VP steps in
Sep 14, 2011
What began as volatile talks between national soccer governing body FUFA and Uganda Super League (USL) at Lugogo suddenly took a promising twist with the intervention of Vice President Edward Sekandi yesterday.
By Douglas Mazune, Johnson Were and Julius Senyimba
What began as volatile talks between national soccer governing body FUFA and Uganda Super League (USL) at Lugogo suddenly took a promising twist with the intervention of Vice President Edward Sekandi yesterday.
National Council of Sports chairman technical committee Charles Egou chaired the meeting intended to reconcile FUFA and USL who fell out over the management of Uganda Super League. The January 2010 Jinja Declaration mandated USL to run the league.
Amidst flaring tempers Sekandi telephoned USL chairman Kavuma Kabenge and after what appeared to be a candid conversation, Kabenge passed on the cellphone to FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa.
“The vice president has invited the two parties for a meeting to try and reconcile them for the good of the game. The Vice President loves soccer and his intervention is a good way forward,†a source in the meeting said.
The FUFA and USL officials who at some point degenerated into a shouting match emerged out of the Lugogo meeting at 1:35pm ahead of a 3:00pm scheduled meeting with Sekandi.
“Our submission was in the spirit of promoting the game and we are ready to work with them as long as they obey the rules,†Mulindwa told journalists, before driving off.
His USL counterpart Kabenge said the league would carry on and expressed optimism at resolving the impasse by Friday.
Having heard from all parties, Egou said that a decision will be taken on Friday.
“FUFA want recognition and FIFA regulations to be followed while USL are arguing from the perspective of a company approach. We have also heard from the Jinja Declaration Committee chairman Richard Omongole,†Egou stated.
The meeting however remained silent on the progress of the league, court battles and punishing teams.
What began as volatile talks between national soccer governing body FUFA and Uganda Super League (USL) at Lugogo suddenly took a promising twist with the intervention of Vice President Edward Sekandi yesterday.
National Council of Sports chairman technical committee Charles Egou chaired the meeting intended to reconcile FUFA and USL who fell out over the management of Uganda Super League. The January 2010 Jinja Declaration mandated USL to run the league.
Amidst flaring tempers Sekandi telephoned USL chairman Kavuma Kabenge and after what appeared to be a candid conversation, Kabenge passed on the cellphone to FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa.
“The vice president has invited the two parties for a meeting to try and reconcile them for the good of the game. The Vice President loves soccer and his intervention is a good way forward,†a source in the meeting said.
The FUFA and USL officials who at some point degenerated into a shouting match emerged out of the Lugogo meeting at 1:35pm ahead of a 3:00pm scheduled meeting with Sekandi.
“Our submission was in the spirit of promoting the game and we are ready to work with them as long as they obey the rules,†Mulindwa told journalists, before driving off.
His USL counterpart Kabenge said the league would carry on and expressed optimism at resolving the impasse by Friday.
Having heard from all parties, Egou said that a decision will be taken on Friday.
“FUFA want recognition and FIFA regulations to be followed while USL are arguing from the perspective of a company approach. We have also heard from the Jinja Declaration Committee chairman Richard Omongole,†Egou stated.
The meeting however remained silent on the progress of the league, court battles and punishing teams.