Uganda Football Referees Association (UFRA) has de-registered and dismissed ten errant referees who defied the federation advice and proceeded to officiate non acceptable League matches.
UFRA Chairman who also doubles as a CAF Technical Instructor, Ali Waiswa told a weekly press conference here at FUFA house in Mengo this Wednesday morning that the decision takes immediate effect. On January 19th FUFA suspended the Uganda Super League to enable the clubs enforce the Disciplinary Committee ban on the USL Chairman Kavuma Kabenge and the CEO Ebil Ssegawa among other issues.
The Referees’ standing committee withdrew all the officials who had earlier been appointed but USL went ahead to hand pick others to handle the fixtures. Some of the culprits retired from active refereeing but remained members of UFRA. “We no longer recognize them and whoever deals with them with effect from today deals with football fans and not our members”, said Waiswa. The fired members include Mulima Sulaiman, Temaligwe Abubakar, Nsubuga Jackson, Katunze Jon Bosco, Kalule Kasujja, Nsereko Charles, Kabuye Asuman, Dhakaba Menya, Elayu Daniel and Khalid Musana who featured under disguised names of Nsubuga Ibrahim.
Article 12(1) of the FIFA Referees’ Regulations on the organization of Refereeing in FIFA Member Associations reads: ‘The appointment of Referees is a fundamental part of Referee development and must be undertaken by the Referees committee in conjunction with the refereeing department. No club, league or other body of the member Association may interfere in the referee appointment process ’. Waisswa further disclosed that most of the members were second time offenders.
President Lawrence Mulindwa will travel to Kayunga on Jan 28 to meet all delegates from Buganda Region
FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa will on Saturday January 28 meet all delegates from Buganda region as part of his routine visits to the lower football administrative units.
According to the President’s personal assistant and former Cranes Captain, Jimmy Kirunda, the meeting will be held in Kayunga district.
Buganda Regional head and chairman of the hosting zone 13, Joseph Mwanje confirmed to www.fufa.co.ug that all the necessary arrangements had been finalised to receive the President on that day. “We are set and everybody is excited to receive him”, Mwanje remarked.
Buganda region has a total of 36 delegates who will convene in Kayunga on that day. The President is expected to travel with one of his Vice Presidents. Delegates have been urged to observe time as the president will have another afternoon program in Kampala.
Water FC, a Uganda Super League club has disowned a self styled Club Director, Julius Oyet who was impersonating as an official representative of their club to the USL Board.
Oyet had attended most of the USL Board meetings chaired by banned USL Chairman Kavuma Kabenge and took decisions that the club disowns. He was also part of the meeting at Sheraton Hotel earlier this month that denounced the position of the FUFA Disciplinary Committee against the errant USL officials. The same meeting resolved to boycott all FUFA organized/sanctioned matches including the Bell-Uganda Cup.
In a strongly worded letter to FUFA, Engineer Alex Gisagara the Managing Director of the National Water and Sewage Corporation (NWSC) the owners of Water FC, denied having fronted Oyet as USL Director representing their club. Gisagara is also the designated club chairperson. “He is not the fronted USL Director representing Water FC and we would like to request that the management of FUFA and USL disregard any representations and statements from him” reads part of the letter from the Managing Director.
Masaka LCV chairman and Masaka LC FC chairperson, Joseph Kalungi (with mic) speaking during the meeting
Oyet had earlier been quoted in both The Monitor and Bukedde News papers alleging that Water FC was purely behind Kabenge and that his team would not take part in the Bell sponsored Uganda cup. The NWSC Managing Director further writes, “This is in response to the statements in the Bukedde Newspaper of January 18th in which one Julius Oyet was quoted speaking on behalf of Water FC and The Monitor of January 9th in which the same Oyet was quoted as a USL Director from Water FC”
The Company Managing Director adds, “This is to categorically inform you that he [Oyet] is not authorized to speak on behalf of Water FC”. Eng. Gisagara promised that his club would in a week’s time forward the name of the authorized Director. To show further compliance, Water FC was one of the eleven USL clubs that attended the FUFA meeting at Royal Imperial Hotel on Monday afternoon. Three of their highly positioned officials attended in person and maintained their documented position.
