FUFA: Federation of Uganda Football Associations

Category: District News

  • Ghana U20 arrive Friday as FUFA boss mourns fallen Leader

    FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa has sent condolences to the Ghanaian football leadership over the loss of the country’s head of state.

    The Ghanaian U20 National team that was scheduled to arrive in Uganda this Wednesday is now expected in the country on Friday morning.

    By the time of issuing this press release, our counterparts in Accra had not yet made a formal communication in connection to the same. FUFA however made an attempt to reach the FA and the information available indicates that the team will arrive at Entebbe International Airport at 01:15 am aboard Ethiopia Airlines, Friday morning.

    The details searched from the Ethiopian Airlines further confirm that the team bookings are already made in Accra. FUFA President Mr. Lawrence Mulindwa has sent a condolence message to the Ghanaian FA leadership over the loss of their Head of state, President Evans Atta Mills who died Tuesday afternoon.

    “My office and the entire Ugandan football fraternity have learnt with shock the sudden death of your head of State, Mr. John Evans Atta Mills. As a football family in Uganda we join you in mourning a political leader who loved and served the game of football as well” reads Mulindwa’s statement to Accra.

     “As an advocate for recreation, an active sportsman and sports fan, the deceased leaves behind a good record in his support towards the Ghanaian National Football team, the Hockey Association, the National Sport Council of Ghana, and Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club among other areas”. The FA leader  further mourned.

    In a separate interview with www.fufa.co.ug, Mulindwa added that plans would be presented to the match commissioner during the technical meeting to have the game played with mourning arm bands on Saturday.  Uganda hosts Ghana in the CAF U20 Championship this Saturday at Nakivubo War Memorial stadium at 4:00pm. The referees from Ethiopia are expected in Kampala Thursday evening.

  • CECAFA: URA goes out fighting!

    URA 1 APR 2, Mafunzo 1 (3) Yanga 1 (5)

    URA’s Robert Ssentongo battle for the ball with fellow Ugandan Johnson Bagoole of APR in the quarter finals the Rwandese army side won 2-1

    Uganda’s representatives in this year’s Cecafa-Kagame Club Championship, URA Football club bowed out of the tournament after losing 2-1 to APR of Rwanda in the first quarter finals played on Monday afternoon at Dar es Salaam National stadium.

    URA trailed 2-0 in the first half but pulled one back through Robert Ssentongo in the 57th minute. The team played a better game in the second half but it was too late for them to narrow the gap earlier created. Ssentongo nearly equalized for his side in the 77th minute when his left shot hit a goal post. In the 3rd minute of the added time, the same striker made another attempt but his efforts were frustrated by the Rwandese goalkeeper Ndoli Jean Claude when he punched the ball back into play.

    Off the field, it however looked like URA had lost the game from the dressing room when the team’s line-up got alternated just minutes to kick off. “The players were diverted from the original focus when we chose to make last minute changes on the day’s line up” one concerned club official commented.

    Initially, Owen Kasule who is still recovering from an injury was to start on bench with Osman Wejuli Farouk on the starting line-up. An hour before kickoff, an official list was submitted to Super Sport for preparations of the necessary graphics but as the referees inspected the teams, a change was effected with Kasule being inserted into the starting squad.  The player looked unfit yet for this crucial game.

    Club chairman, Ssekatawa was in Dar es Salaam to watch his first game but his presence too, did not carry any luck!

    The team is expected to leave for home by road on Wednesday morning. Arrangements are however being made by the Ugandan FA to fly the two Hippos players, Samuel Ssenkoomi and Ssekisambu Elisa to Entebbe Tuesday morning to join the rest of the players in camp ahead of the clash against Ghana on Saturday.

    It was bad luck for URA but for sure, the team had a good start of the campaign with three consecutive wins against Simba, Vita club and Ports FC. Even with a 2-1 loss to APR, the tax boys went down fighting!

