FUFA: Federation of Uganda Football Associations

Author: Ahmed Marsha

  • Cranes Captain Andy Mwesigwa jets-in tonight

    Cranes Captain Andy Mwesigwa

    Ordabasy FC player in Kazakhstani Andy Mwesigwa arrives in the country this Tuesday night to assume his administrative responsibility as the ‘field commander’ of the Cranes team.

    The Team Captain will touch Entebbe International Airport at 1:05am just five hours before IBV FC players Tony Mawejje and goal keeper Abel Dhaira land at the same airport aboard Qatar Airlines.

    The Iceland based players have already been booked on Qatar Airlines and will be at Entebbe International Airport around 6:42am tomorrow morning.

    Captain Andy Mwesigwa has proved a good Commander after winning three Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup titles and one Regional Cecafa Club Championship as a captain. His arrival will be a big boast to the team that looks to be well positioned to earn Uganda some results.

    Head Coach Bobby Williamson will now have full board training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday before flying out his final selected squad to Luanda on Friday morning.

    Meanwhile, injured midfielder Musa Mudde is showing good recovery and was able to train with teammates in Mandela National Stadium Namboole today.

    In other developments, goalkeeper Denis Onyango and striker Moses Oloya have joined camp this afternoon.

  • USA based Henry Kalungi in Cranes Camp

    Henry Kalungi and Simeon Masaba in the training

    United States of America (USA) based professional player Henry Kalungi has arrived in the country to beef up the Cranes preparations a head of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Qualifiers match against Angola.

    Kalungi landed last night and trained with the rest of the team this morning. The Cranes defender looked impressive on his first day.

    Meanwhile South African Based goalkeeper Denis Onyango and Vietnam’s Moses Oloya reportedly touched Entebbe international Airport in the morning and are expected in camp this afternoon.

    The duo may be part of the team to train in Namboole in the afternoon.

     

     

  • Mutumba, Fabian net for Cranes

    Fabian Derrick Kizito and Martin Kayongo Mutumba struck in either half as Cranes’ Head Coach Bobby Williamson closely looked on and supervised a trial match against the National U20 side on Monday afternoon.

    The game was partly organised to help Bobby try out different attacking options ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers game against Angola slated for June 3 in Luanda City.

    Mutumba and Kizito produced a good combination with quality individual positioning that saw each of them netting once. The Cranes third goal was scored by URA’s Robert Ssentongo while Alex Turilaba scored the Hippos consolation goal.

    The second pair had Emma Okwi and Robert Ssentongo coming in and Caesar Okhuti replacing Dan Wagaluka.

    It does not look an easy choice for Bobby to decide the starter between Okwi and Kizito as both players have exhibited quality performance. Okwi has however played more competitive games scoring twice for Simba SC in CAF Champions League matches. Mutumba looked composed and simply knew what to do and where to be at the right time.

    (Story filed by Kenneth Muwanga)

  • Will UG Cranes ‘benefit’ from TZ TShs 170m deal?

    Uganda Cranes are 12 time Cecafa Champions since 1973.

    TANZANIA Football Federation (TFF) will receive Sh170 million (About UG SHS 350m) a year, for five years, from Tanzania Breweries Limited in form of sponsorhip.

    The Tanzania Football Federation has termed the windfall “miraculous” and that it would boost the morale of their football teams in competitive international football.

    When the deal between the TFF and Tanzania Breweries was signed in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, TFF said the money would be spent on “securing friendly games for the Taifa Stars against the best sides within and outside Africa. Sources within Tanzania are pointing at Uganda Cranes as one of the possible international friendly matches being lined up.

    When contacted, TFF President Eng. Leodgar Tenga nearly got close to confirming the allegation but again denied having a list produced yet.  “We are good neighbours and automatically there is something good to learn from Ugandan football. We have no list of countries to play yet but our technical team is working on that” said Tenga who also doubles as the Cecafa regional president.

     

    Leodgar Tenga

    Sources further revealed that this money would also go towards hiring a coach of world-class standard, who will scout for Tanzanian talent wherever it will be.The money would further go towards improving the lot of the international players with improved wages, accommodation, better transport and kit.

    Tanzania have only ever been to the Africa Cup of Nations once — in Nigeria in 1980.

  • Bagoole coming Saturday morning

    Johnson Bagoole

    Our technical team has finally got in touch with APR player Johnson Bagoole currently in Kigali and he is expected in Kampala tomorrow morning.

    FUFA has also already notified the Rwandese Federation and his Club of APR FC over the developments of summoning him for National duty.

