Museveni visits Cranes, offers sh50m

PRESIDENT Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Friday morning visited the national soccer team the Cranes. The president talked to all the players led by Captain Ibrahim Sekagya and FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa.

He offered the team sh50m and urged them to beat their Nations Cup opponents tomorrow, Kenya’s Harambee Stars. 

Museveni’s contribution means that if the Cranes qualify for the African Cup of Nations today they will be rewarded with hefty cash prizes.

Each of the 18 players will walk away with at least sh21m should Uganda beat Kenya at Namboole to return to Africa’s biggest soccer tournament after a 33 year absence.

The mouthwatering pay day follows a string of offers in cash and pledges made by various institutions and individuals totaling sh 384m.

President Museveni made a surprise visit to the Cranes today and urged the Cranes to put up a gallant fight and defeat Kenya.

Sources within FUFA have revealed that the football body will reward each player with $5000 (sh14.3m). The players will divide a further sh37m from parliament. The team has already received sh10m from the house.

The Prime Ministrer Amama Mbabazi also offered $10,000 (sh28m) and promised even better conditions for the national team. Forum for Democratic Change party head Kizza Besigye also gave the team sh2m.

There are also be offers that are in form of goals scored. Rwenzori Water is giving the team sh3m for each goal scored while Besigye has staked sh2m per goal. Sports Betting Africa and Soroti Municipality Member of Parliament Mike Mukula pledged sh1m each for every goal.

FUFA will on its part get sh300m from the team’s sponsors telecommunication company MTN. The reward is part of a sponsorship agreement signed last year.

The figures could further increase given that several other well-wishers first want the team to qualify to make their offers. 

This is not the first time that the Cranes are rewarded. In 2007, businessman Michael Ezra awarded The Cranes  with US$100,000. He gave then coach Laszlo Csaba the coach $15,000, the two assistant coaches $2,500 got each and the 16 player squad $5,000 each after they beat Niger 3-1 in a qualifier.

Museveni later rewarded the national side with a bus and cash for winning the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. Other sportsment who have benefitted with hety cash rewards include athlete Moses Kipsiro. 

Museveni last year gave the runner sh20m for winning two gold medals at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

President Idi Amin in 1976 rewarded the national soccer side with a week’s shopping spree in Tripoli, Libya for winning the Challenge Cup in Zanzibar. An overjoyed Amin, happy that among the teams Uganda had trounced were  his arch-rivals Tanzania, also offered his presidential jet to transport the team from the Indian ocean island.