     

  • URA favourites against APR in today’s Cecafa Quarters

    Robert Ssentongo will lead URA’s attacking line against APR

    Uganda Revenue Authority this afternoon goes into a football field battle against neighbours APR FC from Rwanda in the first quarter finals of the Cecafa-Kagame Club Championship going on here in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

    URA Line-up: Mugabi Yasin, Massa Simeon, Munaaba Allan, Walulya Derrick, Ssenkoomi Sam, Wejuli Osman, Feni Ali, Nsumba Augustine, Agaba Oscar, Ssentongo Robert and Bagala Sula.

    Substitutes: Allan Owiny, Ssekisambu Elisa, Mubiru Sam, Kasule Owen, Nkugwa Elkana and said Kyeyune.

    The Ugandan bench will however have six substitutes, less one player following the malaria attack on Musa Docca and Lutimba Yayo’s persisting injury. Coach Alex Isabirye had yesterday sounded optimistic of having a full board today but the two players’ health situation worsened last night. The other player is Brian Bwette who is a third goal keeper.

    The match will be officiated by a Tanzanian Referee, Israel Mujuni assisted by his fellow countryman Jesse Erasmo and Elias Wamalwa from Kenya. Cranes midfielder Dan Wagaluka and Habib Kavuma will start from the bench on APR side. Johnson Bagoole commands the Rwandese defence.

    In the next quarter final, Mafunzo from Zanzibar plays degfending Champions Yanga Africans at 4:00pm.

  • URA optimistic of stopping APR in Cecafa Quarters

    Quarter finals (Monday)

    URA Vs APR (2:00pm)

    Mafunzo Vs Yanga 94:00pm)

    URA’s Bagala Sula celebrating his goal against AS Vita club from DR Congo on Friday. He will be looking to scoring more goals on Monday.

    Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) takes on APR of Rwanda in the first quarter finals of the Cecafa-Kagame Cup on Monday afternoon in a game the Ugandan URA coach Alex Isabirye has described as a ‘tricky but possible mission’.

    Isabirye has also sounded optimistic that all his players who had earlier picked injuries were steadily improving ahead of this knockout encounter. “We respect APR, they have good experienced white coaches and therefore this game is going to be very tricky but it remains a possible mission if the team keeps focused and plays as a unit”, said a soft spoken young tactician. Isabirye is regarded a God’s man in this tournament as he carries the rosary in his hands most of the time including when he is on the technical bench.

    URA is the only team this year that collected maximum points from all their group stage matches. They launched their campaign against Tanzania mainland champions Simba SC with a shocking 2-0 win before upsetting visiting DR Congo masters, AS Vita with a 3-1 result. They also beat Ports of Djibouti on the same margin to earn themselves 9 points and topped group ‘A’.

    The CECAFA General Secretary Nicholas Musonye told a press conference at Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) headquarters Sunday morning that there will be no extra time for quarter finalists in case of a draw in the normal time. “We shall go into extra time only for the semi finals and the finals” Musonye explained.

    He further revealed that Yusufu Makame Juma of Mafunzo FC was the only suspended player after accumulating two yellow cards. He will miss the next game against Simba. URA’s Derrick Walulya returns to action after serving his punishmen

  • URA plays APR in Cecafa Quarters

    Ports 1 URA 3, Yanga 2 APR 0

    Today: Tusker Vs Azam (2pm), Simba Vs Vita Club (4pm)

    URA’s Elkana Nkugwa in action against three opponents during their last group stage fixture against Ports FC on Friday.
    URA’s Elkana Nkugwa in action against Djibouti’s Ports FC during their last group stage match on Friday. URA won 3-1

    URA would up their group stage matches of the Cecafa-Kagame club championship on Friday afternoon with a 3-1 unconvincing win over Djibouti’s Ports FC.

    The Ugandan club is now lined up to play APR, an army side from Rwanda in the quarter finals on Monday. APR finished third in group ‘C’ after a 2-0 loss to homeboys, Young Africans Sports club.

    URA’s performance against Ports was however wanting and a doubled effort will be required if they are to overcome their quarter final opponents to storm the semis.

    Coach Alex Isabirye sounded optimistic after the game that some of his injured players would be fit for next week’s assignment against APR. It’s not however decided yet whether URA plays at 2pm or 4pm.

