The President of Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Eng. Moses Magogo addressed the media on Monday, December 30, 2019 in the end of year message delivered at FUFA House, Mengo in Kampala.
Flanked by the second vice president Darius Mugoye, FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, UPL Board Chairman Arinaitwe Rugyendo, Eng. Magogo hinted about the opportunities, challenges and the way forward of football in the year 2019.
The President’s ’s address hinged on the key pillars of football; Governance, competitions, national teams, marketing and communications, among others.
Eng. Magogo appreciated key stakeholders in the development of the game to include; His Excellence General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Ministry of Education and Sports led by the minister Mama Janet Museveni, the outgoing minister of state for sports Hon. Charles Bakabulindi, new incoming minister Hanson Obua, NCS, UOC, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Right Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, his family, Hon. Anita Among, ethical media, sponsors, FIFA and CAF, the Uganda Cranes players, coaches, referees and players of the beautiful game, 34 Members of FUFA, UPL board and secretariat as well as the service providers and the gallant fans of the game.
Eng Magogo underlined FUFA’s bold vision; “To become the number one football nation on and off the field in Africa’
Achievements:
Eng. Magogo highlighted the key sporting achievements that FUFA registered in 2019.
- FUFA entered in all competitions and success recorded in a number of tournaments.
- Champions in CECAFA U15, U17, U17 girls Cosafa, U17 girls Cecafa, Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, CECAFA Kagame Cup (Inter-clubs cup).
- Uganda qualified for the AFCON U17 finals for the first time ever. Second best performance at AFCON ever.
- Uganda attained the fourth consecutive CHAN qualification.
- Currently leading the 2021 AFCON qualifiers (Draw away in Burkina Faso and winning)
- Second in 2019 Copa Dar es Salaam beach soccer, Third in CECAFA Women Challenge Cup.
- Initiation of the Insurance Fund for Uganda Premier League players
- FUFA organized all the Statutory meetings in 2019
- Increase of women representation.
- Independent FUFA Judicial bodies
- Training (courses) for intermediaries.
- Start of the Odilo challenge (national primary schools’ championship)
- The FUFA Juniors League has been organised and many graduate players have continued to join the senior sides of their clubs in the Uganda Premier League.
- Visible tremendous development of women football, beach soccer and futsal.
- Infrastructural development (Extension of FUFA Structures completed). Extension of FUFA Headquarters; From Eight (8) staff in 2013 to Sixty (60) staff in 2019. It was paramount that the football headquarters could no longer provide a proper working environment for the staff. In 2019, FUFA using the FIFA Forward Programme, has completed the acquisition, modification, reconstruction and equipping the Extension of FUFA House with a Bungalow and 3-storied tower sitting on about 2 acres adjacent to the Old FUFA House in Mengo.
- Air tickets have been provided to clubs in the CAF Club competitions
- 13 Football competitions were successfully held in the year, 2020
- Shs 8 Billion sponsorship generated
- Good social media following
- Fifth Airtel – FUFA Awards were organized
- Increased revenue for FUFA Radio
- Shs. 320M to regional associations and active district football associations
Challenges in 2019:
- Lack of sufficient and standardized facilities.
- The out-dated law of 1964 is still in force
- Inadequate human resource
- Match Fixing
- Relatively new forms of football, specialized equipment and technical persons for coaching and refereeing are insufficient.
- The stability of our players at high level clubs football is the biggest challenge.
- We also need to qualify our teams for the continental final competitions (organised for National Youth football teams).
- Our Clubs are not breaking through the final stages of the CAF Inter Club competitions.
- Governance, management and financial stability at the elite clubs remains the biggest challenge to organising proper football competitions.
- The quality of Competitions is very dependent upon the available infrastructure.
Way forward:
- FUFA would like to consolidate on the achievements outlined
- Create Independent judicial bodies
- Licensing of football academies in 2020 with curriculum for these academies
- Nationwide youth football.
- Make Kadiba and other FUFA facilities useable in 2020
- Engage Government in sports facilities development.
- FUFA will occupy the completed facilities.
- Make better use of technology and encourage the stakeholders to embrace technology.
FUFA Breakthrough:
Starting 2020, 400 players of the Uganda Premier League will access the Medical Insurance courtesy of AAR Insurance. This will cover all forms of sickness, injuries obtained, compensation for permanent disability. The insurance will only cover the 400 licensed players in the Uganda Premier League
