FUFA: Federation of Uganda Football Associations

Category: Latest News

  • FUFA speaks out on Afcon draws

    FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa was in Johannesburg for the Afcon draws and he returns to Kampala today.

    FUFA wishes to officially inform all the stakeholders that the draws for the last round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Finals were on July 5 conducted at Tanz Caf’e – Emperors Palace in Johannesburg in presence of our FA President Mr. Lawrence Mulindwa.

    During the evening exercise, Uganda was paired with Zambia, the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions.  To us the exercise was very fair and we welcome our opponents in the ‘battle field’ for this slot to South Africa next year.

    FUFA has respect for Zambia as our continental defending champions but we shall not let them walk on a ‘red carpet’ in this campaign.  We shall treat them as equals since we are familiar to each other. The past results do not make them exceptional.

    Our immediate task as FUFA is to start off the mental and psychological preparations of our players. We shall also ensure that we fly to Kampala all the players as they will be selected by the technical bench.

    We call upon all the stakeholders – the religious leaders, the government, sponsors, the media, the fans and the entire Ugandan population to throw their undivided support towards this campaign. FUFA alone cannot win the race without other partners.

    Finally, it will be great, for Uganda to celebrate 50 years of independence with a qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations. We invite the fans to show up in bigger number when we host Zambia on Saturday October 13 at Namboole stadium.

     

  • Cranes to play South Sudan in Uhuru Cup

    Amin Bbossa will lead Uganda’s delegation to South Sudan

    Uganda Cranes will on Monday July 9th travel to South Sudan to play an international friendly match against the hosts in the country’s first independence cup.

    The match scheduled for Tuesday July 10th will be handled by a set of Kenyan referees. FUFA zone 10 chairperson Amin Bbosa Nkono heads the Ugandan delegation to Juba. The team has already started training at Lugogo.

    The invitation is an opportunity to give the young home based players a chance to test their career. FUFA will also use this game to strengthen the football relationship between the two nations. FUFA CEO Edgar Watson will therefore be part of the travelling 25-man delegation.

     

     

     

     

  • Afcon draws: Bobby says ‘its a mission possible’

    Cranes Manager Bobby Williamson is optimistic that Uganda can advance to the finals if there is team work.

    Zambia is a proven team at this level with a coach who is a champion too. I personally have respect for their FA President, the coach and their players. What they achieved in winning last year’s continental trophy was magnificent and everyone should recognize and respect them for being a footballing Nation.

    For the Cranes however, this is a challenge we will relish. To qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations has always not been easy for us and it’s a long time coming. In my opinion this is a great opportunity. In no way am I being disrespectful to Zambia.

    But for us to qualify this year, we need to beat the best team on this continent. Uganda is capable of ending the long wait and this will require a collective effort so that we pull in one direction. FUFA, the government, the press and the entire population of Uganda should stand united towards this goal.

    Those with differences should put them aside for the sake of our team’s performance. It’s important that we are playing our first leg away in Lusaka. I believe this is to our advantage no matter what happens from the first leg. What we need to keep in perspective is that this ‘race’ won’t be won or lost in Lusaka but instead in Kampala. It can be us this time, believe me!

  • 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.

     

  • 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.

     

  • Cecafa-Kagame Club Championship kicks off July 14

    Cecafa Secretary General, Mr. Nicholas Musonye

    The Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) will stage the 2012 Kagame Club Cup Competition in Tanzania from July 14th-28th.

    Preparations for the championship began in earnest in Dar re salaam on Thursday when CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye met several stakeholders and partners to lay the ground in what is expected to be a thrilling competition.
    On Friday, CECAFA Chairman Leodegar Tenga chaired a joint meeting attended by members of the Council and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) at the Federation Headquarters. The two parties signed a memorandum to stage the event next month.

    Addressing the Press Conference in Dar es salaam, both Tenga and Musonye  thanked the Sponsors of the event and also CECAFA Patron President Paul Kagame for their efforts to improve club football in the region. President Kagame has been the sponsor of this event since 1999.

    The Rwandese President has already committed USD 60,000 (About 150.000.000 UGX) prize money for this year,s competition. Musonye urged other sponsors and partners to come on board and make the 2012 competition a success. Super sport has already partnered with CECAFA to show the matches Live. The matches will be staged at the Dar es salaam National Stadium which hosted both the Club Cup and Challenge Cup last year.

    Several clubs across the continent have shown interest in participating in this year’s event. Among these is Vita Club from Congo. Musonye further revealed that there were several others from COSAFA region that had also showed interest but their fate would be decided after liaising with TFF and the sponsors. He however clarified that this would depend on the resources available.

  • FUFA’s letter of appreciation to USPA

    Cranes Captain Andy Mwesigwa scored the opener against Congo in Namboole. The 4-0 win was key in earning the Cranes the USPA Award for the month of June.

    The Nile Special-USPA Awards for the month of June conducted here in Kampala on Monday saw the Uganda Cranes emerging overall winners with 545 votes.

