MENGO – The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has on Wednesday, June 10, held a consultative meeting with some Uganda Premier League (UPL) clubs.
The meeting which had all sorts of issues before it started as nine clubs wrote to the UPL Secretariat announcing their planned boycott, went ahead at FUFA House in Mengo.
Despite the threats, nine clubs were present with only five deciding to boycott.
FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo chaired the two and a half hour meeting whose main agenda among others was to brainstorm on ideas on how best to run club football in the country in preparation for the 2020/2021 football season.
The key issues from the consultative meeting ranged from Club licensing activity calendar, StarTimes UPL League kick off date, 2nd phase of FUFA Club Pro Agenda, FUFA Club licensing regulations, FUFA and UPL to hold monthly breakfast meetings to improve communication between the two entities. Discussion on FUFA Competitions reforms was deferred to 18th June 2020
The Key Club Licensing activities and dates that have been set
-Consultative meetings with UPL Clubs 18th June 2020
-Release of Club Licensing Regulations 22nd June 2020
-Expression of interest to participate in the 2020/21 UPL season 23rd-26th June 2020
-Phase II of the FUFA Clubs Pro Agenda for UPL Clubs 1st-10th July 2020
-Submission of License application by clubs and all supporting documentation 13th-24th July 2020
-First Review and decisions by FIB regarding all clubs’ license applications 27th 29th July 2020
-First Inspection of Clubs’ Facilities (Office premises, Stadiums and training grounds 6th-13th August 2020
-Closure of submission and uploading of Players’ documents on FIFA Connect System& Domestic Transfer Matching system (DTMS) 14th August 2020
-Second review and decision by FUFA Licensing Board (FIB) regarding all clubs’ license applications Criteria Bv& report on current status 17th August 2020
-Second inspection of Clubs’ Facilities (Office premises, Stadiums and training grounds 4th September 2020
-Final decisions by the Appeals Body regarding any appeals submitted by clubs 7th-11th September 2020
-Release of final list of Clubs to UPL Secretariat 14th September 2020
-Release of final fixtures of UPL by UPL Secretariat 17th September 2020
-UPL League kick off 17th October.
What they said during the meeting
FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo
“To our understanding as FUFA, we delegated the responsibility to run the league to the UPL Board or FUFA Super League Limited (FSLL). The delegated authority of the company called FSLL has shareholders – the clubs. We are all aware how companies operate as Board of Directors as appointed by the clubs and have the mandate to represent them. FUFA has continuously engaged the UPL Board for matters that probably concern the clubs. I have also been informed on a number of occasions that there are meetings that have been going on between the Board and the clubs. So, our interpretation as FUFA is that there has been consultation on a number of occasions. In areas where we have not performed, we shall improve amicably. I’m the head of the institution and I take full responsibility; we need to improve upon the communication between FUFA and the UPL Clubs. It is an area we have taken as positive criticism.”
Aggrey Ashaba – KCCA FC Vice Chairman
“There are matters that need to be addressed between clubs, UPL and the Federation. For example, KCCA FC has written to FUFA a couple of letters about a number of issues and we have never responded. On the operational matters of UPL, clubs have asked for a bail out during this period. The other issue is about the 75% rule which led to the decision to stop the league; UPL ought to have written to the clubs.”
Moses Kaduyu – URA FC Member
“At club level, FUFA needs to maintain the good flow of information to the clubs. The other concern is about the prize money and the Stanbic Uganda Cup competition which was disrupted by the Coronavirus pandemic.”
George William Mulindwa – Chairman Vipers SC
“We are grateful for the good planning and programmes highlighted in the FUFA President’s address. There are concerns that we need to address to the federation through UPL. The cost of maintaining a club in Uganda is very high. We have been struggling as clubs to make ends meet. For salaries alone, a club needs more than Shs 10M per month. There is something big that clubs need to be addressed especially through this COVID-19 crisis.”
FUFA 3rd Vice President – Hon Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi
“We held a meeting sometime last year in Bukoto. We highlighted the need for stakeholders’ meeting. It was intended to compare and contrast. We also put in place various forums to compare notes and hear from each other. Issues of licensing, change of names, financial assistance have been echoed out.”
FUFA Club Licensing Chairman Rogers Mulindwa
“As the new FUFA club licensing chairman, I take my responsibility without fear or favour. Club licensing is the kitchen of football across the world. Governance, financial stability and standards are vey key. We need to move together with owners, leaders and technical staff to develop the game. The action plan is well laid out and ready to start.”
Decolas Kiiza-FUFA Deputy CEO in Charge of Football
“We had a successful meeting where 9 Clubs of the expected 14 attended. This meeting gave the FUFA President Eng. Magogo an opportunity to clarify on several pertinent issues in club football. There was a resolution that there will be monthly breakfast meetings between clubs and the federation to iron out issues. Clubs were notified that the promised funding from FIFA meant to assist them will soon be released.”
Hajati Aisha Nalule, FUFA Competitions Director
“National Documents (Passports and National Identification Cards) are needed for players’ registration. We need proper documentation for a successful exercise and start to the new season. We will not entertain provisional documents.”
Uganda Premier League Board Chairman Arinatiwe Rugyendo
“Enemies cannot build, only friends can do that work. Friends dialogue and do not fight. Prize money has increased, there is money for clubs on the continent and many things are coming. We are on a new revolution. The attitude has changed. We need to develop the game with positive ideas. The board is working on a plan to bring more sponsors, great rebranding, repackaging the game, more stakeholders’ meetings and other things catered for in the strategic pack.”
The clubs which attended the meeting were represented by; William Nkemba (SC Villa), Aggrey Ashaba (KCCA FC), Mulindwa George William, (Vipers SC), Kidega Francis (Police FC), Kaduyu Moses (URA FC), Amin Bbosa and Agatha Kayemba (Busoga United) and Muwanguzi Hanningtone (MYDA FC) attended.