Cranes return to low key reception at Ebb

Dec 11, 2006

Uganda Cranes returned from the CECAFA Senior Challenge cup in Addis Ababa to a cold reception at Entebbe Airport yesterday.

By Douglas Mazune

Uganda Cranes returned from the CECAFA Senior Challenge cup in Addis Ababa to a cold reception at Entebbe Airport yesterday.

The team, whose bid for the regional cup came to a dismal end, was received by FUFA vice president (technical) Asumani Lubowa and competitions committee secretary Moses Magogo.

The players had anticipated a heroic welcome followed by a dinner which was not the case.
“We are just going home. There is no programme for the day,” Magogo announced to the disappointment of the delegation.

Cranes quest for CECAFA ended against Sudan through spot kicks in the semi-finals. Their woes were worsened by Rwanda which condemned them to fourth place.

The Cranes got $5000 (sh9m) while Rwanda got $10,000 (sh18.5m).

The Rwandans immediately shared the bounty in a van on their way back to their hotel sparking off demands by Cranes players for a share of the prize.

The Cranes cornered head of delegation Chris Kalibbala in Hotel Yordanos. During the heated meeting that lasted over three hours the FUFA man insisted that Kampala would resolve the demand. “We want transparency for the image of the federation. We want to give them the money in Kampala,” Kalibbala told The New Vision after the meeting.

The players were also unhappy that FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa vanished after their defeat to Sudan and was not seen again.

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