    The organizing committee will communicate an official position to all quarter finalists in a general meeting on Sunday.

     

     

     

  • Uganda 9 places up in FIFA rankings

    The Cranes good performance against Angola, Senegal and Congo has paid off

    The Cranes’ recent performance against Congo Brazzaville and Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup qualifiers respectively has earned Uganda a better position in the World FIFA rankings.

    Uganda is now ranked 85th (409 points) in the whole world of footballing nations. To click this position, Uganda climbed 9 places up from the 93rd position of last month. The performance was partly based on the Cranes recent 4-0 humiliating defeat against Congo and the 1-all draw against Senegal among others.

    Just below Uganda is Angola with 407 points followed by Burkina Faso in the 87th position. Uganda remains the giants in the Cecafa region with Sudan coming next in the 105th position and Ethiopia in the 119th place. Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania are ranked 125th, 126th and 127th respectively followed by Burundi who are 136th.

    Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti are the worst performers in the region with less than 50 points. Djibouti in the 196th position has only 24 points, Somalia 43 points and Eritrea 45 points only.

    Meanwhile Spain maintains the lead followed by Germany, Uruguay, England, Portugal, Italy, Argentina, Netherlands, Croatia, Denmark, Brazil, Greece, Russia and France. Bhutan, Montserrat, San Marino and Turks and Caicos Islands are the world’s worst ranked countries with zero points each.

     

  • Ugandan player to miss honeymoon over Cecafa duty

    Alishe (seated extreme left) in a training at the Technical Centre in Njeru. The committed player will miss his honeymoon because of the Cecafa-Kagame tournament in Dar es salaam.

    URA FC’s central midfielder Alishe Asuman Kihogo will on Saturday July 14 exchange wedding vows with his ‘sweet heart’ Halima Rafiki.

    The youthful couple will however have to miss their honeymoon together as the newly wedded husband flies to Dar es salaam City for the Cecafa-Kagame Club Championship just hours after the wedding reception. Mr. and Mrs. Alishe will host their guests for the reception at Mbarara University Inn starting 1:00pm that Saturday.

    URA FC are the official representatives of Uganda in this two weeks tournament partly sponsored by Rwanda President, Gen. Paul Kagame.

    The URA contingent comprising 24 people leaves Entebbe for Tanzania on July 11 and they are placed in group ‘A’ alongside visiting Congolese Champions Vita Club, Ports from Djibouti and hosts Simba SC.

    Speaking to www.fufa.co.ug in Mengo on Tuesday afternoon, Alishe said arrangements had already been made by his club to travel on Sunday July 15 in order to catch up with the club’s first fixture against Simba on Monday.

    The tournament kicks off July 14 with defending champions Yanga SC taking on Atletico FC of Burundi at 4:00pm. Earlier in the day, APR will have played Wau Salaam from South Sudan at 2:00pm.

  • URA drawn against Simba in Cecafa tourney

    Vita Club from the Democratic Republic of Congo has been invited to take part in the CECAFA-Kagame Club Cup Championship that kicks off in Dar es salaam City on July 14th to 28th this year.

    A total of 11 clubs will contest the two week championship that will be shown live by Supersport in over 48 African countries. In the fixture released by the Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, Uganda’s representatives URA FC is placed in group ‘C’ alongside Tanzania’s Simba SC, Ports FC from Djibouti and guests Vita FC from DR Congo.

    The other clubs taking part in the championship include defending champions Yanga SC, Azam from Tanzania, Kenya’s Tusker FC, APR from Rwanda, Atletico (Burundi), Mafunzo (Zanzibar) and Wau Salam from South Sudan. According to the well attended draws in Dar es Salaam, defending champions Yanga FC will open the championship against Burundi’s Atletico on Saturday 14th July.

    Speaking shortly after the draws, Musonye said, the long term objective of CECAFAwas to make Kagame Club Cup one of the biggest club football competitions in Africa. “With enough sponsorship next year, we may increase the number to 16 following growing interest from clubs across the continent” he added.

