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The Uganda football fraternity might have missed out on getting a present during Uganda’s 63 years of independence anniversary on October 9.
However, football fans can now contend with Fufa’s decision to revert to the old Uganda Premier League (UPL) format. It was surreal seeing Fufa boss Moses Magogo, the architect of the controversial new league format, convening a press conference to eat his words and announce an about-turn.
Days earlier, Magogo had stuck to his guns to fight on to the last man without yielding to pressure from Vipers FC supremo Dr Lawrence Mulindwa’s pressure as well as that of fans who had boycotted the games.
Magogo had also convinced 15 UPL clubs to accept to play in the new league format, something which left only Mulindwa’s Vipers on one side and the 15 teams on the other.
Vipers was joined by a consensus of football fans, mainly from top clubs, who put aside their clubs’ rivalry and backed Mulindwa’s fight against what he called ‘Fufa’s injustices’. The fans’ boycott move sent a strong signal to Fufa and government officials.
POOR TIMING
I am reliably informed that the new league format was Magogo’s sole idea, which was rubber-stamped by his lukewarm executive. However, several top-flight clubs had asked the federation to give them time to internalise the league format, and they had advised the federation to push it to next season, something Magogo rejected.
Though he accepted to make some adjustments in the new format, he was not ready to be pushed to next season or drop the entire idea. This left clubs divided about the issue, and the media kept on gazing for the next action.
Reports emerged that some clubs had accepted to play in the new league format. Some of the clubs reportedly talked of being coerced to accept the new format. By September 26 when the league was set to kick off, 13 clubs had accepted to play in the new format, including KCCA FC, which had earlier written a rejection letter of the new format.
This left on Vipers, SC Villa and NEC in defiance. However, SC Villa and NEC crumbled at the last minute to join the 13 teams. For one, Mulindwa vowed not to accept the new format, and his team stayed away from their opening fixture against Kitara FC at Namboole on October 5.
FANS JOIN THE FRAY
Football fans from SC Villa, Vipers, KCCA and Express united to boycott all league games until Fufa reverts to the old format. The double header at Namboole featuring KCCA against SC Villa was played in an empty stadium.
As if that was not scary enough, SC Villa fans boycotted their club league game against Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) at Kadiba stadium. Last Thursday, KCCA hosted Lugazi FC at Omondi stadium.
KCCA FC officials anticipated the fans’ no-show, and to avoid the embarrassment of their team playing before an empty stadium, they ferried the institution’s casual workers to fill the gap.
All these sad episodes opened the government’s eyes about the dire future of the game, especially when the country is planning to co-host the 2027 Afcon under the Pamoja umbrella.
As common sense would suggest, the ministry of Education and Sports had no option but to call Fufa to order.
WHY GAME NEEDS EMINENT PEOPLE
The recent football episodes tell a lot about how our game has degenerated. People running our game are wanting in personal and professional integrity. Gone are the days when we had administrators who were not afraid to stand up and be counted.
These were men and women of high repute, and their word was respected. They were honest and incorruptible. I am talking about the likes of Gerald Sendaula, Henry Balamaze Lwanga, Bidandi Ssali, Abbey Kafumbe Mukasa, Patrick Kawooya, Violet Kaliisa, Patrick Kiwanuka, Jimmy Semugabi, Jimmy Mugambe Kiwanuka, Bbale Mugera, Kezekiah Ssegwanga Musisi and Susan Okello, among others.
These people also understood how to run their teams and take good care of their players. Today, we have a football leadership full of people that see the game as a source of enrichment.
It is perhaps time eminent people returned to give our game a sense of direction at all levels. There are many out there but they are put off by misguided stuff they see daily.
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