Other clubs that attended the meeting included URA FC, Bunamwaya, Proline, Bidco, Maroons, Simba, Hoima-Busia, Utoda, Victors and Masaka LC whose chairman who also doubles as Masaka District Local Council V Chairperson Joseph Kalungi attended.
Thirty two female participants are currently undergoing a one week training coaching course at Mandela National stadium- Namboole.
The course jointly funded by the International Football body (FIFA) and the National body FUFA, will last for one week. FIFA has sent Mr. Roman Hangarter from Switzerland as the chief Instructor. Participants have been drawn from institutions of learning, academies and football clubs among other sectors across the country.
While presiding over the opening ceremony, the Federation Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson Suubi challenged the participants to put in practice the knowledge and skills they will have acquired from this training. “Engage in grass root football programs and help us identify talents from your respective areas”, the CEO told the visibly excited participants.
Some participants in a training session today morning
He commended FIFA for selecting Uganda among the beneficiaries of this program. Edgar further revealed that the Ugandan FA constitution as amended in August 2010 provides slots for regional women delegates in the General Assembly. “In the process of further developing women football, our next assembly will have women delegates representing regions”, he said. The Federation Technical Director Asuman Lubowa is in Namboole to coordinate the training.
The instructor, Roman Hangarter said the training will add more value to the participants and hence improve the game quality. The training closes on Saturday.
The National women football team the Crested Cranes have this Friday morning left for Njeru Technical Centre for a residential training a head of their return leg against Congo in Brazzaville on January 28.
They become the first team to camp at this multi million FIFA funded project set to be commissioned in February this year. The team is expected to leave for Congo on Wednesday January 25. Head coach Majidah Nantanda said she would take her players through intensive training especially in the areas of shooting at the goal and making timely passes.
The team will play without Ms. Lisa Berga, an American technical consultant who returned to the United States shortly after the first leg. Uganda drew 1-1 in Nakivubo and they are now looking for a win or any draw above a 1-1 score. The selected 25 players are as named under their below:
Goal keepers: Fatuma Matovu, Annet Nanyonga, Aya Harriet
FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa ( c ), vice president Patrick Ogwel and CEO Edgar Watson in the meeting Thursday evening
The FUFA Executive meeting sitting at the Federation headquarters in Mengo this Thursday afternoon has suspended the Uganda Super League with effect from this Thursday January 19, 2012. The Federation has also given an ultimatum of ten days to enable the clubs show compliance to:
Enforcing the ban of Mr. Kavuma Kabenge and Ssegawa Ebil by the Disciplinary Committee
Re-constitute the USL Management Board to comprise 16 Directors
Re-align statutes in accordance to association football rules
Reinstate Hoima-Busia FC in the Uganda Super League.
If the clubs do not comply by January 30, 2012 the Federation will have no option but withdraw the authority to run the Uganda Super League as provided for in the FUFA constitution.
In the meantime, the Federation has fixed Monday January 23, 2012 to meet all the sponsors of the Uganda Super League and the Uganda Super League Club owners in a joint meeting at Imperial Royale Hotel at1300hrs. (Rogers Mulindwa, Head of Communications,FUFA)
Cranes Midfielder Tonny Mawejje has past medical tests at Golden Arrow FC, a first division club in South Africa.
Mawejje, an instrumental player in the Uganda squad for the last three campaigns of the African cup of Nations will soon sign a two year contract according to the Kickoff Newspaper in South Africa.
His success makes him join the likes of Posnet Omonyi, Timothy Batabaire, Geoffrey Sserunkuma and Denis Onyango who play in the same league.
From IBV- Iceland, Mawejje believes signing for a South African club would give the Cranes’ Coach Bobby Williamson a chance to easily monitor his performance in preparation for the next African Cup of Nations Campaign. Uganda opens the campaign against Congo in Brazzaville on February 29.
Mawejje’s impressive carrier started from Masaka Local Council, KCC FC, Police FC and URA FC before leaving for IBV in Iceland. “This is not my final destination. I want to get more exposure here and win cups before realizing my dream of playing in some big leagues in the world”Tonny Mawejje is quoted to have said. (Story compiled by Kenneth Muwanga)
Ugandan FA President, Lawrence Mulindwa has pushed Uganda to the best position ever on the continent
Uganda has climbed 7 places upwards in the January FIFA Coca cola gradings to rank 82nd in the entire world of 208 member countries.