    The CECAFA patron His Excellency President Paul Kagame has already committed USD 60,000 prize money which will be shared among the top three finishers. Vita Club is one of the oldest and popular clubs in DRC expected to colour up the tournament. The Congolese club was among four others that had requested to take part in the event.

    In response to the vision of President Kagame, CECAFA wishes to use the power of football to promote Peace and stability in the Great Lakes Region and in the Horn of Africa.

     

  • FIFA Com-Unity Course postponed

    FUFA CEO, Edgar Watson is in touch with FIFA on Com-Unity course.

    FUFA is hereby informing all stakeholders and more particularly members of the media who had been invited for the above workshop that it has been postponed from the earlier communicated dates of 10th-13th July 2012.

    We regret all the inconveniences caused however the technical program and the presenters will remain in the format planned earlier.

    The CEO, Edgar Watson said the future date will be communicated to all concerned parties on time.

  • FIFA officials coming to Uganda

    This is to inform all football stakeholders and the entire public that a panel of officials delegated by FIFA will be in the country for a meeting with FUFA and the Uganda Super League clubs on Wednesday 27th June 2012 at Golf Course hotel.

    The meetings will generally focus on governance issues of football in Uganda. However, the FIFA-FUFA meeting to be held earlier at 8:30am will also address the FUFA Executive committee proposals for FUFA Constitutional amendments.

    At the same venue, the FIFA panel will henceforth from 11am meet the decision makers of the Uganda Super League clubs with an agenda focused on issues pertaining to top level professional league in compliance with Association Football.

    Invitations for Super League Club top management leaders have been dispatched accordingly.

    There will also be a press conference scheduled for Thursday 28th June 2012 at 9:30am prompt at Golf Course Hotel for media briefing on the situation as per that time. (Please note that the weekly press conference usually held on Wednesdays has therefore been called off this week).

    The FIFA panel coming to Uganda will among other officials include Mr. Primo Corvaro and the FIFA Development Officer Mr. Mamelodi Ashford.



  • Bobby Names final squad to ‘combat’ Angola

    Martin Kayongo Mutumba is Looking up for positive results in Luanda, Angola

    Cranes Scot tactician Bobby Roberts Williamson has this afternoon named his 18-man final squad that will fly out to Angola tomorrow morning for the World Cup Qualifiers match against the hosts.

    The final list has four home based players and 14 professionals to be commanded by team Captain Andy Mwesigwa (Kazakhstan). Hamza Muwonge (Bunamwaya) travels as the second choice goal keeper to Denis Onyango (South Africa) following his impressive performance during trainings and the late arrival of Abel Dhaira.

    Iguma Denis from newly promoted Super division side Victoria University FC is another home based player who has caught the eye of Bobby for the Sunday encounter. Bunamwaya’s Godffrey Walusimbi and Masaba Simeon (URA) will also be on flight.

    The list has the Sweden based AIK FC professional player Martin Kayongo Mutumba, Netherland’s Fabian Derrick Kizito, Johnson Bagoole (Rwanda), Emmanuel Okwi (Tanzania), Sserumaga Mike (Ethiopia), Hassan Wasswa (Turkey), Kalungi Henry(USA) and Ochan Patrick (DR Congo)

    Others are Kavuma Habib (Rwanda), Dan Wagaluka (Rwanda), Oloya Moses (-Vietnam) and Mawejje Tonny (Iceland). The team leaves Friday morning aboard Kenya Airways to Nairobi before connecting to Luanda.

    Full squad: Onyango Denis, Hamza Muwonge, Masaba Simeon, Iguma Denis, Mawejje Tonny, Mutumba Martin, Fabian Kizito, Bagoole Johnson, Walusimbi Godfrey, Oloya Moses, Okwi Emmanuel, Mwesigwa Andy, Sserumaga Mike, Kalungi Henry, Wasswa Hassan, Kavuma Habib, Wagaluka Dan and Ochan Patrick.

  • Ssendyowa to commission Kenya-Malawi match

    Ssendyowa is up the task to ensure a peaceful end of the Kenya-Malawi game this weekend in Nairobi with such charging fans of Harambee stars

    The international Football body FIFA, has appointed Abbas Ssendyowa to commission the Kenya-Malawi 2014 World Cup Qualifiers match due this weekend in Nairobi City.

