FUFA and owners of clubs featuring in the Women Super League and Women Elite League had a fruitful meeting on Saturday. The purpose of the meeting was to brainstorm on how best Women Football can be improved in Uganda.
Chaired by FUFA President Moses Magogo, several issues were discussed ranging from the journey moved so far, what needs to be done to take Women’s football to another level and the challenges faced by the clubs.
‘As FUFA, we have always thought that such engagements help us to understand our successes and challenges better. We can agree to disagree here but even when FUFA or clubs have different opinions about an issue, when we meet, a solution is always found.’ He said in his opening remarks.
‘We are proud of the journey moved so far since the start of regular club football for Women Football in 2015. I can say we have registered a number of successful stories ranging from increase in the number of girls taking part, the quality of football displayed to our national teams. But at the moment we are saying can we engage another gear?’
The President assured the club owners that FUFA has deliberate intentions to develop and promote Women’s football and encouraged them to continue supporting the game.
‘The club owners have played a key role in sustaining Women’s Football and has FUFA, we have good plans to continue with this journey. At least before the COVID-19 outbreak, we had registered all our national teams (women) in all the available competitions. Our U-17 National team still has a chance to qualify for the World Cup and our wish is that they qualify because this will be a turning point for not only the girls but for us all.’
About the support from FIFA, the President assured the stakeholders that when the money comes, it will be appropriated well.
‘There has been a confusion by many about the financial support that FUFA will receive from FIFA. We shall receive USD 1.5M with USD 500,000 strictly attached to Women’s football. This is not COVID-19 relief but rather a package to develop and sustain Women’s football. We shall engage with you to brainstorm on how best we can allocate these funds. A paper will be made with a plan to see that everyone benefits’
Several club owners raised patent issues in the meeting and asked FUFA to make these meetings more often.
Richard Kawere, the chairman She Corporates FC called upon FUFA to engage Government in as far as supporting the girl child is concerned.
‘The Government has tailor-made programmes to support girls in school and I believe we are doing a good job in giving these girls a chance to study as they play football. With the intervention of FUFA, I believe we can make a strong case to the authorities and get better funding.’
Deo Olila, the headmaster and chairman Olila High School called upon FUFA to organize such meetings with clubs because it helps to bridge the gap between the two sides.
‘I believe this is a good initiative. We have always felt marginalized with more emphasis put on the men’s game but with such meetings, I’m optimistic that the future is bright. We can always share ideas and tell our grievances in such fora.’
Lady Doves FC Chairman Julius Mugisa shared similar sentiments with Olila calling for more regular meetings and the FUFA President promised to have quarterly meetings.
