The Uganda top-tier league (UPL) is in a self-imposed dilemma again. This time round, it has nothing to do with matches not being played as per league fixtures or the absence of referees. It is because clubs are finding it hard to meet their operational costs and the much-anticipated TV appearances on Africa’s biggest platform, Supersport have been delayed.
Vipers SC — the current league leaders and SC Victoria University are the only two clubs that have not yet signed the deed of adherence — a prerequisite from the broadcaster to resume the 5 year contract signed four years ago with the then league organisers, Uganda Super League (USL) whose mandate was withdrawn by the Federation (FUFA) and handed over to a new establishment FUFA Super League (FSL).
Consequently we witnessed for the first time ever in Uganda football, two parallel leagues and eventually FSL with the support of FUFA continued managing the league while USL ‘froze’ the sponsorship. FSL managed the league for two seasons but without sponsors prompting the Moses Magogo led federation to reach out to USL and try work out a way of returning SuperSport to Ugandan football.
Prior to the start of the 2014/15 season, an agreement was reached and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by FUFA, SuperSport and USL. In the new deal, USL is to retain 20% and manage all the televised games, FUFA to have a share including $ 60,000 meant for the referees, and clubs to walk home with 18 million each. It all seemed well for all parties involved for the start of the new season.
Following the signing of the MoU, clubs under FSL through the then Vice President in charge of the league, Mujib Kasule petitioned FUFA claiming lack of transparency and FSL’s involvement in the discussions regarding the SuperSports deal.
[ABOVE] Mujib Kasule together with Lawrence Mulindwa
In Kasule’s submission, clubs questioned the role of USL in this new arrangement since it was ambiguous considering the fact that the league was to be run in another name, Uganda Premier League (UPL), the fate of FSL and the relevancy of Uganda Breweries Ltd (under their brand BELL) since their contract was to expire in August 2014.
The petition also mentioned that the referees’ budget was overrated and should be reduced and that clubs should earn more than the amount promised since they own the brand. FUFA adamantly responded that it had the mandate to make such decisions and to take appropriate steps for the development of the game. FUFA further advised those that are aggrieved by the MoU to voluntary opt out of the sponsorship and forfeit the benefits – take it or leave it.
At the start of the current season, clubs had to sign the sponsorship deed of adherence to facilitate the release of the money and preparation of the TV schedule among others. Clubs initially had reservations, they could not go ahead to sign the deed if there was no clarity on the matters raised earlier. Eventually after some interventions that included a number of promises, assurances and threats from the Federation, clubs relented and signed except for Vipers SC and SC Victoria University.
With the league almost half way, clubs are riddled with financial burdens since they have not received the sponsorship money neither have the cameras rolled for any of the games played so far. Supersport on the other hand, despite signing an MoU with FUFA and USL to return the sponsorship that has been in cessation for the last two seasons, has made it clear and maintains that it will not release the money or broadcast any game, if all clubs did not consent to their deed. The broadcaster is trying to mitigate the risks of being told you cannot broadcast this match or the other and the uncertainty that surrounded league football witnessed in their first attempt.
Vipers SC and SC Victoria University, the only clubs out of the 16 league clubs that have not signed the deed also maintain that unless the fundamental issues raised earlier in their dossier to FUFA are squarely addressed, no amount of persuasion, blackmail and intimidation will make them accept the deal. They maintain that much as they want sponsorship money, they will not let third parties (FUFA and USL) reap off their efforts as clubs. They add that they own the product (league) and should have the opportunity to decide which sponsor they take on and how much they should share.
Vipers have mastered the art of such stand-offs and find themselves in a similar territory again. In the 2010/11 season when the sponsorship deal involving SuperSport (Broadcaster), BELL (Title Sponsor) and USL, Vipers SC (then trading as Bunamwaya SC) and Proline (now relegated) declined to sign the deed of adherence sighting infringement on their commercial rights among others.
