FUFA president Eng. Moses Magogo, fresh from the CAF Executive committee meeting in Accra, Ghana has addressed the media during a press conference at Mengo, Kampala on Wednesday.
Flanked by the FUFA first Vice President Justus Mugisha, the second VP Darius Mugoye and the federation communications manager, Ahmed Hussein, Eng Magogo hinted about three aspects – CAF resolutions from the recent executive committee meeting, the national team (Uganda Cranes) and the current state of the Azam Uganda Premier League.
The full speech – (Verbatim)
CAF Executive Committee Decisions:
I was part of the CAF Executive meeting that took key decisions on African football last week in Accra. Among key decisions was the CHAN Finals 2018 that Kenya lost the hosting rights because the country was not ready.
It was not good news for the region and we hoped that Uganda would be playing next to our neighbors and also with belief that we would have given a helping hand.
A bidding process has already been opened and CAF will receive proposals for the next 10-15 days from the FA Member Associations ready to host the 2018 CHAN finals.
However, FUFA will not make any submissions for the CHAN finals 2018 because we are not in position and ready to host such a football tournament due to lack of facilities.
Uganda vs. Ghana-2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier:
FUFA, the Coaches and Players have worked against all odds to get to a situation many African Countries that have invested a lot would envy
I take the opportunity to thank those fans who have been with us in the thin and thick.
The Sponsors (Airtel, Nile Breweries, BIDCO, NIC and Ecobank) and other football Sponsors who indirectly have helped to build to the current Status.
I would also like to specifically thank HE the President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the entire Government apparatus for the support they have given this campaign. The only time we did not get the support while playing away was against Egypt and no wonder it was the first time we conceded and lost the match.
Had it not been the paying fans, the Sponsors and the support earlier gotten from Government, we would not be in this position.
The Dream is Alive. We have demonstrated that we have the ability to win our remaining matches and consequently the biggest opportunity ever to play at the World Cup.
I have been given the best assurances as late as yesterday by the National Team Captain Dennis Onyango and a host of other players on the Uganda Cranes team that they will give their best like they have always given.
Despite the financial support from Government and the Sponsors, competing to play at the World Cup is such an expensive venture yet considering the exponential effect of the qualification, this is the moment every Ugandan would throw their weight behind the team.
We call upon the Government to financially support the Uganda Cranes in such a historic goal for our Country. This final bend that has not been supported is the ultimate. The earlier support will all go to waste if this final bend is not supported.
The Technocrats at the Ministry of Education and Sports are not doing this country a favour by failure to plan and advise the Government of the magnitude of qualifying to final tournaments. Let them benchmark with countries that are even poorer than us.
In the circumstances, FUFA has the option of getting to the fans to finance the team through ticket sales.
Let us show the team as Ugandans that we can stand with them and love them by paying to watch the matches.
We have had comments that the stadium which is full is good enough for the team to pick results but it is even better when we have a stadium which is full of fans who have paid.
The team needs the moral support and chants but it equally needs the money for the air tickets, bonuses, allowances and logistics to deliver the results.
The countries that have tasted the effect of qualifying to the World Cup, such a situation would be a matter of National Concern not just the Federation. We saw this in Egypt and have seen it in Ghana. Despite such position, we have kept the Dream Alive.
It is illogical for Ugandans who want the team to qualify for the tournament as big as the World Cup but also not want to contribute to the cost of qualification especially when there seems to be no other sources of revenue to finance the team costs.
Those sounding the drums of fans not to pay to watch the Uganda Cranes are intentionally or unintentionally sabotaging our Nation from the Sporting, Economic and Social multiplier effect of a Nation qualifying to the World Cup.
In response to the presumed high entrance fees, FUFA has put on market discounted tickets each going for 25,000/- and we call upon our dear fans to take advantage of the offer.
Let us buy the tickets from ONLY the gazetted places.
Let me take the opportunity once again to assure the fans that FUFA, the Coaches and the Players shall work within the available means to give the best and we hope and pray that the best is good enough to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The League
FUFA, the Clubs, the Coaches, the Referees, and the Players have worked tirelessly to create the product of the Uganda Premier League and we have seen the effect of the fans and Sponsors getting back to buy this product.
The Clubs and the League make the foundation for our National teams.
I take the opportunity to thank every individual who has made an effort to make our League better.
However, the Shadow of Success is a new Challenge.
With the returning passion, FUFA as the regulator will have to raise the bar.
We have noticed with concern unacceptable incidents that will derail all the efforts of rebuilding the league.
In the latest communication from FIFA about our Statutes, it has been clearly stated that the functions of Anti-Doping, Club Licensing, Refereeing and Disciplinary Measures are an exclusive obligation of the Federation.
We will therefore undertake our roles without fear or favour.
Actions of Violence and Hooliganism, Inciting Violence by Officials and Players, Poor Performance of the Referees and Doping cases have already been observed in the League.
The Rules are very clear on all these cases and we will implement the rules to the dot.
In the recent FUFA Executive Committee meeting, the Competitions Disciplinary Panel was created with the mandate to expedite the judicial decisions arising from Competitions rules and regulations.
FUFA will not tolerate any form of Violence and Hooliganism at Matches. The parties that are guilty will face the full consequences of the regulations.
Where actions are criminal in nature, FUFA will follow up the matter with the Uganda Police to bring the culprits to book.
FUFA condemns in the strongest terms the actions of violence at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende during the match of Vipers SC vs. SC Villa Jogoo. We do not only condemn but bring to book all errant parties in accordance with the rules.
Those barbaric acts of destroying property and insulting dignitaries and innocent fans who have come to support their own sides are things of the past. We need sanity to keep the fans and sponsors we are bringing back to the game.
We are a country lacking sports facilities and we can’t destroy the few little facilities being erected. I do not know Muslims who break mosques or Christians who break Churches.
Clubs should work to strengthen their teams. Winning matches by compromising or intimidating referees is being primitive.
Football has moved on. There are no longer internal perimeter fences at matches. We need to enjoy the game.
On the other hand, it is time-up for the Referees who have interpreted and applied the Laws of the Game contrary to the 17 FIFA Laws of the game. We will put them out of the game.
I have asked the FUFA Referees Standing Committee (FRSC) and Uganda Premier League (UPL) to compile the incidents for the matches so far played in the 2017/18 league where decisions have been made contrary to the Laws of the Game in Match Assessor reports and Video evidence.
I have further asked the Technical and Assessor Panels of the FRSC to technically assess and should it be established that errors have been committed, the respective referees are going to be sanctioned accordingly.
It is Our Game, It is Our Country.
MAIN PHOTO: L-R: FUFA Second Vice President Darius Mugoye, Ahmed Hussein (FUFA Communications manager), FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo and 1st FUFA VP Justus Mugisha during the weekly press conference at FUFA House in Mengo, Kampala on Wednesday
PHOTO CREDITS: FUFA Communications Department
