FUFA and USL disagree
Jun 30, 2011
RULING officials from local football governing body FUFA and the Uganda Super League (USL) failed to reach a compromise at the end of clear-the-air talks held yesterday at FUFA House, Mengo.
By Charles Mutebi
RULING officials from local football governing body FUFA and the Uganda Super League (USL) failed to reach a compromise at the end of clear-the-air talks held yesterday at FUFA House, Mengo.
Both sides instead strengthened their positions, with FUFA giving the USL a 14-day ultimatum to comply with certain demands while the league authorities spoke of using every legal means to get the upper hand.
It was the predictable outcome, the kind almost guaranteed by the messy history of Ugandan football.
The two factions arrived for the meeting with the nation willing them towards an agreement but they left as distant as before, if not further. Once again, football is the hapless victim – the orphan left to its own devices.
“There was no agreement, no resolution, nothing,†lamented frustrated Proline boss Mujib Kasule after the meeting. “There was no meeting in there. Both sides were throwing dirt at each other and in the end it is football that lost.â€
The media were barred from the meeting, which was called after disagreement about the number of teams that would be promoted and demoted to and from the USL and Big League.
The USL had insisted on two, FUFA three. However, the USL arrived with a compromise – they would promote a third team from the Big League as long as it agreed to a playoff with Maroons, the team that finished 12th in last year’s Super League.
FUFA rejected the proposal, insisting it reserves the right to decide on the matter, leading to an impasse.
“The teams that will be promoted to the Super League will be three and FUFA gives USL 14 days to comply with that demand,†asserted FUFA CEO Edgar Watson in a post-meeting press conference.
With FUFA boss Lawrence Mulindwa looking on, Watson added: “And the suspension still stands.â€
FUFA suspended what it called the “the delegated authority to the Uganda Super League Limited to run the Uganda Super League†on June 22 but the decision was rejected as baseless by USL officials led by chairman Kavuma Kabenge and director Fred Muwema.
The two were as adamant. “We shall go to FIFA to resolve this,†said Muwema.
RULING officials from local football governing body FUFA and the Uganda Super League (USL) failed to reach a compromise at the end of clear-the-air talks held yesterday at FUFA House, Mengo.
Both sides instead strengthened their positions, with FUFA giving the USL a 14-day ultimatum to comply with certain demands while the league authorities spoke of using every legal means to get the upper hand.
It was the predictable outcome, the kind almost guaranteed by the messy history of Ugandan football.
The two factions arrived for the meeting with the nation willing them towards an agreement but they left as distant as before, if not further. Once again, football is the hapless victim – the orphan left to its own devices.
“There was no agreement, no resolution, nothing,†lamented frustrated Proline boss Mujib Kasule after the meeting. “There was no meeting in there. Both sides were throwing dirt at each other and in the end it is football that lost.â€
The media were barred from the meeting, which was called after disagreement about the number of teams that would be promoted and demoted to and from the USL and Big League.
The USL had insisted on two, FUFA three. However, the USL arrived with a compromise – they would promote a third team from the Big League as long as it agreed to a playoff with Maroons, the team that finished 12th in last year’s Super League.
FUFA rejected the proposal, insisting it reserves the right to decide on the matter, leading to an impasse.
“The teams that will be promoted to the Super League will be three and FUFA gives USL 14 days to comply with that demand,†asserted FUFA CEO Edgar Watson in a post-meeting press conference.
With FUFA boss Lawrence Mulindwa looking on, Watson added: “And the suspension still stands.â€
FUFA suspended what it called the “the delegated authority to the Uganda Super League Limited to run the Uganda Super League†on June 22 but the decision was rejected as baseless by USL officials led by chairman Kavuma Kabenge and director Fred Muwema.
The two were as adamant. “We shall go to FIFA to resolve this,†said Muwema.