Coach Abbas makes u-turn
CRANES coach Mohammad Abbas called off his one-man strike yesterday and took the national soccer team for gym work.
By Fred Kaweesi
and Swalley Kenyi
June 5
DR Congo v Uganda
CRANES coach Mohammad Abbas called off his one-man strike yesterday and took the national soccer team for gym work.
The Egyptian coach said he had picked up his tools, after the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) normalisation committee secretariat accepted to meet his demands and improve his working conditions.
“Everything has been settled, I am back and trying to prepare for the DR Congo game,†said Abbas. He is however worried about the fitness of players whose clubs have not been in action in the past two months.
“The fitness of the other group of players that have not played any football for months is terrible,†he added. “Can you imagine, one can not even run yet we have just nine days to the match?â€
He took 15 players through a rigorous one-hour gym session.
Meanwhile, FUFA has requested NCS to account for over sh42m collected to support coach Abbas at last year’s 2006 World/Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa.
The demand comes in the wake of Abbas’ strike over unpaid dues, salary arrears and poor working conditions.
NCS levied sh1000 per ticket to contribute to the Egyptian’s welfare and salary.
“We have since been approached by Abbas who has for sometime been under your charge. We request you to furnish us with particulars of the financial statement of Abbas’ account, and to pay to us balances on the money to enable us manage our financial obligation to the coach,†said a letter signed by FUFA secretary Patrick Isiagi Opolot.
Isiagi similarly cautioned Abbas: “Your refusal to conduct training sessions can only be interpreted as a serious breach of your contract. We have noted your grievances and shall consider them.â€
Africa Group 2 standings
P W D L F A Pts
S.Africa 6 4 0 2 7 6 12
C.Verde 6 3 1 2 6 6 10
Ghana 6 2 3 1 7 3 9
DR Congo 6 2 3 1 6 5 9
B.Faso 6 2 0 4 6 8 6
Uganda 6 1 1 4 3 7 4
Super Division Clubs Association (SDCA) has adopted a new format for the belated league to beat a CAF deadline for competitions to end by October 15.
The format will see 15 clubs play in a round-robin competition in groups A, B and C.
Champions SC Villa are in group A, Kampala City Council and Express in Groups B and C. The top two finishers from each group and the best two losers will form eight teams to play in the quarter-finals.
The seven remaining teams will then play in the revived Super mini league to determine five teams that will be relegated, according to SDCA secretary Kavuma Kabenge. Clubs will also pay for the referees.
KCC’s Deo Kijjambu, Victor’s Col. Jackson Bell and URA’s Hajji Idris Ssesanga were nominated to join FUFA’s new competitions sub-committee led by Kabenge and John Matovu.
Ends
and Swalley Kenyi
June 5
DR Congo v Uganda
CRANES coach Mohammad Abbas called off his one-man strike yesterday and took the national soccer team for gym work.
The Egyptian coach said he had picked up his tools, after the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) normalisation committee secretariat accepted to meet his demands and improve his working conditions.
“Everything has been settled, I am back and trying to prepare for the DR Congo game,†said Abbas. He is however worried about the fitness of players whose clubs have not been in action in the past two months.
“The fitness of the other group of players that have not played any football for months is terrible,†he added. “Can you imagine, one can not even run yet we have just nine days to the match?â€
He took 15 players through a rigorous one-hour gym session.
Meanwhile, FUFA has requested NCS to account for over sh42m collected to support coach Abbas at last year’s 2006 World/Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa.
The demand comes in the wake of Abbas’ strike over unpaid dues, salary arrears and poor working conditions.
NCS levied sh1000 per ticket to contribute to the Egyptian’s welfare and salary.
“We have since been approached by Abbas who has for sometime been under your charge. We request you to furnish us with particulars of the financial statement of Abbas’ account, and to pay to us balances on the money to enable us manage our financial obligation to the coach,†said a letter signed by FUFA secretary Patrick Isiagi Opolot.
Isiagi similarly cautioned Abbas: “Your refusal to conduct training sessions can only be interpreted as a serious breach of your contract. We have noted your grievances and shall consider them.â€
Africa Group 2 standings
P W D L F A Pts
S.Africa 6 4 0 2 7 6 12
C.Verde 6 3 1 2 6 6 10
Ghana 6 2 3 1 7 3 9
DR Congo 6 2 3 1 6 5 9
B.Faso 6 2 0 4 6 8 6
Uganda 6 1 1 4 3 7 4
Super Division Clubs Association (SDCA) has adopted a new format for the belated league to beat a CAF deadline for competitions to end by October 15.
The format will see 15 clubs play in a round-robin competition in groups A, B and C.
Champions SC Villa are in group A, Kampala City Council and Express in Groups B and C. The top two finishers from each group and the best two losers will form eight teams to play in the quarter-finals.
The seven remaining teams will then play in the revived Super mini league to determine five teams that will be relegated, according to SDCA secretary Kavuma Kabenge. Clubs will also pay for the referees.
KCC’s Deo Kijjambu, Victor’s Col. Jackson Bell and URA’s Hajji Idris Ssesanga were nominated to join FUFA’s new competitions sub-committee led by Kabenge and John Matovu.
Ends