Hayatou visit should stir change

By James Bakama UGANDA will this week be privileged to host the most powerful man in African football. Confederation of African Football (CAF) boss Issa Hayatou will on Wednesday meet top sports personalities and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) executive. Hayatou's itinerary shows the visit is routine, but tactical intentions to win Uganda's support cannot be ruled out. Remember Uganda is a key player in a region that in 1998 clashed with Hayatou over Africa's vote for the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) president. But, whatever Hayatou's intentions, his visit provides a rare opportunity, which if well exploited could be one of the first revival shots in an ailing soccer federation. A well-argued case on Wednesday could see us for instance boosted through the availing of coaching, refereeing and administration courses. But, this, requires the Ugandan side to strategically package a proposal that Hayatou will buy. I see the minister and NCS playing a ceremonial part. The onus of the project's specifics is thus left to FUFA. FUFA might actually have the material to present, but whether they can adequately articulate it, is another matter. Remember the Uganda versus Zimbabwe match. FUFA boss Dennis Obua sat next to President Museveni for the entire game at Namboole and failed to hammer home a point Another FUFA official is said to have been more interested in taking photos with Sepp Blatter in Zurich instead of presenting the FIFA boss with Uganda's problems. And Uganda had better have accountability for the FIFA grant for which, I hope, they will not present. the Kampala Kids League or City Tyres U-14 league as their babies. FUFA will off course shamelessly show off their Nakulabye office, Namboole and the Cranes van. It is however not too late to formulate a credible bargaining point. NCS general secretary Abbey Lutaya would in this case be FUFA's saviour with a master plan. Lutaya's ability at long term planing is evident through the strides taken by Ugandan cricket. Ends