The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has warned all clubs intending not to release their players for the DRUM competition against doing so.
In a circular dated February 20, 2018, signed by the FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, the FA has urged all clubs to respect and oblige to the guidelines of the competition.
The circular comes out five days after Uganda Premier League side, Vipers SC notified the FA about their intentions to bar their players from participating in the Rebranded Inter Provinces Competition.
Here are the key points from the FUFA Circular in regards to the matter
- Any players that do not honour the invitation shall be ineligible to participate in the FUFA organised competitions for one (1) subsequent FUFA competition match
- If a club uses such an ineligible player, the club will lose the game by forfeiture and the player shall remain ineligible until the one (1) match sanction is served.
- Any player who does not participate in these competitions shall not be legible to benefit from the National Teams Remuneration Scheme in that particular month.
- In the event that ten (10) or less players are invited from the same club licensed for FUFA competitions and not participating in CAF Competitions, its mandatory for the club to release ALL the players as invited.
- In the event that more than ten (10) players are invited from the same club licensed for FUFA competitions and not participating in CAF Competitions, the club will determine the ten (10) or more players to be released for these competitions.
- In the event that three (3) players are invited from the same participating in CAF Competitions, the club will release ALL the players as invited.
- In the event that more than three (3) players are invited from the same participating in CAF Competitions, the club will determine the three (3) or more players to be released for these competitions.
Although only Vipers had officially written to the FA about their intentions, almost all clubs in the top division thought otherwise given their season ambitions.
It remains to be seen how clubs, Vipers in particular will react to this but as usual, we shall keep you posted.
Buganda and Bunyoro are too big (as in size and population), they should have more teams.
How many Bukedea regions are in Bunyoro or Buganda (minus Kampala)?
The civilized way would be to sit with the clubs and agree to the number of players to release,which should be sensibly about three from each club. The clubs invest a lot in the players and have their own programs including conditioning. The Consititution of Uganda clearly bars forced labor. Threatening a player not to get “his” entitled monthly national team renumeration is rogue and cheat means of administration. It is the clubs with contract with the players not FUFA. Players are displined according to the well laid down rules and not kangaroo rules .
In the first instance what is the major objective of DRUM.
Let’s take an example of England.
One of the reasons why they perform so poorly in big competitions is because of burn out and fatigue at the end of the season. This is attributed to many games they play as compared to other leagues say, Carling cup, F. A, UEFA Champions League or Europa, then Premier league. Remember the big clubs with most of the national team players will want to win those competitions. Let’s see the games
Carling cup (semi finals) = 5 or more
F. A Cup (semi finals) = 5 or more
Champions Lge quarter = 10
Premier league = 38
Total = 58 without a break in 9 months or 36 weeks or 252 days.
That’s on average a game every 4 days.
Desbre said Ugandan players are weak they need to add muscle and be strong enough. This will not be obtained through playing so many games but a change in training and feeding which requires more time in the gym and training.
I think the objective should be to acquire new talent all across the country especially those not featuring in the premier league and the big league. Say first and second divisions.
Look at the masaza in Buganda, today we have Mawejje, Okwir, Jjaja Walu, and all the others in our leagues here and professionals. Had to they allowed the premier league and big league players to feature, may be we wouldn’t have them.
So in conclusion it is a good idea but it needs ironing out to avoid egos with clubs and injuries to players who are invested in by the clubs.
For God and my country