Two Mbale refs faint

By Joseph Wanzusi, Leo Kabunga & Peter Ekarot TWO Grade-three referees collapsed Saturday during a Cooper Test for eastern Uganda. Sam Bukenya from Mbale and Abdallah Semakula from Busia failed to finish their run under the intense heat at Mbale Municipal Stadium. The soccer Cooper Test attracted 34 participants. FIFA Assistant Referee Fred Wanyama, FUFA's Moses Wagambula, Yahaya Kitti and Abdalla Kayiwa were among the ten best performers in the test conducted by retired referees Charles Masembe and George Wamala Katumba. The Cooper Test is a promotional exercise to select referees to officiate in the NSSL and Kakungulu Cup this season. Meanwhile, national soccer governing body FUFA has intervened in the wrangles within the referees body UFRA. Federation secretary Godfrey Kisekka told The New Vision yesterday that they are planning to meet UFRA, all referees, NFLC and FUFA Referees Appointments Sub Committee (RASC) this week. "We want all those aggrieved parties to attend. Those referees make noise outside but when they are called to meet, they don't come. These problems could affect the league kick off," said Kisekka. Last week, three executive members of Uganda Football Referees Association resigned citing lack of transparency. Suleiman Zziwa, vice chairman-Technical, Education committee secretary Nelson Mubanda and public relations officer Ali Waiswa resigned. This brings to four executives who have resigned. Secretary Aggrey Kibenge resigned last year. Acting secretary George Wamala Katumba said Waiswa had only retired from refereeing. "As far as I am concerned, Waiswa is still our public relations officer," said Katumba Wamala. r FUFA has cleared former Health FC player Johnson Waiswa for an International Transfer Licence (ITC)to Kenya Breweries. r FUFA boss Denis Obua attended the Africa Under-17 championship finals in Seychelles. Nigeria beat Burkina Faso 3-0 to lift the cup on Saturday. Obua was match commissioner and was joined by FIFA referee Yusuf Awuye. Ends