    Clearance from football authorities in Kigali where he plays professional soccer have also been obtained at our offices in Mengo.

    Bagoole flies to Entebbe Saturday morning aboard Rwanda Air and will be part of the team to resume training on Sunday morning.

     

     

  • Confirmed: Mutyaba out, Bagoole invited

    Bagoole (bending on the first row from the left) has landed an invitation to Cranes to join APR teammates Dan Wagaluka (right) and Habib Kavuma (standing at the behind row)

    It’s now officially confirmed that Cranes Midfielder and Al Merreikh player Mike Mutyaba is out and APR’s Johnson Bagoole is invited for the Cranes preparations a head of the crucial World Cup qualifiers game against Angola in Luanda on June 3.

    Reports emerging from Khartoum City indicate that Mutyaba sustained an injury that denies him a chance to play for his nation. Other sources are however skeptical in believing this information following the February experience.

    Al-Merreikh gave similar explanations about Mutyaba during an international friendly match against Egypt in Sudan on February 24 but reportedly fielded him in their match just days after Uganda had lost 2-1 to the Pharaohs.

    Head Coach Bobby Williamson has opted to summon Bagoole since Tonny Mawejje is also expected to join the team late around May 30. Former Sofapaka FC midfielder Mudde Musa is also out of the game due to an injury.

    By the time of writing this statement, the federation was still making all possible attempts to reach Bagoole but in vain. We are continuing doing so and we have also deployed contact persons in Kigali to trace him. Sweden based AIK FC player Martin Kayongo Mutumba arrives on Sunday to beef up the midfield department.

    Meanwhile Bobby has given the Cranes players a one day break this Saturday after five days of intensified practice. Training sessions resume on Sunday morning.

     

  • FUFA wins SOS Court Appeal

    Federation President Lawrence Mulindwa's has continued to trounce and register more court wins against the negative forces opposed to his leadership

    Lady Justice Jane Kigundu of the Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala on Thursday 24th May 2012 dismissed the criminal revision appeal lodged by SOS.

    SOS, lead by Denis Mbidde and his colleagues in the background were challenging the ruling of the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Sylivia Nabaggala who acquitted and freed the FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa, the Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson and the Chairman of the Federation Legal Committee Muhammed Bazirengende of criminal charges related to the alleged forgery of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) constitution.

    The High Court held that the application for review lodged in the High Court challenging part of the proceedings of the Chief Magistrate was prematurely brought before the High Court. Lady Justice Kigundu explained that the revision orders of the High Court are made in respect to final orders and judgments of Court and not interlocutory orders. .

    The learned Justice further held that the Chief Magistrate was right in dismissing the private criminal prosecution brought by Dennis Mbidde (SOS) because it was premised on an incurably defective affidavit and charge sheet which could have caused injustice to the accused if they were forced to take plea on a defective affidavit and charge sheet.

    The high court thus upheld the ruling of the Buganda Road court Chief Magistrate and dismissed the application for review lodged by the so called Save Our Soccer selfish group.
    FUFA was represented by Counsel Ochieng Evans and Luganda Alex while SOS had Mulema Mukasa and David Ssempala. FUFA has not lost any single Court case since the year begun and this is the third victory for the federation since January.

  • CAF Warns URA against more ‘boycotts’

    FUFA CEO Edgar Watson with CAF General Secretary Mr. Hisham shortly after their meeting in Budapest, Hungary

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF), a continental African football body has described URA’s exonerations from possible sanctions over their failure to play a return leg against Djoliba FC of Mali in the Orange Club Champions League as a ‘very rare incident’.

    CAF has termed URA FC as having been very lucky and hailed FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa for the convincing defense he put up during the Inter Club organizing committee meeting held in Cairo on May 15 which CAF says, ‘converted many members to reverse the earlier proposed sanctions’.

    The comments were made by the CAF General Secretary Mr. Hisham during a meeting with the FUFA CEO, Edgar Watson in Budapest City, Hungary this Friday morning. Edgar thanked Hisham for accepting to reverse the decisions that left URA a club free from any punishments.

    URA FC which had lost 2-0 to visitors in Kampala did not travel for the return leg following the waves of insecurity in Mali. Both Ecowas and the Ugandan Government warned URA against flying into Mali despite the host’s continued emphasis that the ‘country was secure’. URA was headed for a three year ban from all CAF organized competitions, paying a fine of U$ 1500 and meeting the estimated costs Djoliba FC would have raised from the home match as gate collections

    Hisham warned URA against such incidents in future adding that a club walking off unpunished when fails to honour an engagement were very rare incidents in CAF.

