FUFA pleads for Cranes support against Zambia

By Norman Katende

FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa has appealed to Ugandans to throng Namboole and support Cranes, despite the hike in entry fees.

Last week, the FUFA marketing and sponsorship committee announced the charges of Uganda’s Nations Cup qualifier against Zambia as sh40.000, sh75.000 and sh120.000 for the ordinary, VIP and the Gold class tickets respectively, sparking an outcry from the public.

However yesterday, Mulindwa argued that the fees are meant to cover several expenditures, and save the federation from the temptation of morgaging or even selling its properties.

The Cranes will host the African Champions on October 13 in a match they have to win by at least a two-goal margin to qualify for the 2013 Nations Cup finals due in South Africa.

While addressing the weekly press conference at FUFA House Mengo, Mulindwa explained that the marketing committee looked at the prevailing conditions before coming up with the figure.

“We are very well aware that the fee is quite high for the ordinary Ugandan, who at the same time is Cranes’ biggest fan. But prevailing conditions have made it impossible for us to charge lower than that. 

“Ever since the game against Kenya (October 8 last year), we have never received any contribution from Government but we have made sure that all our teams travel and compete in the different competitions. We have at times even been forced to borrow tickets to see that Uganda makes it,” Mulindwa added.

He stated that the federation was striving to lay the best ground for the national team to qualify by ensuring that the team starts training early, all foreign-based players arrive on time and all their allowances get paid.

“But this is costly. If we were of the past, we would have given up and even mortgaged most of FUFA properties but an average Ugandan fan out there would not listen to that.

That is why we are requesting them to have a noble contribution of sh40, 000 to the Cranes,” he added.

Mulindwa explained that even of the sh40,000, FUFA will have a take home of about sh25,000 per ticket , with the rest being consumed in expenses including VAT, the stadium and operations among others. 

“But we need all of them for us to be able to succeed,” he pointed.

The Cranes will start residential training on Sunday and will be accommodated at Sky Hotel in Ntinda.