Uganda with 411 points also emerges the best ranked country among all the ten member associations that constitute the Council of East and Central Africa (Cecafa). The previous rankings had put Uganda at 89th position. Rwanda is ranked second best in the region with 304 points, indicating a difference of 97 points between the two footballing nations.
The Uganda Cranes beat Rwanda in the finals to lift the Cecafa-Tusker challenge Cup in Dar es Salaam on December 10 last year. The rankings further put Uganda in the 18th position in Africa with Cote d’Ivoire (889) topping the continental list followed by Ghana (779), Algeria (734), Egypt (698), Senegal (625) and Nigeria with 612 points. Cameroon and South Africa tie in the 56th position in the world rankings with 551 points and are 7th in Africa.
Uganda (82nd) beats Angola (85th) by 6 points and better than Gabon (91st), the hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Uganda and Angola will again have to face each other in the World Cup qualifiers. Sudan, the only nation within the Cecafa region taking part in the CAN finals is third best in the region with 265 points. This is 146 points behind Uganda.
Kenya is in the 121st position with only 260 points; Ethiopia has 230 points in the 133rd place while Tanzania follows in the 137th place with 225 points. Others are Burundi (199 points), Eritrea (45), Somalia (43) and Djibouti which maintains the 198th position in the world with only 23 points.
The FUFA Disciplinary Committee, over a number of counts, has banned Mr. Kavuma Kabenge for 11 years from taking part in any football-related activities (administrative, sporting or any other)
The counts include;
Failure to comply with association football rules (1 year)
Failure to comply with the directive of the disciplinary committee (1 year)
Putting the Game of football into disrepute (2 years)
Forgery and falsification of a number of documents, including USL articles association that FUFA understands as the FUFA Member Statutes (7 years)
The Disciplinary Committee has also banned Mr. Jimmy Seggawa Ebil for 1 year from taking part in any football-related activities (administrative, sporting or any other) on the count of failure to comply with the directive of the disciplinary committee
After receiving the sermons to the Disciplinary Committee, both Mr. Kabenge and Mr. Ebil responded in writing that the FUFA Disciplinary Committee has no jurisdiction to sermon them by the fact that they are not members of FUFA. The FUFA DC instead cited Article 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 4 of the FUFA Disciplinary Code that includes officials as persons subject to the disciplinary codes to proceed with the deliberations
The sanctions imply that no legal or natural person within association football may make sporting, administrative or any other contact with the two administrators for their respective periods and any violation of this sanction may lead to sanctions to defaulting person(s)
Mr. Kavuma Kabenge has hitherto been the Chairman of the USLL Board while Mr. Segawa has been the USLL Chief Executive Officer
The two gentlemen are at liberty to exercise their rights of appeal within three (3) days
FUFA Disciplinary Committee is composed of Mr. Geoffrey Ojok Odur (Chairman), Mr. Daudi Balondemu (Vice Chairman), Mr. Asuman Nyonyintono Mulawa (Secretary), Idrissa Kasalirwe and Jacob Lubega as members.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines Sport as an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for leisure, entertainment, recreation etc.
By this definition, any two persons that argue over who is faster may decide to compete and this is a Sport.
It is therefore implicative that no one owns sports but the two people who come together to compete own their own race and may decide to set regulations of their competition. As long as their regulations do not infringe on rights of other people and do not conflict with the laws of the sovereign, no one outside their arrangement may dictate on those regulations.
Genesis of Association Football
Unlike other sports, Football is played between teams. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the football teams that had evolved decided to form and belong to associations. For the wider belonging and globalization, associations federated into federations, and confederations on geographical basis. The associations, confederations and federations required governance structures and controls and desired to regulate the sport. This gave birth to statutes and regulations of these bodies.
What is association football?
Association football is the sport of football played by members of the various football associations, confederations and federations. It is voluntary to belong to association football but once you opt to belong, you can only remain a member by compliance to the statutes and regulations.
Association football is a private business selling goods and services consumed by the public. Although the general public enjoys football, association football is private and that is why it is controlled by private people in the whole world and not governments or United Nations.