  • FUFA CEO meets CAF President

    CEO Edgar Watson with the CAF President Isa Hayatou in Hungary

    The Ugandan delegation to Budapest City in Hungary reached safely on Wednesday morning. The delegation that travelled to represent Uganda in the FIFA annual congress has the Finance Vice President Anthony Kimuli, Youth Vice President Patrick Ogwel, the CEO Edgar Watson and the Cranes Doctor, Ronald Kisolo.

    The official FIFA congress opens this Thursday while the medical conference commenced Wednesday. Dr. Kisolo joined the rest of the medical delegates for the conference that will run for two days.

    Shortly after his arrival in Budapest, CEO Edgar Watson met with the CAF President Mr. Isa Hayatou and the two administrators held talks related to football development programs in Uganda. Hayatou sent greetings to the people of Uganda but more so to the football fans. The two met at Hotel sofitel near the Budapest Chain Bridge.

  • Massa out, Mudde doubtful, Okwi jets in

    L-R: Denis Guma, Geoffrey Massa and Cranes Captain Andrew Mwesigwa. Massa has been ruled out of the Angola game due to an injury

    The Cranes camp encountered a big setback Wednesday morning when striker Geoffrey Massa got ruled out of the crucial Angola game due to an injury.

    In a related development, former Sofapaka midfielder Musa Mudde did not also train with the rest of the team following a knock with another player.

    Speaking to the media Coach Bobby Williamson said Massa had earlier showed a sign of pain around the ankle, an indication that he had carried this injury from Cyprus where he plays professional football.  Massa’s situation worsened after the Tuesday training.

    Bobby however sounded confident of finding a possible replacement from the available strikers to fill the gap created by the injured Massa.

    The summoned strikers on the list include Fabian Kizito, Robert Ssentongo, Emmanuel Okwi, Brian Umonyi and Ceaser Okhuti. Okwi joined the team toady morning while Bunamwaya’s Okhuti displayed a tremendous form in today’s training.

    Meanwhile Hassan Wasswa is expected to fly back to Turkey to sign a new contract with his club, Kayseri Erciyesspor. He returns on Sunday.

    The camp will be boosted tomorrow with an anticipated arrival of Al-Merreikh player Mike Mutyaba.

     

     

  • Joint ticket for Senegal, Congo matches

    The Cranes fans will use one ticket for both Senegal and Congo match

    The two Cranes’ home matches against Senegal and Congo Brazzaville will be watched by our fans using one joint entry ticket.

    Each ticket will cost Shs.25.000 and Shs.80.000 for the open stands and the pavilion respectively. Arrangements have already been made with our foreign based printers to have two separate coupons on the same ticket clearly indicated for use during each of the two games.

    The tickets will go on market at least three days before we play Senegal on June 9. Uganda plays Congo Brazzaville on June 16. The new arrangement is intended to save our fans from double transport expenses in securing two separate tickets. We are aware that a good section of our fans trek long distances from upcountry to buy tickets from Kampala.

    But even those within the city centre and around the suburbs take many risks in queuing for tickets from the gazetted selling points. Tickets will be on sale from thirteen identified points that include Hard Ware World Ntinda, all the four City Oil Petrol stations at Bakuli, Nakawa, Bombo road and Martin Road near the Old Kampala Mosque.

    Other points are Shell Capital, Shell Kireka, Shell Ben Kiwanuka Street, Kobil Kasubi, Kobil Kawempe, Total Kireka, Total City Centre opposite Uganda House and City Shoppers Super Market in Mukono Municipality.

    Establishing more selling points across the country would have been an option but it still goes with a big cost and very difficult to be monitored by our marketing team. FUFA warns the selected selling stations against hoarding tickets and selling them on black markets. We shall not hesitate to withdraw our mandate incase of such acts that frustrate our fans.

     

     

     

     

  • Fabian Kizito optimistic, Ochan in

    Young Cranes striker Fabian Derrick Kizito believes his invitation to the Cranes National team is a great opportunity for him to show cause for more invitations on the same squad in future.

    The striker who netted Uganda’s only goal against Egypt in an international friendly played from Khartoum City in February has also promised a serious hunt for goals when given an opportunity to play.

    Speaking to fufa.com on Tuesday after the training session at Mandela National stadium Fabian said, ‘I am aware that Uganda`s long time problem has been lack of goals but this time round I am here to offer a service”

    He added, “ I want to create an impact on the team, that’s why when I was invited for the friendly game against Egypt I made sure I score to be part and partial of the Cranes Success this time”, said Fabian who plays professional football in Netherlands.

