With less than a week to the kickoff of the FUFA Provincial tournament, the DRUM, Vipers SC has barred its players from taking part.
In a letter addressed to the FUFA CEO dated February 15, 2018, club Chief Executive Officer Peter Lwanga cited a number of reasons for the decision including one raised by the FA boss Moses Magogo.
The Venoms revealed that almost all their players have been summoned by different provinces something that undermines their season ambitions and the major objective of setting up the competition.
“It has come to our notice that almost all Vipers SC entire contracted and registered squad has been summoned to different provinces…” read part of the letter signed by Lwanga before adding “a move we feel not only undermines our season ambitions but also dilutes the tournament core objective of unearthing new talent,”
The two-time league champions quoted Moses Magogo submissions on the day the competition was launched when he said it’s another avenue to tap more talent.
“The objective is for searching talent across the country. The league alone can’t be the best way of tapping more talent. The clubs will also have a better hunting ground of players for their teams,” said Magogo.
Vipers SC wonder how the objective will be achieved when the tournament is dominated by proven players.
Therefore as Vipers, we wonder which kind of talent can be identified from a Vipers squad of established Cranes internationals, national youth team players and a good number of former international players in total contradiction of the objective if we are to quote the FUFA president.
In conclusion, they make it clear that none of their registered players will be allowed to take part in the competition to ‘safeguard’ tournament objectives.
The purpose of this communication therefore is to officially bring it to your attention that’s Vipers SC administration resolved to bar all the club registered players from taking part in this tournament as a measure to safeguard the club interests as well as fulfilling the tournament intentions which the respective provinces Technical Teams seem to have overlooked.
It remains to be seen how the FA will react to the missive and as usual, we shall keep you posted.