For example the corporate league is not part of association football and cannot be controlled by FUFA however when they make sporting contact with teams and competitions under association football, they are required to declare and sign to be bound by the statutes and regulations. FUFA, CAF or FIFA have no mandate to regulate non-association football.
The various football associations in Uganda came together to form FUFA and consequently they are the owners of FUFA. These associations determine the destiny of FUFA in terms of electing the leadership, creating and amending their own statutes, confirming on their finances through appointing independent public auditors. It is not different from say MTN (U) Ltd that is owned by a few people but providing a public good. Therefore having an MTN SIM card does not confer upon you the right to determine leadership at MTN nor to check the finances or to set internal rules. It is the very reason why the FUFA President can only be elected by the owners and not the entire public like some people have asked. The fans are consumers of football products and services who must enjoy a 5-star customer care
Company Law vs. Association football Rules?
FUFA the association could hitherto not sign legally binding contracts, could not own assets, could not borrow money, could not sue or be sued. However, in order to exist in the legal regime of Uganda, FUFA the association, owns a company called FUFA Ltd. This is the trading arm of FUFA that can transact as a legal person.
The Uganda Super League Limited (USLL) as a body has a discretion to belong or not to belong to FUFA. If they wish to be part of association football, they have to abide by the rules that include FUFA, CAF and FIFA Statutes, Regulations, Decisions and Directives or they may decide not to belong to association football and they are not bound by the compliance to the rules. It is as a simple as that. Furthermore, FUFA can only continue being a member of FIFA (again this is optional for FUFA to belong or not to) if it’s constituent Members comply with Association Football Rules
In the recent times, there has been a deliberate confusion presented by a section of people using the company law to circumvent the association football rules. USLL is a company limited and bound by the company law in Uganda but for continued belonging to association football family, they are bound by association football rules for as long as the association football rules do not require USLL to contravene the laws of Uganda.
The English Premier League Model
The English Premier League is the foreign league that most Ugandans follow and considering the fact that may be apart from the dots and crosses, there is everything similar between the Uganda and England/Wales Law thanks to the British colonization of Uganda. Our adoption of English Premier League model in creation of the USL was just perfect.
The Relationship between the English Premier League and the FA is perfect and properly documented. When the premier league plc MEMARTS were referenced, Mr. Kabenge usurped the process and decided to delete articles and clauses that empowered the FA in the setup but since he did it not find and replace using a computer command, the USLL MAMARTS of his own version (there are like 3 of them) still contains clauses that FUFA has demanded that he follows to his dismay.
FIFA Goal Projects (FUFA Technical Centre-Njeru) only come if FUFA is a member of FIFA
In the English Premier League, there are no referees being appointed off the street, there are no club officials in the Premier League Board, there are no relegated teams being retained (this is the very reason FIFA banned Nigeria FA recently), there are no insubordination cases and no war generals of the Premier League. It is a huge commercial and sporting success. We all watch the Premier League and you have heard of cases of Evra and Suarez being handled by the FA Disciplinary setup and not the Premier League making any comment meanwhile USLL is busy exchanging communications with FUFA over a club player who absconded from the National Team
Way Forward
We should put the sport ahead of our personal battles and egos, abandon the art of confusing the public, stop hiring the media to spin facts and hide dirt. It is like a Jumbo jet taking off with a quarter tank of fuel across the Pacific. However beautiful the passengers are and sweet the coffee served is, it will crash midair irrespective of who the pilots are. USLL in the current modus operandi of insubordination to FUFA, CAF and FIFA (Association Football), defining football using company law approach, refusing to embrace the entirity of the English Premier League Model, using USLL as a football politics fighting platform and a PR platform for officials personal tribulations and businesses instead of serving the customer (the ordinary football fan), is headed no where just like one to power infinity (1∞)
About the Author: Magogo is the FUFA president, CAF Executive Committee Member, Head of the Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee – CAF, and a FIFA certified Administration Instructor.
Besides Football, he is a professional Engineer who previously worked with the African Development Bank in Kampala City.