    Meanwhile, Partrick Ochan who turns out for TP Mazembe of DR Congo was the only professional lad who joined the squad today. Two local based players Denis Guma of Victoria University and Ceaser Okhuti for Bunamwaya were also in the camp today. The rest of the local based players will join the team tomorrow after their League games today.

    Coach Bobby Williamson said the absence of the local players will not affect his squad as it has given him chance to access the fitness levels of the professional players who have taken time without competitive football.

    (Compiled by Kenneth Muwanga)

     

  • Cranes start preps, Goalie Omony out!

    Goalie Omony Posnet (left) is rulled out due to injury while Denis Onyango (right) will be joining the camp soon

    Cranes head coach Robert ‘Bobby’ Williamson conducted his first training session this Monday morning with 16 players at his disposal.

    Among these were nine pros that included Dan Wagaluka, Geoffrey Massa, Joseph Owino, Hassan Waswa, Mike Sserumaga, Kizito Fabian Derrick, Isaac Isinde, Sula Matovu and Habib Kavuma. The team will undergo a non residential training for three days before entering a residential camp.

    Meanwhile, goalkeeper Posnet Omony has for a while been ruled out of this campaign on grounds that he is injured and unfit. “I really appreciate and honour your decision on recalling me to the National team. However, I will not be able to attend for now as I have to finalize my recovery and rehabilitation on my injury before we resume preparations for CAF and the league matches respectively”, reads part of an sms message Omony sent to Bobby.

    Omony was one of the four goalkeepers Coach Bobby had selected for this campaign with Denis Onyango, Abel Dhaira and Hamza Muwonge being the other choices. Onyango and Dhaira are not yet in the country. The technical committee has therefore invited Proline’s Yasin Mugabi and Ali Kimera (Victors) to beef up the goalkeeping department.

    Omony has however promised to serve his nation next time when he regains his fitness levels and wished Uganda well in the campaign. “I wish you well in the campaign and I shall be available anytime for the nation once I am 100% fit again”, further writes Omony.

    The South African-based shot-stopper, featuring for Black Leopards FC, sustained an injury while playing against DRC’s St Eloi Lupopo in a CAF match. The last time Omony featured for the Cranes side was about three years ago when Uganda edged Benin 2-1 in 2008 in Nambole.

    Uganda opens their 2012 World Cup qualifiers against Angola in Luanda on June 3 before taking on Senegal in Kampala only six days later.

  • FUFA Excom, Assembly to reduce in size

    FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa is determined to transform Ugandan football administration

    On Friday 18th May 2012, the FUFA Executive Committee convened, discussed and passed reforms that will lead to fundamental amendments within the FUFA Constitution.

    Of recent a lot of human, time and financial resources have been directed at non-football developmental activities by different stakeholders. In order to direct the ship, the FUFA Executive Committee in consultation with FIFA resolved to undertake major reforms in the way FUFA and its members are managed. The proposed reforms include among others the following;

    1. The General Assembly

    • The District Football Associations are to be replaced by the 8 FUFA Regional Football Associations as direct members of FUFA
    • District Football Associations will become members of the FUFA Regional Football Associations
    • Each of the 16 FUFA Super League clubs (Not USLL) to become a direct Member of the FUFA General Assembly
    • The FUFA Big and the Regional League clubs to be represented in the General Assembly
    • Only 6 Special interest associations to be retained.
    • The size of the General Assembly will be reduced by more than a half of the current size.
    FUFA president and some of his executive members. His cabinet will reduce by nearly a half under new proposed ammendments

    Reducing the size of the assembly will provide a balanced platform for the decisions of the Assembly inclusive of elections of the FUFA president and create an assembly which is not elastic with the creation and addition of new District Football Associations. The new development will also ensure an environment that gives quality debate and better facilitation on top of better supervision of the FUFA Excom. The proposed new arrangements will further empower the regions with more decentralized football development responsibilities.

    2. Executive Committee

    It is further intended that the FUFA Executive Committee be reduced from the current 21 members to 13 inclusive of the President, 3 Vice Presidents and 9 members. Specialized Vice Presidents will no longer exist as their work will be taken over by professional and full-time employees at the federation.

    Prior to the realization of this great dream, the FUFA Executive committee will approve each of the respective member constitution and mandatory clauses will be required to be included.