    The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) was delighted to receive this news that came in just two days to the draws of the final round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals to be held in South Africa on Thursday.

    This award will not only boost the team’s performance in our next competitive engagements but it’s also evident that USPA members do follow the Cranes’ activities with keen interest.

    Around this time, the Cranes team needs undivided support if we are to break through the rock of misfortune that has stood in our way for 34 years. Professional journalism will be key in this campaign and your Monday gesture points in this very positive direction.

    Allow me on behalf of FUFA, extend our most sincere appreciations to you Mr. President and to all USPA members for this timely award.

    Finally, I call upon the entire USPA family to remain focused to the same cause.

    WE GO, WE GO, UGANDA CRANES WE GO!

  • 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.

  • USL board of directors invited for FIFA meeting

  • Referee Diana Mukasa for U-17 World Cup

    There is a reason to smile: FIFA assistant referee Diana Mukasa has landed an invitation to FIFA U17 World Cup.

    Ugandan FIFA woman referee Diana Mukasa has landed an invitation to officiate at this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.

    Mukasa is one of the only three referees appointed from the entire African continent. Others from the CAF region are Amegee Aissata 37, from Togo and Aglago Emmanuella 33 from Ghana.

    The list has 14 referees and 28 assistants in total but three of these (one referee and two assistants) are a reserve trio from UEFA.

    An official communication received from FIFA this morning and signed by the Secretary General Jerome Valckle, indicates that the competition matches will run from 22nd September to 13th October. But prior to this, the pre-competition activities will be conducted from September 16 to 21.

    All match officials including Mukasa are expected to arrive in Baku on Sunday 16 September 2012. FIFA has warned that no match official is supposed to be accompanied by any other person during their entire assignment with FIFA.

    FIFA has further directed that all referees and their assistants undergo medical assessments from their respective home countries in accordance with the FIFA Pre-Competition Medical Assessment (PCMA) Form. If a referee is found to be unfit or injured upon her arrival in Baku, FIFA will send her home at the expense of the concerned member association.

    Mukasa becomes the second Uganda referee after Ali Tomusange to officiate at the World Cup tournaments.

  • 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.



  • FUFA rewads Cranes with UGX 70m for dumping Congo

    Ugandan FA has rewarded the victorious Cranes team with a cash bonus of 70 million shillings (About US $ 30.000) for dumping Congo Brazzaville from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Saturday.

    The Federation President Lawrence Mulindwa handed over the money to the team captain Andy Mwesigwa from Sojovaro Hotel in Mengo on Sunday afternoon.  The players together with the technical staff were later hosted to a congratulatory luncheon organised by the federation.

    Mulindwa lashed out at critics who accuse him of spending a lot of money on players’ bonuses saying that ‘the boys have to be rewarded for their sweat’. Days to the Cranes; game against Senegal, FUFA cashed the players with 30m as motivation before adding them 40 more millions after the 1-all draw. A total of Shs.140m has so far been spent on bonuses alone. (The figures exclude daily allowances and other costs).

    Each of the 18 players who featured against Congo received Shs.2.500.000. Mulindwa pledged more financial rewards towards the players whenever they produce results. He hailed the fans for showing up in big numbers at Namboole and praised his technical bench headed by Bobby Williamson for guiding the team to a convincing 4-0 victory over Congo.

    The function was attended by Kimuli Anthony and Livingstone Kyambadde the Vice Presidents in charge of Finance and Technical matters respectively. The Federation CEO Edgar Watson was also present at the function.

  • Flying Cranes dump visiting Congo

    The Uganda Cranes entered the pitch on Saturday afternoon with a task to score two unanswered goals against Congo in order to storm the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations 2013 qualifiers but proved more determined when they doubled the score to end the game 4-0!

    Team Captain Andy Mwesigwa headed the opener in the first half before Godfrey Walusimbi converted a penalty in the early minutes of the second half. Geoffrey Massa went down in history when he took a heavy shot from the right flank that left the goal net torn. Emmanuel Okwi wound up the mission with a fourth goal that saw the Congolese technical bench filled in tears.

    Cranes had lost 3-1 in Brazzaville in February.  Uganda will now wait to play two home and away matches against one of the 16 Nations that played in the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

  • Mutumba off, Speaks out

    Martin Mutumba (Left) in a training with teamates

    Cranes midfielder and AIK FC utility player Martin Kayongo Mutumba returned home this Wednesday morning for treatment following an injury he sustained during the Senegal game five days ago.

    Mutumba left aboard British Airways to London where he was due to connect to Stockholm City. Before leaving camp, Mutumba got encouraging words from his Coach Bobby Williamson. “He is a good coach and he has encouraged me to continue with light trainings as I undergo treatment. He will continue monitoring my performance”, said Mutumba before he left Entebbe.

    Commenting on the recent negative local press coverage about him, Mutumba down played it and instead promised to prove his critics wrong in the near future. “I wouldn’t be playing in AIK if I wasn’t a good player. I played well in Angola but Namboole wasn’t my day. I chose to play for Uganda and I shall be here again to prove my worth” he emphasized.

