FIFA hands Uganda 2nd synthetic turf

By Swalley Kenyi

SOCCER governing body FUFA are hunting for a ground to install an artificial pitch that has been offered by world soccer governing body FIFA.

Last week, FIFA approved a second AstroTurf for Uganda under the third Goal Project that also came with a $400,000 (sh1b) fund that the federation was yet to decide on how it would be utilised.

“The AstroTurf will be set up in Wakiso district or anywhere else the federation will decide. If the ground is not ours, we shall need a guarantee that it be available to us for up to at least 10 years because we will not put it on a ground that will be sold the following day,” FUFA President Moses Magogo stated yesterday.

The first AstroTurf worth $800,000 (sh1.4bn) was installed in Njeru.

Magogo said that the second project will be put in any of the FUFA regions other than Eastern where Njeru is located.

In 2007, Nakivubo Stadium rejected the turf arguing that it comes with a lot of restrictions on the use of the surface.

FUFA almost lost the offer back then and were forced to place it inside their technical centre in Njeru.

Magogo said that the turf and the Goal Project were signs of approval of the former and current FUFA leadership of Ugandan football by FIFA.

“These are signs of approval,” he said.