FUFA could nullify Uganda Super League

By Swalley Kenyi

FUFA vice president in charge of the Uganda Super League has recommended nullification of the competition to the federation top executive after a meeting to iron differences between the two parties aborted last week.

Mujib Kasule wants the league to be nullified because of what he has referred to as illegal, unfair and unprofessional management of the Ugandan Super League.

Disagreements between the USL and national football governing body FUFA on the way the league should be managed worsened last week when a meeting between the two parties at FUFA House aborted.

The meeting was due to discuss legality of the league, clubs’ financial benefits, the selective televising of matches, clubs’ deed of adherence and most contentiously the season opening matches that were officiated by unlicensed referees.

“I have recommended that the league is illegal. It is played with a relegated team (Fire Masters). That makes Null and void. Kasule noted.

Kasule claimed that USL illegally drafted in Fire Masters FC to play in the league in spite of its relegation at the end of last season to make the number of 16 teams in the competition.

 “There is also unfairness in the way matches are selected for broadcast and club’s benefits from the sponsorship money,” he added.

FIFA development officer in charge of Eastern and Southern Africa Ashford Mamelodi has urged both USL and FUFA to sit again and address the differences in harmony.

“I cannot order that USL replay those matches. It is between FUFA and USL to agree but if there is an aggrieved party because of the quality of referees who handled the match, FUFA will have a say and USL will need to follow what they decide,” Mamelodi explained.

Mamelodi, who was in the country to assess the progress of FUFA technical Centre in Njeru emphasized that USL sticks to the Jinja Declaration and obeys the national football federation directives if football professionalism should be achieved in the country.

“USL should not grow horns because we only recognize and deal with national federations. The Jinja declaration did not detach them from FUFA but only gave them opportunity to turn professional,” Mamelodi advised.