Galiwango guilty as sin but ruling inconclusive

The FUFA Dispute Resolution chamber has been busy lately. In the dock was Express captain Disan Galiwango who foolishly signed contracts with two clubs.

After agreeing to extend his services at Express upon receipt of sh15m, he couldn't resist the temptation, when newly crowned StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions, Vipers, dangled a carrot in his face and seduced him for an undisclosed amount for a four-year period.

While the Kitende club celebrated for acquiring perhaps the best left wing-back in the country today, Express cried foul. Vipers were stealing their player and they would hear none of it. The ensuing verbal artillery that followed between the two opposing sets of fans and show of board room muscle between the two clubs, led to an inquisition by the powers that be. The result was the dispute resolution that declared Galiwango an Express player until he refunds the sh15m and pays a penalty of sh10m as a form of damages.

If Galiwango was trying out a game of player power with Express, he lost miserably. Thankfully this time, Vipers as a club was not faulted. At worst, they were duped into believing that the player had no incumbrances. From where I sit, Galiwango was guilty as sin. A player who bore the responsibility of captain should never have engaged in an act of deception to force his transfer. That he took the cash from Express and then went ahead to sell his services to another bidder tantamounts to rapacity and thuggery. It's an act that demeans his character. That he fooled Vipers for the sake of signing the deal of his dreams exposed his naivety and valueless character.

 Not that he was the first footballer to behave as a lumpen. He is just a high profile case that has happened during a period when the COVID-19 pandemic has lessened the off-field football drama that usually invades the media space. As a defender, he is as good a left-back as they come.

A rare breed that combines technical skills, defensive assertiveness, playmaking and goal scoring in one pack. A leader by example who stamps his authority with the ball at feet. Flexible enough to play on the left side of midfield, ambitious enough to feature in an attacking role. He is that competent as a footballer. The reason why Vipers splashed the money for his signature.

So often, however, this is where players go wrong. A willingness to bring them to a club at any price is interpreted as a mark of invincibility. The buying club would never have picked interest in a player if they had not been given a platform to showcase their talent by the selling club. To have been given the responsibility of captain is a sign of trust by the parent club. Galiwango owed Express the maximum respect. They are the ones who took a chance on him at this top level. At best, when the tapping up started by Vipers, he should have been open about their interest and referred them to his employers.

The Dispute Resolution Committee, however, cannot be let off entirely. While it correctly ruled in Galiwango's disfavor, question marks remain on the formula they used to arrive at the sh10m penalty. Suppose the buying club was Onduparaka FC, Bright Stars, Busoga United, or Police FC; would the penalty have stayed at sh10? I would understand if part of the reason for this huge amount was to make Galiwango feel a deep personal loss as a deterrent to others. Must it be arbitrarily determined?

FUFA was very clear when they said that Galiwango's transfer will not be endorsed unless he has cleared the full amounts involved.  What they didn't tell us is to which club Galiwango belongs at this moment. The ruling for me makes him an Express player. Should he continue to train with Vipers or should he return to Express until everything has been fully resolved?

Rulings like this must answer all related questions.