Uganda’s top soccer referees unfit
Mar 30, 2010
UGANDA Football Referees Association (UFRA) got their biggest embarrassment when 11 of their leading match officials failed a FIFA fitness test at Namboole on Monday.
By Swalley Kenyi
UGANDA Football Referees Association (UFRA) got their biggest embarrassment when 11 of their leading match officials failed a FIFA fitness test at Namboole on Monday.
In an impromptu test conducted by South African FIFA instructor Carlos Enriques, leading referees could not complete the required runs.
UFRA chairman Ali Waiswa said the result was an embarrassment to the football fraternity by what he called ‘unserious officials’. The referees are presently undergoing a one week FIFA course at Namboole.
“It was a terrible embarrassment on our side. No one was sidelined. All those who failed were physically unfit. There was nothing we could do for them. They were unserious,†retired referee Waiswa said yesterday.
Those who failed include FIFA centre referees Fred Mufta, Brian Nsubuga and woman referee Aisha Ssemambo all of whom failed the test last year. On that occasion, Mufta and Nsubuga were forced to repeat the exercise in Seychelles.
Others who failed are Ronnie Kalema, Mashood Ssali and Amina Kaiza, and assistants Nelson Mubanda and Robert Bukenya.
Waiswa also attributed the failure to the month long break in the Uganda Super League that forced referees to relax. He said that the unsuccessful officials will take a fresh test on Friday for a second chance to defend their positions at national and international levels.
Meanwhile, Bruno Mugooda reports from Jinja that Bugiri district FUFA delegate Crispus Muyinda has urged referees in the district to officiate division one league matches or else risk FUFA ban.
The referees have boycotted the district Division One league citing non payment. Muyinda pledged that facilitation will be paid to only referees who officiates division one games.
UGANDA Football Referees Association (UFRA) got their biggest embarrassment when 11 of their leading match officials failed a FIFA fitness test at Namboole on Monday.
In an impromptu test conducted by South African FIFA instructor Carlos Enriques, leading referees could not complete the required runs.
UFRA chairman Ali Waiswa said the result was an embarrassment to the football fraternity by what he called ‘unserious officials’. The referees are presently undergoing a one week FIFA course at Namboole.
“It was a terrible embarrassment on our side. No one was sidelined. All those who failed were physically unfit. There was nothing we could do for them. They were unserious,†retired referee Waiswa said yesterday.
Those who failed include FIFA centre referees Fred Mufta, Brian Nsubuga and woman referee Aisha Ssemambo all of whom failed the test last year. On that occasion, Mufta and Nsubuga were forced to repeat the exercise in Seychelles.
Others who failed are Ronnie Kalema, Mashood Ssali and Amina Kaiza, and assistants Nelson Mubanda and Robert Bukenya.
Waiswa also attributed the failure to the month long break in the Uganda Super League that forced referees to relax. He said that the unsuccessful officials will take a fresh test on Friday for a second chance to defend their positions at national and international levels.
Meanwhile, Bruno Mugooda reports from Jinja that Bugiri district FUFA delegate Crispus Muyinda has urged referees in the district to officiate division one league matches or else risk FUFA ban.
The referees have boycotted the district Division One league citing non payment. Muyinda pledged that facilitation will be paid to only referees who officiates division one games.