Author: Ahmed Marsha

FUFA has confirmed the dates and venue for the forthcoming Elite referees course. The country’s top referees and assessors have been selected for the course that starts on Monday 23rd March, 2015 at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
Fufa.co.ug caught up with the FUFA referees’ manager Samuel Wesonga Egesa who gave information about the course.

Fufaco.ug: What is an Elite Referees course?
Egesa: This is a FIFA supported course for 30 top referees supervised by the FIFA referees regional development officer-in this case-Mr. Carlos Henriques. He will come to Uganda with two other FIFA instructors (One is Technical and the other is a fitness instructor) to conduct the course.

Carlos is is the head of the referees development within the FIFA Development office for the East, central and southern Africa headed by Mr. Ashford Mamelodi and based in Garborone Botswana.

The same course was held last year at Mandela National stadium and FUFA Technical centre in Njeru.
While in Uganda, the trio will be assisted by 8 National instructors (6 Technical instructors-Abbas Sendyowa, Catherine Adipo, Yusuf Awuye, yusuf Kamulegeya, Margaret Kubingi and Samuel Egesa. The other two are National Referees fitness instructor-Kalyango Ali and his assistant Kizito Rahman Nansubuga.

Fufa.co.ug: What is the criteria of a FIFA Member Association to get this course?
Egesa: For the case of Uganda, it is always done by application to the FIFA Regional development office based in Garborone in Botswana through the office of the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Edgar Watson.The application is usually done at the beginning of the year to give ample time for a feedback and planning.

Fufa.co.ug: What are the dates for this year’s course in Uganda?
Egesa: The course will from 23rd-27th March, 2015 at the FUFA Technical centre in Njeru. It will be a residential course for all participants.

Fufa.co.ug: How many people are expected to attend?
Egesa: We shall have 30 referees’ assessors who in Njeru for two days (23rd and 24th March, 2015) while the referees will be 30 in total (FIFA and National referees).
Will beach soccer referees be allowed to take part in this course?
Yes they will be allowed to take part but only for the physical fitness sessions depending on their availability (if they are not involved in official international engagements).

Fufa.o.ug: What is involved in this course?
Egesa: Day 1: Involves medical check-up of all the referees excluding assessors. If the participant fails a medical test he is not be allowed to take part. The pregnant referees holding FIFA badges also go through the medical tests but only take part in the physical tests on the advice of the doctor.

The tests are carried out by qualified doctors who are members of the FUFA sports medicine and medical committee headed by Doctor James Sekajugo. Usually these tests are carried out on the eve of the physical fitness tests.

Day 2: Involves the physical tests (running) in the presence of the FIFA fitness instructor assisted by the National fitness instructors. During these tests, it is mandatory that there is a standby ambulance and a qualified doctor.
The running starts with women in this order (assistant referees then centre referees).

The running involves 40M (six times), 12 laps of 150M running, 50M walking, repeated till the 12 laps are completed). The men join after in the same order as above.

After the running, the FIFA instructor releases the names of participants who have passed to continue with the course. Those who don’t meet the physical fitness standards are left out of the course.

Day 3: The participants (referees and assessors) are taken through again all the FIFA Laws of the game, their fitness levels checked where medical tests are conducted. Three tests are conducted every day on each participant (Trivia-which involves Questions and answers on the laws of the game, match analysis, and offside).

Fufa.co.ug: What happens to the participants who fail?
Egesa: They are not allowed to take part in this course as they have to wait for another chance the following. However they are allowed to take part in the National physical fitness tests that FUFA organizes during the year.
The list of participants:

Referees list: REFEREES AND ASSESSORS FOR ELITE COURSE

Referees’ assessors and instructors: Kamulegeya Yusuf, Mawanda Haruna, Adipo Catherine, Kabwimukya George, Mansoor Kimumwe, Egesa Samuel, Waiswa Ali, Nalule Aisha, Tomusange Ali, Amin Bossa Nkono, Ssendyowa Abbasi, Waiswa Ajab, Kityo Asuman, Kubingi Margaret, Yusuf Awuye, Kiwanuka Edrisa, Aswa Luke, Siraji Katono, Ojwe Denis, Basiisa Hassan, Katumba George Wamala, Allan Leo, Odoi Steven, Kayiwa Abdallah, Mayanja Paul, Mwebembezi Milton, Kalule John Cox, Bautu Umar, Matovu Sulaiman and Masembe Charles.

MAIN PHOTO: Referees taking part in a practical session during last year’s Elite Course at the the FUFA Technical centre in Njeru.

Photo credit: FUFA Communications department

The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has delivered an assortment of football equipment to each of the 12 teams taking part in the FUFA Women Elite League.

FUFA President, Eng. Moses Magogo officiated at the occasion that took place at FUFA House in Mengo, Kampala.

The FUFA president, who has been visibly delighted by the support from FIFA hailed special praise to the world’s football governing body.