If you thought it is in only countries like Brazil where the national football team is a debate of the floor of Parliament and the babe attention of the President, wait a minute!! Uganda Cranes May not have beaten Kenya to qualify for the AFCON after 32 years but has raised enough dust for the head of state to starting tracking its trajectory
Cranes CECAFA victory was part of Uganda`s achievements in the year 2011 says the President of the republic of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
This Cranes 12th trophy of regional tournament in the finals over Rwanda was second if no first in the presidential mult- page speech crowning the year in his home at Rwakitura.
He also commended the athletics Moses Kipsiro and Annet Negesa for their commendable work to win gold medals in all African games in Maputo Mozambique.
Cranes beat Rwanda in the final to collect their 12th trophy in the since the tournament commenced in the year 1973 after 2 all draw in the in extra time.
Uganda won the trophy on penalties 3-2 sending fans wild in Dar- el- Salaam Tanzania reversing the memories of the black Saturday of 8th October 2011 when Uganda failed to qualify for the Nations cup due in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea this month.
The president commended the team for the great work and promised more support, this comes four months after the president ordered the ministry of sports, finance minister to fund the Uganda FA with 350 million shilling every year as well as the athletics federation.
Uganda Cranes begin their campaign for the 2013 African cup of nations against Congo Brazzaville away in Brazzaville come February 09th for the finals due in South Africa.
By Muwanga Kenneth
About the author: Journalist with the New Vision group and Bukedde TV. He will give guest articles regularly for the www.fufa.co.ug readers
Proline's Andrew Buteera and URA's Steven Bengo in a Super Division League action. Gulu United has now made its journey into the Super Division League longer by getting dismissed from the Big League
The National football body acting through its Competitions committee has thrown Gulu United FC out of the Big League for failing to honour three fixtures, an act that contravened section G (7) and G (10) of the rules governing this tournament.
Gulu United which now gets relegated to the first Division League of Gulu DFA has also lost its Big League slot in the Bell Uganda Cup to Kampala region. According to the referee’s reports, Gulu United failed to show up for their match against Misindye, Victoria University and Aurum Roses. The committee secretary Decolas Kiiza says the team was given 48 hours to defend themselves but no satisfactory explanations had since been received by FCC.
FUFA Big League rules Section G (7) states; ‘A club failing to turn up for a league match shall submit a written explanation to the FCC within 48 hours from the date of the match’. In addition, section G (10) reads: ‘If such explanation is not accepted, the defaulting club shall lose the match by forfeiture and shall be docked three (3) points and three (3) goals from those already accumulated in an event that the defaulting club is an away club’.
Section G (11) however further reads: ‘If a club defaults any or a combination of rules G (7) and G (10) for three matches in a season, such club shall be dismissed from the League’. In such circumstances, FCC resolved to dismiss Gulu United from the Big League.
The fact that Gulu had played less than 50% of the League by the time of dismissal, all matches in which they were involved are nullified. Gulu United played six out of nine first round matches. Kiiza further clarified that Rwenzori group to which Gulu belonged will however still have to lose two bottom teams to the Regional League at the end of the season. (Rogers Mulindwa-Head of Communications, FUFA)
The month of January will have the Ugandan women referees officiating at five continental games across the continent.
The continental football body (CAF) has appointed referee Ssemambo Nabikko as fourth official for the clash between neighbours Kenya and Mozambique on January 14 in Nairobi. Ssemambo comes in as a last minute replacement for Kanyembo Kyabuta Julie whom CAF has withdrawn from the list. The game will have the first three referees coming from DR Congo. Burundi FA president Lydia Nsekera is the match commissioner.
During the same weekend, Hajat Aisha Nalule will
Ugandan female referees will have a busy month of January
have travelled to Cairo for the 8th Africa women championship preliminary round encounter between Egypt and Ethiopia. The following weekend of January 20-22, another set of four Ugandan referees will be in Nairobi again to handle the match between Kenya and Nigeria. This will be a preliminary round match for the U17 women world cup qualifiers. FIFA has picked Namubiru Irene as the centre referee assisted by Mukasa Diana and Nakitto Marex. Ssemambo Aisha will travel as the standby referee.
The return leg between Ethiopia and Egypt has also been given out to excelling Ugandan female referees on January 27-29 in Addis Ababa. Semambo Nabikko Aisha will be in charge of this game with Mukasa Diana and Nakitto Marex as her assistants. Namubiru Irene travels as the fourth official.
