Uganda’s best soccer referee retires
May 18, 2011
UGANDA'S hopes of making an appearance at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil seem to have evaporated with the retirement of FIFA referee Mohammed Seggonga.
By SWALLEY KENYI
UGANDA'S hopes of making an appearance at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil seem to have evaporated with the retirement of FIFA referee Mohammed Seggonga.
Seggonga, who had largely been tipped to officiate at the soccer showpiece in South America, has decided to retire four years earlier than the mandatory referees’ retirement age.
The 41-year-old wrote to FUFA, CAF and FIFA last week indicating that he would not handle any more soccer matches after the end of this season. He has cited a busy schedule at his work place.
Seggonga, a FIFA referee since 1994, is a principa procurement officer in the Ministry of Health.
“Refereeing in Uganda is voluntary and I have been doing it just as a hobby. That is where I can stop. I will do other things for football,†the brother to former Cranes defender Sulaiman Tenywa said when contacted yesterday.
He has been Uganda’s Number One centre referee and both CAF and FIFA had indicated that he was among the officials being groomed for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In one of the refereeing courses held by CAF in Kampala two years ago, Africa referees’ boss Besta Kalombo noted that Seggonga stood high chances of being part of the 2014 World Cup if he maintained his fitness.
The former defender at Nsambya FC and Coffee SC officiated at two consecutive Africa Nations Cup finals in Ghana and Angola. His last international assignment was a Nations Cup qualifier in Tunisia.
His resignation leaves Uganda with only Fred Mufta, Ali Kalyango, Denis Batte and Ronnie Kalema as FIFA centre referees.
Ali Tomusange is the only Ugandan to have officiated at the World Cup finals.
Meanwhile, 30 coaches mainly Uganda Super League tacticians, have been invited to attend a weeklong Olympic Solidarity course in Kampala starting May 28.
UGANDA'S hopes of making an appearance at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil seem to have evaporated with the retirement of FIFA referee Mohammed Seggonga.
Seggonga, who had largely been tipped to officiate at the soccer showpiece in South America, has decided to retire four years earlier than the mandatory referees’ retirement age.
The 41-year-old wrote to FUFA, CAF and FIFA last week indicating that he would not handle any more soccer matches after the end of this season. He has cited a busy schedule at his work place.
Seggonga, a FIFA referee since 1994, is a principa procurement officer in the Ministry of Health.
“Refereeing in Uganda is voluntary and I have been doing it just as a hobby. That is where I can stop. I will do other things for football,†the brother to former Cranes defender Sulaiman Tenywa said when contacted yesterday.
He has been Uganda’s Number One centre referee and both CAF and FIFA had indicated that he was among the officials being groomed for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In one of the refereeing courses held by CAF in Kampala two years ago, Africa referees’ boss Besta Kalombo noted that Seggonga stood high chances of being part of the 2014 World Cup if he maintained his fitness.
The former defender at Nsambya FC and Coffee SC officiated at two consecutive Africa Nations Cup finals in Ghana and Angola. His last international assignment was a Nations Cup qualifier in Tunisia.
His resignation leaves Uganda with only Fred Mufta, Ali Kalyango, Denis Batte and Ronnie Kalema as FIFA centre referees.
Ali Tomusange is the only Ugandan to have officiated at the World Cup finals.
Meanwhile, 30 coaches mainly Uganda Super League tacticians, have been invited to attend a weeklong Olympic Solidarity course in Kampala starting May 28.