Minister stays Abbas sacking
Mar 09, 2006
STATE sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi has frozen Cranes coach Mohammad Abbas’ sacking until a suitable replacement is put in place.
By Fred Kaweesi, Sabiiti Muwanga and Swalley Kenyi
STATE sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi has frozen Cranes coach Mohammad Abbas’ sacking until a suitable replacement is put in place.
After a meeting with FUFA officials yesterday, the two parties agreed that another coach should be sourced for but Abbas’ fate, whose three-year contract was still running, was left in suspense.
“I have told them to stay his sacking until we meet sometime next week to decide on the issue again,†Bakkabulindi said.
Abbas was announced sacked on Tuesday after a meeting chaired by FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa.
FUFA Chief executive officer (CEO) Charles Masembe confirmed the meeting with minister.
“We have agreed in principle that we source for another coach who can also draw programmes for other national teams that include the U-17, U-20 and U-23 and it is until that coach is in place that Abbas can be relieved,†Masembe said.
The Egyptian, who learnt of the development on return from a three-month holiday in Egypt, said: “I tried to do everything for Uganda through many difficulties. “I have tried to build a team that I thought would help the country qualify. I am disappointed with people in FUFA because I call president (Lawrence Mulindwa) he switches off phone, Asuman Lubowa not pick, why? Abbas asked.
However, FUFA public relations officer Aldrine Nsubuga said: “The decision was not done in bad faith. When we came in office, we had a vision that we will be accountable for whatever takes place during our reign. Because of this, we needed a direct hand of doing what we believe will help us qualify,†Aldrine said.
In another development, FUFA has tasked all super league coaches to identify competent players for three youth national soccer teams.
Meeting all the 15 coaches and their assistants at FUFA headquarters in Mengo yesterday, FUFA CEO Masembe urged them to identify players for the U-17, U-20 and U -23 teams.
Masembe urged the tacticians to submit names of the players by next week.
“My technical people will vet all the names to verify age and any other information before accepting it,†Masembe said after the meeting.
He explained that the move was aimed at curbing the vice by players lying about their actual age.
“That practice has robbed us of getting new talents as we have always rotated the players for all the national teams. What we missed was incentives for the players and they had to roam,†Masembe elaborated.
STATE sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi has frozen Cranes coach Mohammad Abbas’ sacking until a suitable replacement is put in place.
After a meeting with FUFA officials yesterday, the two parties agreed that another coach should be sourced for but Abbas’ fate, whose three-year contract was still running, was left in suspense.
“I have told them to stay his sacking until we meet sometime next week to decide on the issue again,†Bakkabulindi said.
Abbas was announced sacked on Tuesday after a meeting chaired by FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa.
FUFA Chief executive officer (CEO) Charles Masembe confirmed the meeting with minister.
“We have agreed in principle that we source for another coach who can also draw programmes for other national teams that include the U-17, U-20 and U-23 and it is until that coach is in place that Abbas can be relieved,†Masembe said.
The Egyptian, who learnt of the development on return from a three-month holiday in Egypt, said: “I tried to do everything for Uganda through many difficulties. “I have tried to build a team that I thought would help the country qualify. I am disappointed with people in FUFA because I call president (Lawrence Mulindwa) he switches off phone, Asuman Lubowa not pick, why? Abbas asked.
However, FUFA public relations officer Aldrine Nsubuga said: “The decision was not done in bad faith. When we came in office, we had a vision that we will be accountable for whatever takes place during our reign. Because of this, we needed a direct hand of doing what we believe will help us qualify,†Aldrine said.
In another development, FUFA has tasked all super league coaches to identify competent players for three youth national soccer teams.
Meeting all the 15 coaches and their assistants at FUFA headquarters in Mengo yesterday, FUFA CEO Masembe urged them to identify players for the U-17, U-20 and U -23 teams.
Masembe urged the tacticians to submit names of the players by next week.
“My technical people will vet all the names to verify age and any other information before accepting it,†Masembe said after the meeting.
He explained that the move was aimed at curbing the vice by players lying about their actual age.
“That practice has robbed us of getting new talents as we have always rotated the players for all the national teams. What we missed was incentives for the players and they had to roam,†Masembe elaborated.