Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) remains non-committal about the Uganda Premier League sponsorship.
In a highly anticipative press conference on Wednesday where majority of media houses expected a hint on the on-going Azam T.V – Super Sport T.V league, many left disappointed as FUFA President, Moses Magogo deliberately denied to give an update.
As the sports reporters insisted for an update about the league sponsorship, Magogo with a change in vocal tone echoed;
At the moment FUFA has no position to communicate on Super Sport – Azam Uganda Premier League sponsorship. I am here to highlight about 2014 FUFA achievements and 2015 objectives
FUFA’s last communication about the ongoing talk between Azam TV and Super Sport was on the 24th December 2014 acknowledging receipt of an offer from the Tanzanian based pay TV.
Since then, the FUFA President personally got in touch with the Azam TV officials as Super Sport tabled another offer to FUFA for the clubs (UPL and FUFA Big League) worth U.shs 6.5 Billion.
Since then, a lot of water has gone down the drain with propaganda from all corners of the ‘cylinder’.
In his presentation on Wednesday, Magogo restricted himself on only two issues – the achievements vis-a-vis failures of 2014 in line with the Federation objectives of 2015.
He hinted on an eminent forthcoming change in the entire national team coach set up.
It is highly expected, the changes will also have a great impact including the national senior team – The Cranes, currently coached by Serbian born citizen, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sedrojevic, whose contract expires in 5 month’s time.
Magogo hinted as Uganda Cranes and U-17 failure to qualify for the continental football as one of pitfalls registered in the past 365 days.
He urged divergent forces against FUFA to reconcile with the federation in the name of football development.
Magogo acknowledged the poor state of the Uganda Premier League as his other failure.
Lack of Human and Financial Resources by the clubs has affected the professionalization and club licensing agenda. Consequently professional club football is still wanting
Some of the achievements highlighted were categorized under; Marketing (where the federation registered all its trademarks , opened merchandise shop and established full time time marketing department), legal (FUFA amending its statutes to clear the ambiguity of the legality of FUFA, The IGG dropping interest to investigate FUFA after realizing that complaints lacked substance and Court dismissing with cost the case filed by USL against the officials of FUFA for contempt of Court)
Others fell under; Refereeing, Communications, Technical expertise, Women football development (where FUFA allegedly spent 300M in 2014), Finance, Competitions, Club Football (in terms of fan base to games), Administration, improved FUFA rapport with FIFA and CAF Relationship.
Pressed to talk about why FUFA has issued the annual accountability as expected by 31st December 2014, Magogo reminded the media members that the FUFA financial year has not yet lapsed and referred the issue to the FUFA Financial Director, Decolas Kizza.
It remains to be witnessed when FUFA will officially update the public about the on-going wrangles in the league sponsorship with the second round expected to kick off on 12th February 2014.