Ahead of the 2014 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) finals in South Africa early next year, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has written to Africa’s soccer governing body CAF inquiring on the eligibility of defender Godfrey Walusimbi and striker Emmanuel Okwi to feature in the competition.
The duo returned home following failed professional stints with allegations that their clubs failed to honour their contracts.
Godfrey Walusimbi unceremoniously left DR Congo side CS Don Bosco after just three months while Emmanuel Okwi went AWOL from Tunisia’s Etolie Du Sahel just six months after joining from Tanzania’s Simba SC on a two year contract.
FIFA later cleared them to feature for local club SC Villa but it appears though their issues are yet to be fully resolved with Etoile Du Sahel and Simba SC still asserting Okwi is their player.
In a Fufa press briefing at the FA’s headquarters in Mengo, FUFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Edgar Watson confirmed they have written to CAF inquiring to know whether the rules allow both players to feature for Uganda in the CHAN competition.
“We wrote to CAF seeking clarification on the issue and we are waiting for their response”, Edgar said.
“We know FIFA cleared them to feature for local clubs and its FUFA that licensed them to play for SC Villa but we shall still wait on CAF’s response”, he added.
There has been a huge debate on whether Cranes Head Coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic will pick players who returned to ply their trade home after failed stints abroad but going by this, it’s clear those who cut the grade will be chosen.
Only local based players are eligible to feature at CHAN.
Uganda is in group B alongside Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe and Morocco.