Meanwhile Uganda’s National football women team, the Crested Cranes will take on DR Congo in Nakivubo on January 14. Entry fee is free for women and men will Part with only Shs.5000 for both open and covered stands. The team started a non residential training on January 2 at Wankulukuku and will enter the residential camp on Saturday at Kavumba recreation centre. CAF has appointed a set of four referees from Egypt to handle our game. (Rogers Mulindwa-Head of Communications, FUFA)
Enough is enough: CEO Edgar Watson issued the summons
The FUFA Disciplinary committee has summoned Uganda Super League Board Chairman Kavuma Julius Kabenge and the Chief Executive Officer Ebil Ssegawa Jimmy to appear before the committee on January 13 on charges related to the contravention of the rules governing association football.
In a communication by the Federation CEO Edgar Watson to the accused, he quoted the Disciplinary Committee’s first case number as DC/30112/003. The two in their official positions at USL will face the committee at 4:00pm. They are accused of failure to follow the Uganda Super League Ltd Memorandum and Articles of Association. They have also failed to comply and implement FUFA rules inclusive of statutes, regulations, decisions and directives of FUFA, CAF and FIFA.
Trapped: Kavuma Kabenge
In another separate summon, Kavuma Kabenge under case number DC/30112/001 faces three other charges. He failed to comply with FUFA rules, put the game of association football into disrepute by his actions and communications and taking matters of interpretation and application of FUFA rules to ordinary court of law. He will therefore have to defend himself on this matter first at 2:00pm before re-appearing at 4:00pm over a second case.
Ebil Ssegawa will also have to appear before the committee earlier at 3:00pm on individual charges (DC/30112/002) of failure to comply with the FUFA rules and putting the game of association football into disrepute by his actions and communications.
The Disciplinary committee will proceed with the case and take decisions based on the information in its possession if the accused fail to show up on the date and time officially communicated to them.
Hard times: Jimmy Segawa
The committee comprises renowned lawyers within and outside Kampala. The committee is chaired by Ojuk Odur Geoffrey with Balondemu Daudi as his vice. Nyonyintono Asuman Mulawa is the committee secretary while Kasalirwe Dirisa and Jacob Lubega are members.
Denis Guma: His appeal has yielded results in his favour
The FUFA Appeals committee has released its ruling in an appeal by SC Villa player Denis Guma indicating a reduction in the magnitude of the disciplinary actions earlier taken by the disciplinary committee.
The decision by the disciplinary committee to suspend the player was upheld with modifications. Guma is now suspended for three consecutive Uganda Super League matches with effect from today January 2, 2012. The Federation’s supreme judicial body has also scrapped the Shs.500.000 penalty, leaving Guma with a New Year’s gift and option of investing the money in other positive deals other than his indiscipline.
The Federation CEO, Edgar Watson has already issued a letter communicating the decision by the appeals committee to Guma and other closely concerned parties. One Seguya Sulaiman picked the letter from the federation headquarters in Mengo at 5:18pm on behalf of Guma. “The fine of Shs.500.000 earlier imposed by the disciplinary committee has been set aside. You will therefore not be required to pay any fine” reads part of the CEO’s letter to the player.
Guma absconded from the Cranes camp days before the team travelled to Morocco for the LG cup. He however later wrote an apology addressed to the Disciplinary committee pledging never to commit the same offence again. (Issued by Rogers Mulindwa-Head of communications, FUFA)
The Crested Cranes players in Cairo for their friendly matches in December last year
The Crested Cranes, a national women team starts training this Monday at Mutesa II Memorial stadium Wankulukuku in preparation for their encounter against DR Congo in the 8th Africa women championship qualifiers.
The team coordinator Marian Kaliga confirmed the changes adding that the playing surface of Nakivubo stadium got spoilt during the end of year national prayers held there. “This has forced us to make a last minute change to Wankulukuku” Kaliga explained
The team Coach Majda Nantanda said they will have only one training session in the morning and break off for tomorrow. She added that they will remain in Wankulukuku until Friday evening when the team shifts to Kavumba Recreational Centre for a residential training. Nantanda added that the number of players had been increased from the earlier declared 25 to 31.