    The FUFA Executive committee will table the proposed amendments to the General Assembly for debate and adoption into a new constitution.

    Some of the provisions will be required to be of immediate effect before the new season begins while others will become effective at the expiry of the term of the current FUFA Excom.

    In conclusion, the FUFA Executive committee is aware of the challenges to complete these reforms and the individual benefits of the current system but we have voted to redirect the currently wasted energies and resources into football.

  • FUFA President’s condolence message to Rwanda

  • FUFA President mourns Mafisango death

    FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa has sent a condolence message to his counterpart in Rwanda, Celestin Ntagungira over the sadden death of their National team player Patrick Mutesa Mafisango.

    “Mafisango has been an influential player at both club and international level. There is therefore no doubt that Amavubi National team will miss his presence on

    FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa sent a condolence message to his counterpart in Rwanda

    the pitch during the ongoing 2014 World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers” reads part of Mulindwa’s message to Rwanda.

    Mafisango of the Congolese origin crashed in a motor accident on Thursday morning as he drove back to his home from a night club.

    The deceased had just earned a recall to Rwanda National football team and had been scheduled to fly to Kigali Thursday evening. Mulindwa said Uganda had received Mafisango’s death with shock and prayed that God guides Amavubi in finding a suitable replacement on the squad. “I pray that God provides a suitable replacement on your squad as He grants Mafisango an everlasting eternal peace”, Further reads the message from the Ugandan FA president

    In his condolence message, FERWAFA President Celestin Ntagungira said he was shocked by the development. “It is a sad moment to hear the sad news. We have lost a charismatic footballer,”

    Ntagungira spoke of the deceased as having been a very humble, hard working and dedicated footballer and that his death was a big blow to Rwandan football and entire Cecafa Region. Mafisango was the third top scorer in the Tanzanian Premier League with a dozen goals.

    His landed an invitation by Amavubi head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic on Monday this week to beef up the national team ahead of the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifiers. Micho recalled him to the team after he flew out to Tanzania to watch him play, as well as midfielder Haruna Niyonzima, who features for Young Africans. Mafisango had spent a year on the sidelines after falling out with former head coach Sellas Tetteh.

    He was born on the 3rd of September 1980 and he survives with two children and a widow. “On behalf of the FUFA General Assembly, the Executive committee and the entire football fraternity in Uganda, I extend my very sincere condolences to you, the FERWAFA family and the people of Rwanda for this big robbery of a great player” Mulindwa stated. May his soul rest in eternal peace

  • Okwi speaks out on lost friend

    Okwi mourns friend.Says he will in Kampala by Sunday for Cranes duty

    “He has been a very, very good friend of mine and for sure, I don’t believe he is really dead”, is what cranes Striker Emmanuel Okwi said on phone from Dar es salaam when asked to comment on the relationship that existed between him and Patrick Mafisango.

    Okwi was however quick to mention that the pass on of his good friend would not affect his preparations for the Cranes match against Angola on June 3 in Luanda City. “So is life, Mafisango is gone, but the rest of us will carry on with the task as long as we continue to live. Tell my fans in Uganda that I shall be in Kampala by Sunday ready for duty”, he said.

    He referred to Mafisango as having been an influential player for Simba Sports Club who usually scored crucial goals for his club. The last time the two players featured for their club was over a week ago when they lost 3-0 to Al Shandy in Khartoum. The hosts had also lost on the same margin in Dar es Salaam but Simba SC got eliminated from the continental cup 9-8 on spot kicks.

  • Bobby explains Bryan Massa’s Exclusion

    Bryan Massa in action
    Bryan and Massa in a bus in Stockholm recently

    Cranes Head coach Bobby Williamson has described Bryan Wabalayi Massa as a ‘skilled young star’ whose exclusion on the squad he named on Wednesday should not be misinterpreted as being an unwanted player.

    Speaking to journalists at the federation headquarters on Wednesday, Bobby said he had watched Massa playing and appreciated his effort but needed time to play more games at home before he is invited for such crucial games involving widely experienced players on the continent.

    “We don’t need to rush him and I assure you, he will be very vital for the team in the future”, Bobby explained. The Scott tactician was recently in Stockholm to monitor the performances of Massa and Martin Kayongo Mutumba. On return, Bobby cleared the federation to proceed with the process of securing a Ugandan Passport for Massa.

    Bobby did not however rule out the possibility of more changes on the squad as need arises. “We cannot have everybody on the squad but we can effect a change where there is need”, he said.

    Massa had no club until February when he joined Vasalund FC, a third Division club in Sweden.