Kenya withdraw as Cranes qualify
UGANDA will certainly represent Africa Zone V in this year’s All Africa Games due in Maputo, Mozambique after Kenya decided to withdraw from the competition’s second leg qualifier.
By Swalley Kenyi
UGANDA will certainly represent Africa Zone V in this year’s All Africa Games due in Maputo, Mozambique after Kenya decided to withdraw from the competition’s second leg qualifier.
On Saturday, Uganda’s U-23 side Kobs were scheduled to face their Kenyan counterparts in a second leg fixture.
However, Kenya Football Limited (KFL), the sport’s governing body in Kenya opted to abandon the game after a meeting yesterday afternoon.
Although KFL chief executive Joseph Agola blamed the move over logistical difficulties, other sources pointed that the federation took the decision because their 5-1 first leg defeat was near impossible to overturn in Kampala against an impressive Kobs side.
“Yes, we are unable to honour the fixture unfortunately due to some logistical difficulties. We are about to write to FUFA and CAF informing them about the same by tomorrow (today) morning,†Agola told New Vision Sport yesterday.
Kenya’s withdrawal means Uganda qualify for the All Africa Games as zone V winners. It is the first time Uganda returns to the competition since 1999.
Prior to their withdrawal, Kenya’s U-23 head coach Leonard Saleh had advised his national federation to ignore the fixture and focus on reorganising the team for the future.
“There is no short cut and we must accept to go through the entire development process without taking the easy way out,†Saleh said.
Despite the news filtering through to the Kobs’ residential camp at Namboole, FUFA insisted that they would not call off the team’s training until they get a written communication from the Kenyan federation and CAF.
UGANDA will certainly represent Africa Zone V in this year’s All Africa Games due in Maputo, Mozambique after Kenya decided to withdraw from the competition’s second leg qualifier.
On Saturday, Uganda’s U-23 side Kobs were scheduled to face their Kenyan counterparts in a second leg fixture.
However, Kenya Football Limited (KFL), the sport’s governing body in Kenya opted to abandon the game after a meeting yesterday afternoon.
Although KFL chief executive Joseph Agola blamed the move over logistical difficulties, other sources pointed that the federation took the decision because their 5-1 first leg defeat was near impossible to overturn in Kampala against an impressive Kobs side.
“Yes, we are unable to honour the fixture unfortunately due to some logistical difficulties. We are about to write to FUFA and CAF informing them about the same by tomorrow (today) morning,†Agola told New Vision Sport yesterday.
Kenya’s withdrawal means Uganda qualify for the All Africa Games as zone V winners. It is the first time Uganda returns to the competition since 1999.
Prior to their withdrawal, Kenya’s U-23 head coach Leonard Saleh had advised his national federation to ignore the fixture and focus on reorganising the team for the future.
“There is no short cut and we must accept to go through the entire development process without taking the easy way out,†Saleh said.
Despite the news filtering through to the Kobs’ residential camp at Namboole, FUFA insisted that they would not call off the team’s training until they get a written communication from the Kenyan federation and CAF.