NCS likely to cut number of players for Africa games
Aug 27, 2015
National Council of Sports (NCS) has warned that it may not be able to get all the 95 Ugandan personalities to travel for the 11th All Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville next month.
By Swalley Kenyi
National Council of Sports (NCS) has warned that it may not be able to get all the 95 Ugandan personalities to travel for the 11th All Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville next month.
The government sports body is stranded with a shortfall of sh1.9bn required to take a contingent of 95 athletes for the two-week long games from September 11-19.
NCS assistant general secretary (administration) Nicholas Muramagi said Wednesday morning that the ministry of education and sports has given them sh400m only out of sh2.3bn they budgeted for the games.
However, while addressing the sports men and women, who qualified for the games at the MTN Arena, Lugogo, Muramagi advised the players, coaches and federation officials to keep focus as NCS patches up the 'loose ends'.
Uganda hopes to field athletes in Boxing, Athletics, Badminton, Lawn Tennis, Basketball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Cycling, Weightlifting, Beach Volleyball and Paralympics.
"We are still patching up the loose ends. We hope to do our best to get you to the games but you have to train hard. Keep your focus. Federations have to meet their commitments too," Muramagi said.
"Remember, sport is moving away from being predominantly amateur to professional levels. So focus on your career and keep improving your levels," he added.
To stress his point, Muramagi warned that no federation will be allowed at the flag-off of Team Uganda unless they have cleared their international affiliations.
The federations must also be compliant with the NCS statutory instruments and can fully dress their teams in both ceremonial and competition uniforms for them to be cleared to represent Uganda.
In a circular dated August 19, 2015, Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Interim Administrator Michel Tshoya advised NCS to clear only, "a National Federation which is affiliated to both the African Confederation and to the International Federation of the discipline concerned" for the games.
"The AUSC shall not be at any moment responsible for the unpleasant consequences such as the rejection of engagements of athletes registered in violation of this important provision of Article 5 of the General Regulation adopted by the Joint Meeting of November 17-19 2014 which brought together all stakeholders of the sport movement."
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