“This will give us a wider choice of player selection to constitute the final squad” said the former national team player. Ms Lisa Berg a women Football Technical Consultant from USA will be part of the technical team to oversee the training. Lisa was part of the group that traveled with the Crested Cranes to Cairo on December 13. The team played two international friendly matches against hosts, Egypt. Uganda will take on DR Congo on January 14 at Nakivubo stadium.
Meanwhile the FUFA Competitions Committee has fixed January 1 -31 as the official gazetted period for the players’ secondary transfer and registration window. All clubs are required to take note of this as no extension will be made after the closing date. (Rogers Mulindwa, Head of Communications-FUFA)
A celebrated journalist with Bukedde News Paper, a sister publication to the government New Vision paper, Abdallah Mubiru, 39 has been appointed the new head coach for Proline FC. This is his second appointment in a stretch of two months after the FUFA executive named him an assistant coach for the U20 National team in November.
Proline is a super Division club owned by Mujib Kasule. FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa in November this year appointed Kasule his Vice President in charge of USL. Kasule later told an executive committee meeting that he was considering retiring from a coaching career to concentrate on his new appointment. He also promised, he would find a suitable replacement to take over from him.
Mubiru confirmed the appointment when contacted on phone yesterday saying, ‘Its an affordable but challenging task…..I shall offer my best” . Mubiru, started his footballing career in 1991 when he featured for the First Division side UCI-Tororo and guided the club into Super Division. Between 1992-93, he joined Dairy Cooperation which was also elevated to the super Division side during his time as a player. In 1994-1996, he played for SC Villa and with him, the club lifted the Super Division title in 1994.
He later crossed to KCC FC where he stayed till 1999 winning the League cup in 1997. In 1999, he joined Military Police where he ended his career as a player in 2001. In the same year year, Kibuli Secondary School hired his services as a coach a position he has held to-date. Cranes players like Henry Kalungi and Ivan Bukenya among others have gone through his hands. He has lifted two National Post Primary Coca Cola championship (2002, 2005) and three UMEA Schools’ trophies (2002, 2004 and 2006) to become the most successful coach at Kibuli SS. His side has lost three times in the finals under his overall command.
Editor’s Comments: Proline FC seem not to have made a wrong choice and we wish Abdallah the best at his new station. (Compiled by Rogers Mulindwa, Head of Communications-FUFA)
Fellow Ugandans, Let me begin by thanking the Almighty God for bringing us this close to another New Year. I hope we all had a wonderful Christmas.
FUFA pays its respect to all our departed colleagues. May their Souls Rest In Eternal Peace! As we come to the end of 2011, I wish to thank all of you for the immeasurable support you have given to FUFA. The year 2011 has been a year of mixed fortunes at FUFA.
Achievements:
Njeru Technical Centre: FUFA completed the construction of the Njeru Technical Centre. The FIFA Development Officer for Africa, Ashford Mamelodi was impressed by the work done by my administration on this project.
U-23 Maputo: Uganda was represented at the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique by our U-23 team.
FIFA's Mamelodi inspecting Njeru Technical Centre mid December 2011
International tournaments: Uganda featured in international tournaments like CHAN, Nile Basin Championship and the LG Cup in Morocco.
CECAFA: Uganda won a record 12th CECAFA title. Our Cranes team defied all odds and beat rivals Rwanda 3-2 on penalties after normal play had ended 2-2 in Dar-es Salaam.
Administration, Finance and Communication: My administration reconstituted FUFA by bringing in more administrators to bolster football development in Uganda. New Standing committees were named. Several administrative and beach soccer courses were held to enhance the proper running of the game. We have continued to practice transparency and accountability at all levels which has won admiration of our local and international partners. Our website www.fufa.co.ug continues to run smoothly and offers regular news of all FUFA activities. I encourage everyone out there to regularly visit this website.
On Board: Mujib Kasule shares a moment of joy with the FUFA president. Mujib is in charge of USL
Referees: FUFA ensured that several referee courses were held to improve refereeing standards. Several refresher courses have been conducted throughout the country.
Coaches: We have encouraged more coaches to take up national and international assignments. Courses have been held to improve the level of coaching and more will be held.