Perhaps what is not public knowledge is that, despite Bunamwaya SC later signing the deed as required prior to the start of the season, they never received their share of 24 Million as the sponsorship money and none of their matches played then featured on SuperSport.
The earlier defiance of Vipers SC and Proline FC at that time was fully supported by FUFA since it presented an opportunity to settle scores with the then Kamwokya based league directors Kavuma Kabenge and Fred Muwema who were at logger heads with the Lawrence Mulindwa led FUFA administration.
[ABOVE] Fred Muwema and Kavuma Kabenge
The plot eventually paid off with FUFA withdrawing the mandate to run the league from USL, the birth of FUFA Super League (FSL), which gave rise to two parallel leagues (USL & FSL) with some top clubs participating in both leagues. This (madness) continued up to the end of the 2011/12 with two eventual winners Maroons FC and KCCA FC from USL and FSL respectively. The 2012/2013 season saw the sponsors amidst such confusion take a lay back approach, USL not staging games and FSL with the backing of FUFA run the league. This proved to be a triumph for FUFA since it had completely taken over the league from their nemesis. However, league sponsorship has since eluded FUFA and FSL to the frustration of the clubs.
The stakes for Vipers and SC Victoria University are now high considering the fact that they are up against FUFA, USL and the other 14 league clubs who believe that the two clubs are blocking their sponsorship benefits leading to their financial woes.
It even emerged in one of the recent meetings by clubs that a resolution was passed to give the two defiant clubs an ultimatum of 4th December 2014 to sign the deed or face expulsion from the league (only to see on 5th Dec 2014 when both clubs were playing each other in a league match in Buikwe).
Such course of action has been taken before but they didn’t yield any positive results. In the previous stand-off with then league organisers (USL), Vipers SC (then Bunamwaya SC) and Proline faced the same wrath and were expelled from the league over similar allegations and it took the State Minister of Sports to mediate negotiations between the warring parties. It later emerged that qualification to play in the Super League is on sports merit rather than sponsorship obligations. The final settlement among others saw Proline and Bunamwaya return to league action along with Hoima-Busia FC (that had earlier been expelled by USL) in the second round of the season.
[ABOVE] Current FUFA President, Moses Magogo greets players
Depending on which perspective you are looking at this debacle, the clubs desperately want the money and the TV publicity, FUFA would want to create an impression that it has made efforts to return sponsors to the game, USL must see through their contracts with the sponsors (or else they all loose out), sponsors should get their mileage through value for money product(s), players and coaches should earn a decent wage and fans must look forward to entertainment on the pitch.
On the other hand, Vipers and SC Victoria University have been castigated for the demands they have made before they put pen to paper which in their own right are fundamental principles onto which a professional league is built. However, their efforts are viewed as malice to sponsorship, hate for the current FUFA regime etc – which is cheap talk.
For once, can we objectively look at their issues and try to address them? If these clubs don’t consent to the agreements, then we label them ‘malicious’, seeking political gain and so on but before those efforts are undertaken all parties including clubs, FUFA, USL and SuperSport are guilty of failing the this sponsorship and you have only yourselves to blame.
The way forward therefore lies in all parties concerned putting aside their differences, greed and ego to find a common ground that will facilitate establishment of structures that would see through the SuperSport contract at hand and other sponsorship deals in the future with transparency, proper accountability systems and integrity.
FUFA can leave the clubs run their affairs of the league with minimum influence as per the Jinja Declaration. SuperSport is known for its engagement with stake holders, in this case it can talk to clubs directly to understand their issues and try dissolve the impasse besides, it makes business sense to SuperSport to reach out to the real owners of the product for sustainable business.
Most importantly, clubs need to realize that they hold the key to the league success or lack of it and owe it to themselves to organise into business models and look at other avenues where they can generate income and even attract own sponsors. The league sponsorship can only supplement their efforts but can never sustain wholly the operations of the club.