    Kenyan Football Federation has given assurance that the game will peacefully go on un disrupted despite the recent suspected bomb blast that left tens injured in the City centre.

    Ssendyowa, a FUFA Executive member and retired referee is expected to fly to Nairobi this Thursday evening aboard Kenya Airways.

    As a commissioner Ssendyowa will have to do all it costs to avoid a repeat of what transpired in 2000 at Nyayo Stadium when the 2002 World Cup qualifiers game between the two nations was abandoned due to crowd trouble.

    Kenya and Malawi have met 35 times, 16 of which have been battles for the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup. The last time the two nations played a competitive game was on September 4th 2004 at Moi Sports centre Kasarani where the hosts won 3-2.

  • FIFA approves Com-Unity Course for Uganda

    FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter

    FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has approved a women Football Com-Unity course for Uganda to run in Kampala between July 10-13 this calendar year.

    The decision by the international football body has been received with a big applause from Uganda, a member association to FIFA. Ugandan FA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Edgar Watson Ssuubi has described the development as being timely to the federation demands and more particularly to women football development.

    This is the first time a Com-Unity course is coming to Uganda since its inauguration by the FIFA President. Com-Unity is a FIFA presidential programme whose main purpose is to improve awareness of the value football can have in a country.

    The course is further intended to improve cooperation and communication between a member association, its Government, Non Governmental Organizations, the media and other partners. The programme also distributes knowledge on communication and marketing skills to help member associations attract partners and sponsors.

    FUFA CEO, Edgar Watson has said that the course in Uganda will mainly focus on women Football Development.  Participants will be drawn from Government, FUFA, sponsors, the media and NGOs relating with women football.

    An instructor from FIFA M/s Kelebogile Mosimanewapula is expected in Kampala next week to discuss and lay strategies for the success of this three day great seminar

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Zonal Mini Leagues gear up

    Amin’s club is Zone 5 champ

    VCC FC, a club owned by Maj. General Taban Amin a son to former president of Uganda the late Idi Amin are the champions of FUFA Zone 5.

    VCC beat Kiryatete Young stars 3-1 in the finals to lift the zonal trophy. FUFA executive member Rogers Byamukama handed over the trophy to the winners at Bweyale trading centre grounds, Kiryandongo district on Tuesday.

    To reach the finals VCC beat Nyimigisa FC 5 – 4 on penalties after settling for a 1-alll draw in regulation time. Kiryatete young stars walloped Kigumba united 4-0 to book a slot in the finals. This year’s edition had record 10 teams from Hoima, masindi and Kiryandongo districts.The 4 semi finalists will join Steel FC as 2012/2013 season zone 5 representatives to Kitara regional league. Outstanding players were identified by the zone to join their counterparts from zone 11 in forming the Kitara region team that will prepare for the MTN inter regional tournament scheduled for July in Arua.

    Kirima FC top Zone 6

    Kirima FC put up a spirited fight to dump Volcano Kyengera 3-2 in a highly contested final of Zone 6 mini league. The tournament hosted by Kihihi High school and Kihihi Community Polytechnic play grounds in Kanungu district attracted 19 clubs. To storm the finals, Kirima eliminated Rutooma Secondary school 2-1 while Volcano edged Horizon FC 1-0. The tournament successfully ended without major events.

    Gen. Ali rewards zone 4

    Nebbi Central FC emerged champions of FUFA Zone 4 after white washing Comboni FC 4 – 1 in the final match played last Tuesday at Paridi Stadium, Adjumani district. Earlier on Nebbi Central had walloped Moyo Town Council 7 – 2 in the semi finals. A heroes welcome was arranged for the victorious team at Nebbi Town not only for winning the zonal trophy but also for promotion to the West Nile Regional league for the season 2012/2013.Third Deputy Premier Lt. Gen. Moses Ali contributed shs 200,000 to the organising committee and planted a tree during a tree planting exercise initiated by the zonal executive.  A total of 15 clubs participated according to the Regional chairman, Mike Letti.