

• Technical; The Sport of Football is evolving so fast on the pitch. The technical and Tactical approach to the game has gotten more statistical than qualitative. The fully equipped backroom staff of the teams now include, Medics, Nutritionists, Fitness Trainers, Scouts, Technical Spies, Psychologists, Video Analysts, Technical Study, Communication professionals, Grounds Managers, Logisticians, Goal Keeper, Defenders, Midfielders and Strikers Coaches etc. The players, coaches and referees must be prepared from an early age to adapt to the technical, social and economic demands and challenges of the modern football professionals. If you choose to belong here then you have to up your game. This is where the fans make contact with game.

 

• Services; Considering the financial resources and demands of the modern game, there is no option but to engage services of professionals in the areas of Marketing, Communications, Insurance, Logistics, Events, IT, Finances, Legal, HRM and Medical amongst others. This is the income generating hub of the equation.

 

• Tools; In order to harvest from the fruits of the modern game, the services, professionals must be provided facilities required to achieve commercial and financial success. Medical, Sporting, Estates facilities are a minimum.

The modern game requires good infrastructure for training and competition matches. There is no shortcut to infrastructure and modern training equipment. Hosting of international competitions such as continental and world football events leaves the country in a better football state than before and besides good facilities get the best out of the athletes. The facilities must also allow the safety and security of the Fans, Players, and Referees. This is where governments especially in this part of the World must be mobilized to invest as football economy has not yet attained the level to undertake such huge projects.

Despite the efforts being undertaken in the recent times, the biggest hold back is attitude and mindset of many of the people around the game.

MAIN PHOTO: FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo (R) with the Comunications Manager Ahmed Hussein during the press conference on Wednesday.

Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited has been on 13th February 2017 officially unveiled as the title sponsor of the 44th Edition for the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Uganda Cup.

The unveiling ceremony was conducted at the offices of Stanbic Bank on Tuesday morning.

This sponsorship is at a tune of Shs. 300M for one season which is renewable.

FUFA President, Eng. Moses Magogo represented the federation delegation that also had the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Edgar Watson and FUFA Executive Committee member, Rogers Byamukama, who is also the Chairman of Marketing and Communications committee.

Stanbic Bank’s head of Marketing and Communications, Daniel Ogong and Cathy Adengo the Communications manager represented the bank.

‘We are proud to have found a partner  in Stanbic Bank with such a long and proud sporting heritage. The Uganda Cup is steeped in history having been played since 1971 and as FUFA we are excited to have found a sponsor who appreciates the history scale of the competition’ remarked Eng Moses Magogo.

In his remarks, Ogong lauded FUFA and hinted on Stanbic Bank’s mission of talent development;

As Stanbic Bank we firmly believe successful sports development can only take place if our abundant natural talent is nurtured at the grassroots level right across the country.

The Stanbic Uganda Cup is without doubt Uganda’s most famous knockout football competition.

This promotes football development across the country and allows for the unearthing and spotting of talent that would otherwise go unnoticed.

A total of UGX 90m has been set aside as prize money for this season’s Stanbic Uganda Cup with the winner receiving UGX30m.

The Runner up will pocket UGX20m, semi- finalists Shs. 10m each while the quarter finalists will each receive Shs 5m.

This year’s final shall be held in Kumi District, where the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) cause attached to this tournament.

Meanwhile, the draws for the tournament round of 32 were also conducted after the presentation of the dummy cheque.

Stanbic Bank joins the ever swelling list of sponsors and partners who have vested trust and confidence in the federation.

Airtel Uganda Limited is the main Uganda Cranes sponsor. The telecommunications giants are joined by Nile Breweries Limited, Rwenzori, Bidco Uganda Limited and Ecobank.

The FUFA Drum

24^th February, 2018 (Opening match)

Busoga vs Bugisu- (Bugembe Stadium) 4pm in Jinja 

 

The Organising Committee of ‘The FUFA Drum’ has confirmed Bugembe stadium in Jinja as the host venue of the tournament’s opener between Busoga and Bugisu Provinces on 24^th February 2018.

The Committee made a final inspection on Monday afternoon and later took a decision on the hosting venue.

Committee Chairman Rogers Byamukama expressed his delight at the preparations by the Busoga Province team.

‘Busoga region is very privileged and undoubtedly blessed to hold the official opening of The FUFA Drum tournament which comes along with various objectives ranging from spotting raw football talents to celebrating our ancestry’ Byamukama remarked.

‘Bugembe stadium will be the centre of attraction for the opening weekend of The FUFA Drum. We expect high profile dignitaries for this match. I expect a close contest on the day but we shall put in place a good plan for the day’ said Byamukama.

Byamukama was flanked by his entire committee members Owek. Bagunywa Nkalubo, Hajjati Aisha Nalule, Livingstone Lajan and Anthony Tumwesigye while Owek. Amin Bossa, Salmin Saleh, Faisal Muhammad, Mutesi Zaitun, Crispus Muyinda, Musota Daniel, Isssa Magola attended the meeting on behalf of Busoga Province Team

Numerous dignitaries from Busoga, Bugisu, FUFA, Government are expected to grace the official opening ceremony of this tournament ranging from His Royal Highness the Kyabazinga Of Busoga William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to all Honourable Members of Parliament from Busoga and Bugisu sub-regions respectively’ noted Chairman Busoga Province Owek. Amin Bbosa Nkono

Bossa confirmed the gate charges.

‘The game will go for 3.000/- for Ordinary tickets and Ushs10.000/= (VIP)’

 

24^th February, 2018 (Opening match)

Busoga vs Bugisu- (Bugembe Stadium)

 

25^th February 2018

Teso vs Sebei at Kongunga Ground in Bukedea

Lango vs Acholi- Lango Sports Ground in Lira

Buganda vs Kigezi-  Nyendo ground in Masaka

Bukedi vs Kampala-Budaka Saza Ground in Budaka

Bunyoro vs Rwenzori-Hoima Ground in Hoima

Karamoja vs West Nile-Moroto Booma Ground in Moroto

Ankole vs Tooro-Kakyeka Stadium, in Mbarara

Groups:

Group A:

• Teso
• Busoga
• Sebei
• Bugisu

Group B:

• Lango
• Buganda
• Acholi
• Kigezi

Group C:

• Bukedi
• Bunyoro
• Kampala
• Rwenzori

Group D:

• Karamoja
• Ankore
• West Nile
• Tooro

MAIN PHOTO: Busoga Province Team officials and Local Organising Committee Members of The FUFA Drum at Bugembe stadium on Monday evening.