    Mutumba further added, “The same press will praise me when I do well. I don’t mind about what they write because the challenge is mine to prove my ability”.

    “To all my fans I only say that patience pays. They shouldn’t lose heart but I pray for Uganda to advance to the next level so that I have a chance to feature for the Cranes in September”, said Mutumba who sounded confident of earning his team better results in future.

  • Mutumba ruled out of Congo game

    Cranes midfielder Martin Kayongo Mutumba will return to Stockholm, Sweden for treatment following an injury he picked during the Uganda- Senegal game played last Saturday in Namboole.

    Mutumba suffered a muscle strain that has now ruled him out of the Saturday crash against Congo in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers match.

    Coach Bobby Williamson however believes that Mutumba will still be a useful player when he recovers.  FUFA is already working on his ticket and he is expected to travel by the British Airlines Wednesday morning.

    Mutumba who played his first game for the Cranes on Saturday turns out for AIK FC a Swedish premier League club as one of its star players.

    Meanwhile Captain Andy Mwesigwa who also sustained an injury is struggling to recover but remains doubtful for the weekend game. His final status will be confirmed later in the week.

     

     

  • We faced a good side-Bobby

    After the 1-1 draw between Uganda Cranes and Senegal, Coach Bobby Williamso and Senegal’s Marie Loto spoke to the CAF Online news journalist and below were their responses:

    Cafonline.com:  What is your take on the match?

    Bobby: This was as we expected a very tactical game, these Senegalese players are top class. They are a very good football side also. But we don’t like losing at home so we kept going on and finally rewarded.

    Cafonline.com:  Your team looked jaded and passes were going astray in the first half what was happening?

    Bobby: I think we must give respect to  the opposition, look at their defenders and compare to our strikers. They are big, strong and athletic and played their part and they worked hard to stop us getting into our stride. But I am very proud of the players and hope the fans also do the same.

    Cafonline.com:  The team’s fortunes seem to have changed when you made substitutes?

    Bobby: As I have said in the past we have depth and those who came in would have been good enough to start. I always want to get fresh legs on the pitch and this time round I did that.  They troubled the opposition and Massa (Geofrey) earned a penalty.

     

     We were the better team- Senegal coach – Marie Loto

    Cafonline.com:  What have you to say about the match which your team nearly lost

     Loto: Everybody in the stadium saw Senegal was the better side and we should have won. We came here to win and we were winning until the penalty. But a point for us away is not bad we still have another match in Dakar.

    Cafonline.com:  You speak as though you know what the outcome will be in Dakar?

    Loto: No, No only God  knows what will happen in Dakar. Our job is to play football and thats what we came out to do here. We had better players and better team as well. That is why am confident we shall do well in Dakar.

    Cafonline.com:  Don’t you think you wasted a lot of chances which would have put the team in a strong position?

     

    Loto: Yes it is always good to take your chances and put some distance between you and the opposition but give opposition (Uganda Cranes) credit for coming back in the game. But there is still a lot of work to be done still.

     

     

     

  • FUFA, Namboole reach consesus

    Consesus reached and Namboole stadium will now host the Saturday World Cup Match against Senegal

    The Federation of Uganda Football Associations and the management of Mandela National Stadium have this evening reached a consensus to host the Cranes World Cup fixture against Senegal on Saturday.

    The two parties reached an agreement in a meeting held at Namboole this evening. FUFA will now have to part with 45m UGX to hire the facility from the stadium management. Namboole had earlier asked for 84m UGX but later revised upwards to 97m UGX before the evening meeting between the two parties.

    The public is hereby assured that the match will now go on and that the tickets will now be on market starting Thursday morning.

    FUFA would like to appreciate the spirit exhibited by the Namboole stadium management in the meeting today and all individuals that have been of importance in our negotiations.

    The joint efforts have seen football emerging winners of these negotiations and not individuals, FUFA or Nambool

  • Determined Cranes returns Tuesday

    Denis Onyango and the rest of the players return to Kampala on Tuesday evening

    Determined Uganda Cranes team returns to Kampala on Tuesday evening and will resume training the following morning.

    The players that forced Angola to a 1-all draw are expected to touch Entebbe International Airport at 07:05 pm.

    Meanwhile the thirteen players who remained in Kampala resume training this morning at Namboole stadium under the captaincy of Geoffrey Massa.

    Assistant Coach Leo Adra will be in control of the team as he awaits the arrival of his senior, Bobby Williamson to take charge on Wednesday morning. There will be no time to rest for both the officials and the players but be driven direct to camp on arrival at the airport.

    The players in camp include Geoffrey Massa, Brian Umony, Isaac Isinde, Mudde Musa, Sula Matovu, Ochaya Joseph, Abel Dhaira, Edward Ssali, Joseph Owino, Yasin Mugabi, Ali Kimera, Robert Ssentongo and Ceaser Okhuti.