FUFA President Hon. Moses Hassim Magogo has chosen to withdraw from running as a candidate for the President of the Council of East and Central Football Associations (CECAFA).
Magogo took the decision to withdraw his candidature during the CECAFA Elective General Assembly that is taking place in Djibouti today.
It should be noted that three candidates had declared their intentions to run for the vacant seat including Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam (Eritrean National Football Federation), Eng. Magogo Moses Hassim (Federation of Uganda Football Associations) and Alexandre Muyenge (Fédération de Football du Burundi).
However, on Saturday shortly before the Assembly started, Muyenge confirmed he had withdrawn from the race thus leaving two people.
In a twist of events when the Assembly began, Magogo too revealed he will step down from the race hence leaving Eritrea’s Weldehaimanot un-opposed.
In his remarks to the Assembly, Magogo said the region has lagged behind due to football politics which has consequently affected the growth and development of the game in the region.
“It is a sad reality that in Africa, we still lag behind in terms of football development and our major hinderance has been the politics that we play. When we were in Juba, South Sudan, I chose to step aside and let my brother Wallace Karia go un-opposed as a CAF Executive Member. I believe, if we go ahead for the ballot, it will only continue to divide us. My brother from Burundi has withdrawn and I’m equally taking the same route. Hopefully, that will save us time and see us moving forward as one group.” He said.
Magogo also highlighted the dire situation the region finds itself in, indicating the failure to match other regions.
“For some of us, CECAFA is our World Cup, our African Cup and the only opportunity we get to compete. When you look at the region, it is about three or four countries that are hosting competitions while some don’t participate at all.”
CECAFA is made up of 11 members namely; Sudan, Eritrea, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