Uganda Super League: FUFA appointed Mr. Mujib Kasule as Vice President in charge of USL to streamline the proper running of the league and to ensure that the Jinja Declaration is adhered to by all stakeholders.
Sponsorship: We thank our sponsors MTN, Bell, NIC, Nile Breweries Ltd, Coca Cola, City Tyres, the government, and everyone who contributed towards our activities in 2011.
The Cranes:The Cranes lifted the Cecafa title in Dar es salaam on December 10.
The national team has drawn alot of support from all quarters. We recorded a record turn out during the Angola, Guinea Bissau and Kenya AFCON 2012 games at Namboole Stadium. We thank our fans for the tremendous support.
President Yoweri Museveni has promised more support towards FUFA efforts next year
Youth Football: Youth football continued to flourish under my administration. Uganda also impressed at the East African Secondary Schools Championships in Mbarara, with two Ugandan teams Kibuli SS and St Mary’s Kitende, reaching the finals. Setting up youth structures at all levels has been our priority. School games teachers were also trained.
Women’s football: FUFA continued to promote women football. A number of teams took part in this year’s FUFA Women Inter Regional Championship held in Fort portal. Lisa Berg, a woman Football technical consultant from USA is in the country to assist in the development of women football. Our national team played two international friendly matches against Egypt in Cairo this December.
FUFA- MTN Inter Regional Championship:FUFA held the MTN Inter Regional Championship in Tororo. This championship helps the federation technical team to tap raw talent. Current Super League prominent players like Bonny Baingana and Musa Mukasa (Express FC) and Goal Keeper Jamal Salim among others were identified from our last inter regional competitions in Tororo.
Plan for the year ahead 2012
Cranes World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers: Cranes will take part in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. We are in the same group with Angola, Senegal and Liberia in the world Cup qualifiers. Cranes will meet Congo Brazzaville away on February 29, 2012 in the Nations Cup qualifiers. The main challenge is funding.
Youth Football: FUFA will continue to promote youth football by encouraging more teams to take part in youth tournaments like the COPA Coca Cola championship, the U-15 S1/S2 FUFA championship, U-16 Shell Championship and U-14 City Tyres Championship.
Women football:Crested Cranes Head Coach, Majda Nantanda in a training session as the team prepared for an international friendly match against Egypt. Right is M/S Lisa Berga, a Technical consultant from USA
The Crested Cranes will host Congo in the African Cup of Nations Women qualifiers on January14 at Nakivubo Stadium. I encourage Ugandans to come in big numbers and cheer our team.
Njeru Technical Centre: We will soon officially open the Njeru Technical Centre. We thank FIFA, through our Regional Development Officer Ashford, for financing this project.
Monitoring potential Cranes players: In a bid to strengthen our national team, FUFA is running an aggressive campaign of monitoring potential Cranes players locally and internationally. We will give these players a chance to feature for Cranes and in other national youth teams.
Marketing and sponsorship: FUFA will seek more sponsors for all our activities. Companies, individuals and government will be sought to support our national teams, Beach soccer, technical development, youth development and women football.
Administration and Communication:
The FA President consults some members of his Executive during a retreat in Entebbe in October
My administration will ensure that our local administrators continue to get international exposure through organising administrative courses. FUFA will seek more sponsors for our website to make it more attractive and widely visited.
Media symposium: FUFA, in conjunction with CAF and FIFA, will organise a Media Symposium in Kampala aimed at improving the standards of football reporting.
Uganda Super League: FUFA will engage FIFA and CAF instructors to train our local club administrators on acceptable management standards. Many clubs are being run down due to inefficiency in administration.
International tournaments:Uganda will continue to feature in international
Uganda finished second in this year's Nile Basin tournament in Cairo
tournaments to expose our players more on the international scene.
Conclusion
FUFA would like to thank the government, the State Minister for Sports Hon. Charles Bakabulindi, our sponsors, media and all our fans for the support you have accorded to the federation in the past year.
We assure Ugandans that we are still very committed to the development of football in Uganda. Discipline of players, officials and all other members of FUFA will be paramount. FUFA will not tolerate indiscipline and violation of the Constitution and FIFA Statutes.
