Uganda Cranes players ask President to honour $1m pledge

UGANDA CRANES

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on, football players have not been spared either. The return of Ugandan football hangs in balance after President Yoweri Museveni recently categorized sport as belonging to the economy of leisure and thus could get back to its foot anytime once it resumes.

The presidential pronouncement came barely a month after local football governing body FUFA decided to declare Vipers the champions of the 2019/2020 Uganda Premier League, a decision that some of the clubs have come out to contest.

In the wake of all these developments, Uganda Cranes captain Denis Onyango has led his teammates in a call to President Museveni to fulfill his pledge of $1m (about sh3.7b) to the team last year following their Nations Cup participation.

The South Africa-based goalkeeper, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns, tweeted a video of the Cranes meeting with the President last year, during which he made the pledge. In the caption alongside the footage, Onyango said this is the right time to remind the President of his monetary promise.

Greetings @YoweriMuseveni.In these tough Covid-19 times we find the timing right to remind you about the $1m promise after Afcon last year. We feel frustrated & unhappy our token of appreciation hangs in balance.Pliz intervene.@nyamadon,@lindahNabusayi,@JanetMuseveni @HamsonObua pic.twitter.com/qwASqFih9a

— Dennis Onyango 🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬 (@masindeonyango) June 22, 2020

The Cranes skipper feels this package would go a long way in helping the players support themselves and their families during these biting times.

Their meeting followed the Cranes exit from the Africa Cup of Nations after being knocked out by African giants Senegal, who feature the likes of Liverpool striker Sadio Mane. This was the first time the national team had reached the knockout stage of the competition since 1978, when Uganda finished as runners-up behind winners Ghana.

During the meeting at State House, Museveni pledged as much as $1m for the players and officials and also emphasized the importance of sports to the nation.

Other Uganda Cranes have also come out to add their voice to their captain in a push for the fulfillment of the President's promise. Timothy Awany, Farouk Miya, Allan Katerega, Allan Kyambadde and Hassan Wasswa are some of them.