Money crisis hits CECAFA committee
Jan 07, 2009
THE CECAFA local organising committee is set to unveil plan C to counter ‘a financial crisis crippling’ the running of the Senior Challenge Cup.
By Swalley Kenyi
THE CECAFA local organising committee is set to unveil plan C to counter ‘a financial crisis crippling’ the running of the Senior Challenge Cup.
Committee chairman Jowali Kyeyago said yesterday that a lot of complaints in the way the tournament is being managed have affected the turn-up of fans to watch the games at the stadiums.
These complaints ranging from gate charges to administration at the stadiums, and the FUFA/CECAFA/ sponsors GTV relationship have all had a negative multiplier effect on the fans’ comfort at the matches.
The local organising committee is particularly bitter with GTV’s decision to withhold $50,000 (sh98m) that was to cater for Ethiopia, who were forced out of the competition after FIFA ban.
The committee wanted GTV to maintain the total offer to compensate for the effects of the global credit crunch especially after the media rights holders failed to convince other sponsors to come on board.
“I’m currently in a meeting to discuss plan C using the funds available. There are a lot of complaints about what is going on,†Kyeyago said.
“What I don’t want is the tournament leaving behind debts for FUFA to battle with.â€
Kyeyago could not reveal their plan C believed to lure more fans to the stadiums as the games approach the semifinals.
But his committee recently lowered gate charges for all Cranes matches from sh10000 to sh5000 and this has not had a visibly positive effect on the gate collections.
FUFA publicist Rogers Mulindwa noted that there were some shortcomings in the administration of the tournament that has had the press pushed to the ‘Gadaffi Corner’ of Nakivubo stadium.
“We had not hosted such a tournament for a while and it looks too big for us to handle. It must be a lesson as we prepare to host the CECAFA club championship after this,†Mulindwa confessed.
THE CECAFA local organising committee is set to unveil plan C to counter ‘a financial crisis crippling’ the running of the Senior Challenge Cup.
Committee chairman Jowali Kyeyago said yesterday that a lot of complaints in the way the tournament is being managed have affected the turn-up of fans to watch the games at the stadiums.
These complaints ranging from gate charges to administration at the stadiums, and the FUFA/CECAFA/ sponsors GTV relationship have all had a negative multiplier effect on the fans’ comfort at the matches.
The local organising committee is particularly bitter with GTV’s decision to withhold $50,000 (sh98m) that was to cater for Ethiopia, who were forced out of the competition after FIFA ban.
The committee wanted GTV to maintain the total offer to compensate for the effects of the global credit crunch especially after the media rights holders failed to convince other sponsors to come on board.
“I’m currently in a meeting to discuss plan C using the funds available. There are a lot of complaints about what is going on,†Kyeyago said.
“What I don’t want is the tournament leaving behind debts for FUFA to battle with.â€
Kyeyago could not reveal their plan C believed to lure more fans to the stadiums as the games approach the semifinals.
But his committee recently lowered gate charges for all Cranes matches from sh10000 to sh5000 and this has not had a visibly positive effect on the gate collections.
FUFA publicist Rogers Mulindwa noted that there were some shortcomings in the administration of the tournament that has had the press pushed to the ‘Gadaffi Corner’ of Nakivubo stadium.
“We had not hosted such a tournament for a while and it looks too big for us to handle. It must be a lesson as we prepare to host the CECAFA club championship after this,†Mulindwa confessed.