‘This is an exciting moment for me personally and as a President of the federation. It is one thing to draw plans and another to execute them. I am grateful to FIFA, the FUFA Executive, all federation officials especially those in the women football office and the media, who have been part of this cause’ said Magogo

FUFA Executive Committee member, also chairperson of the FUFA women football committee Mariam Kaliga praised FIFA for the timely offer to the Uganda Women football clubs.

‘I thank FIFA for these items. May the clubs put these acquired equipment to efficient use. We also thank Pepsi for partnering with us during the Mama Becca Women’s Day Cup’ said Kaliga.

The Full assortment from FIFA:

For each of the 12 teams in the FUFA Women  Elite league, they have received from FIFA; one set of jersey per team 10 balls, 20 pairs of playing boots,  two pairs of gloves,20 pairs of socking and an equal number of shin guards. FUFA President also confirmed that the 12 teams will still get an extra jersey of their choice (except red) from the federation.

Uganda started the women Football National league after FIFA launched the Live Your Goals and FIFA Com-Unity women programmes in early December 2014.

FUFA WOMEN ELITE LEAGUE TEAMS:

VICTORIA GROUP: Kawempe Muslim FC, Kakira Women FC, Buikwe She Red Stars, Eastern Heroes FC, Gafford Ladies, Alleluyah 2008 FC

ELIZABETH GROUP: Wakiso hill School Team, She Mak St FC, Ajax Women FC, Western United, She Corporate FC, UCU Lady Cardinals

MAIN PHOTO: Kawempe Muslim Girls Team was one of the 12 clubs in the FUFA Women Elite league that received the FIFA Donated equipment

PHOTO CREDITS: FUFA Communications Department

The installation of an artificial turf at the Philip Omondi stadium in Lugogo is gathering pace.

Two officials Eng. Mark van Spriel-Manger International Contracting (Edel Grass) and one of their agents in Africa Akonon Camille Michel (fields and Sports Equipment Sarl) from Benin have arrived in the country to kick off preliminary stages of the project. 

The duo has already visited FUFA House and held discussions with the Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson in Mengo.

It will be the second artificial turf to be laid in Uganda. The first turf was installed at the FUFA technical centre in Njeru.

It is fully funded by the world’s soccer governing body under the Support For Less Privileged Federations development project.

FIFA chose Edel Grass Company of Holland to roll out an artificial turf that rolls off on 1st April and ends on31st June 2015.

‘We are carrying out preliminary stages of the project that will have three stages-production and transportation of equipment, ground work and installation of the turf’ said Eng. Mark van Spriel.

FUFA, the team from Edel Grass and KCC FC officials will meet this afternoon to hold more discussions on the start of the project.

CAF 2015 BEACH SOCCER QUALIFIERS: (First Leg)

FULL-TIME:

Uganda Sand Cranes 6-9 Ghana Black Sharks

Ghana Black Sharks overcame Uganda Sand Cranes 6-9 in the first leg of the CAF Beach Soccer qualifier played at Sports Beach arena in Entebbe on Sunday.

The Sharks, who arrived in the country two hours to the game scored through Mathew Lamptey’s 4 goals, captain Michael Sema’s hat-trick  and a goal apiece from Alexander Adye and Isaac Ofori.

Uganda’s six goals on the day came off the feet of Baker Lukooya (2), Brian Nkuubi, team captain Derrick Tekwo and a Roch Somoka brilliant header.

The match was watched by a capacity ground and well officiated by Egyptian referees.

The  second round shall be held on 22nd March 2015.

Uganda needs a victory of a margin of more than 4 goals to be assured of a slot at next month’s CAF beach soccer championships that will be held in Seychelles.

Team Line Ups:

Uganda Sand Cranes:

Ashadu Bugembe (GK), Derrick Tekkwo (Captain), Baker Lukooya, Brian Nkuubi, Nasser Lwamunda (G.K), Davis Kasujja, Ambrose Naturinda, Ali Bunkedeko, Roch Somoka

Ghana Black Sharks:

Daniel Gokah (G.K), Azizi Koffi, Alexander Adye, Michael Sema (Captain), Fredrick Kwevi, Isaac Ofori, Mathew Lamptey

The Egyptian referees were:

Abdel Naby Bakhit Khaled (Referee), El Eraky Hany Farouk (2nd Referee), El Sabagh Wael Mostafa (3rd Referee)

Time-keeper: Shorbage Sameh El Shorbage (Egypt)

Match Commissioner: Roch Henreitte (Seychelles)

MAIN PHOTO: Uganda Sand Cranes players passionately singing the national anthem prior to the start of the game.

PHOTO CREDITS: FUFA Communications Department

CAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER:

Uganda Sand Cranes Vs Ghana Black Sharks

At Sports Beach, Entebbe (Sun, 15th March 2015)

4:00 PM

Ghana arrived at Entebbe International Airport on the exact match day (Sunday, 15th March 2015).

The team of 11 (6 players and 5 officials) came by with Emirates Air on flight EK 729 from Accra via Dubai.

They play the Uganda Sand Cranes at Entebbe Sports beach on Sunday.

The winner over the two legs will book a berth at the CAF finals in Seychelles next month.