TOTAL pleads for Mosac

By Douglas Mazune TOTAL Uganda, the main sponsors of the Total Pearl of Africa rally, has appealed to AAU, to return the ARC status rally to MOSAC. "We would like to request you for the sake of the sport and Total Pearl of Africa rally that the organisation of the rally be retained by MOSAC," Total managing director Phillippe Dekonick wrote on April 3. Total's appeal comes after AAU who lost local authority to the rival FMU but still hold international powers, withdrew the 2001 edition of the rally from MOSAC. He also expressed fear of the rally losing its ARC status if the organisers changed and urged AAU to resolve the issue quickly to avoid foreseen problems. Dekonick went on: "Since FMU hold local sporting powers and also have the support of majority of drivers who obviously make these events a success, how then will AACC successfully organise an event in Uganda without cooperation of FMU? "In our opinion international powers held by AAU are subject to local regulations which FMU holds." Meanwhile, TV Africa has signed a contract with Confederation of African Countries in Motorsport (CAMCMS) to telecast the 2001 Africa Rally Championship (ARC) series. A released issued by AAU's competitions committee (AACC) secretary Felix Odongkara said TV Africa will this evening show last month's ARC opening round in Namibia. Ends