UPL gets underway tomorrow
KCC striker Brian Umony controls the ball with his head during training at Lugogo yesterday. KCC open their league against Police next Tuesday. PHOTO BY AMINAH BABIRYE
Kampala.
So, it looks like it. Despite two - Vipers and SCVU - out of 16 topflight teams not signing the sponsors’ deed of adherence, which will cost only them, anyway, the newly christened Uganda Premier League (UPL) kicks off in earnest tomorrow.
Vipers and SCVU are neither entitled to sponsorship money, nor will their games be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Dates for live coverage of the UPL, back after two years of wrangles that saw the Uganda Super League-run (USL) competition split into two – the other being the Fufa-backed FSL are expected to be communicated “soon”, according to USL chairman Kavuma Kabenge.
The wrangles had us witness two leagues for one-and-a-half seasons before USL ran out of steam, and the eventual loss of Uganda Breweries as title sponsors, and suspension of SuperSport coverage.
But SuperSport, who signed a $5m (Shs13b) five-year broadcast deal with USL in 2011, are back following talks between USL and Fufa, to which an MoU was entered in March.
That MoU sees the USL control the commercialisation of the UPL and Fufa retaining authority on all things football including assigning match officials, implementing rules and ensuring clubs honour contractual obligations, among others.
The two-year understanding, in which SuperSport are partners, will see USL disburse funds to clubs, match officials and Fufa through the federation. The new UPL secretariat, which is for now sitting at Fufa House, is expected to move to the USL offices at Namboole, where both will conduct their work. UPL’s five-man secretariat has two members from the USL - Paul Kabaikaramu as the league manager and Eric Owori the statistician; two from former FSL clubs – Axam Senkayi (communications manager) and Mahmood Kalitwe (finance), and Fufa Bernard Bainamani as the CEO – as agreed between USL and Fufa.
“As of now we are getting to grips to see how best we can kick off,” Bainamani told us, “It’s a tough challenge ahead but we hope to do our best.” USL chairman Kabenge is confident it will work out well this time but wants the MoU to be followed to the letter. “Things to do with finances, for example, must be dealt with as per the MoU,” he said, “Also, the UPL secretariat should do their work independent of Fufa.”
Fufa CEO Edgar Watson agrees. “For now it’s the start and we are helping out but we want the league secretariat to be independent so that anything to do with them, it’s them to be contacted, not Fufa.”
sponsorship money cuts
USL to retain 30 per cent of total revenue per year and other such monies for operation of its and UPL secretariat.
USL to pay Fufa $60,000 per year for remuneration of match officials
Sharable revenue is that money, after deductions (to USL and refs) above are made, and from this sharable revenue, USL will pay Fufa 10 per cent per year for football development activities
The remaining 90 per cent of sharable income shall be distributed amongst topflight clubs
SUPERSPORT MONEY THIS SEASON
USL have received $520,000 (Shs1.3b) for the 2014/15 season from which all the above cuts in percentages will be made.
Money from SuperSport and Bell before anarchy
2011/12 season: $400,000 (Shs1b)
2012/13 season: $650,000 – (Shs1.6b)
FRIDAY fixtures, 4:30PM
BUL vs. Sadolin Paints, Kakindu – Jinja
Express vs. Kira Young, Wankulukuku
URA vs. Bright Stars, Lugazi
Police vs. Rwenshama, Kavumba RC
SC Villa vs. Soana, Mityana
Saturday, 3pm
Entebbe vs. Simba, Nakivubo
Lweza vs. SCVU, Wankulukuku
Tuesday, September 23, 4.30pm
Kira Young vs. BUL FC, Namboole
Rwenshama vs. Express, Mityana
KCC vs. Police, Lugogo
Soana vs. Simba, Kavumba RC
