Expect better pitches, says Fufa

After training 35 participants in pitch management and maintenance for groundsmen last week at Mandela National Stadium, the state of club pitches is expected to see a marked improvement.

The training, that included a weeklong inspection of football pitches countrywide by Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) expert Philip Fifield, was aimed at equipping the stadium groundsmen with skills on how to maintain and manage pitches to overcome the challenge of poor pitch grass.

The trainees were drawn from Uganda Premier League, Big League, club owners, facility owners as well as local consultants.

FUFA hopes that the trained personnel can practice what they were taught for the betterment of football in Uganda.

"Currently we are in contact with the grounds managers (participants). If they do not have pitches they are managing we are advising them to volunteer at places like schools to practice their skills," FUFA Development Officer Ali Mwebe said.

"We do not want to have a case of people sleeping on their skills at home, yet they can contribute to the development of the sport. That is why we are demanding periodical
reports from them," he added.

The training was conducted under the UEFA Assist programme through an MOU with Confederation of African Football (CAF).