PIC: Paidha Black Angels' Football Club CEO, Sam Kumakech. (Courtesy photo)

FOOTBALL

FUFA commission of inquiry

KAMPALA - "Match officials ask for bribes in return for favours in matches, " Paidha Black Angels' Football Club CEO, Sam Kumakech has revealed.

Kumakech further disclosed that as a CEO under pressure to deliver, he was almost tempted to yield to the referees' demands.

Kumakech was on Wednesday appearing before the Federation of Uganda Football Association's commission of inquiry into officiation of various competitions.

The commission was appointed last month by FUFA after numerous complaints about officiation. It sits at Ivy's Hotel, Wakaliga.

Kumakech said the officials asked for bribes through local referees based in Paidha.

"Honestly, as CEO under pressure to deliver results I would have gone for that arrangement because it is widely believed that competitors elsewhere use referees to win," Kumakech told the shocked commission.

He said that they had also suffered as a result of poor officiation in their away matches.

Kumakech explained that he was only barred from the requests by the club's leadership. "Our chairman is born again and preached against such things."

He however admitted that their home ground was intimidating to visiting teams and match officials but the fans have since reformed.

Kumakech confessed that Paidha Angels' hospitality extended to booking accommodation for referees.

Kumakech said that his team did not seek favours from match officials but made an effort to make referees very comfortable.

"It is our culture to take good care of our guests. We never see these referees but we facilitate their stay through our local referees through whom they communicate.

We have to truthfully talk about these things to clean up our game," Kumakech revealed.

The scope of the commission covers Uganda Premier League, FUFA Big League, Uganda Cup, The FUFA Drum, FUFA Junior League, FUFA Women Elite League and the FUFA Women's Cup.

"We acknowledge the complaints launched by various clubs and we shall act on that,'' noted FUFA president Moses Magogo..

The Committee comprises of Dan Kidega (Chairman), Muzafaru Zirabamuzale (vice chairperson), Kennedy Mutenyo (member), Annet Nakamya (member) and Moses Kasibante (member).Douglas Mazune is the commission's communication officer.

The commission is receiving information/materials from the public that will help them in the inquiry. Any person with possession of information in regards to biased match officiating can forward it.

If this information is proved to be credible, its source is rewarded sh1m.

The findings from the inquiry shall be forwarded to the FUFA judicial bodies for appropriate action.

This email was scanned by Bitdefender James Bakama

Senior Writer

Telephone: 0414337000/0312337000

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