Fufa commit to pay Micho

Kampala.

Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic’s unpaid dues are “currently Fufa’s number one priority and the federation is doing everything in its means to raise the funds needed to clear the outstanding amount,” the Mengo body has said.

Fufa finally came out with a statement on Micho’s outstanding dues in salary, match bonuses and air tickets amounting to Shs235m or more after days of unresponsiveness. “Fufa indeed owes Milutin Sredojevic unpaid salaries and shares his frustrations over the delay,” reads in part a statement from Fufa on Thursday.

“During the costly Afcon 2017 qualification campaign, Fufa prioritised all the meagre resources at its disposal to facilitate requirements for the success of the team and campaign.”

The statement continues: “In preparation for the final group D but key match against Comoros, over the last two months alone, coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has been paid three times and received all his bonus and allowances entitlements for the Afcon 2017 campaign just like the rest of the team members.

“Fufa is committed to ensuring all his salary arrears are cleared and we are confident this will be handled.” Fufa were, however, silent on details of how much and how many months they owe Micho. But as Daily Monitor reported yesterday, while Fufa cleared bonuses for the Afcon 2017 campaign, they owe the coach Shs235m or more in five months’ salary arrears, bonuses from two Chan and World Cup matches and two air tickets reimbursements.

Legal redress, implications
Fufa’s response came hours after reports that Micho had escalated the case to Fifa’s dispute resolution chamber in Zurich.

We understand that Micho submitted two letters of demand to Fufa in June and last month but the federation’s response has been numb. Micho’s next step on Wednesday was, through his legal representative, to attach the two said letters and file a case at Fifa demanding that he is paid by the end of this month or the world body acts.

We, however, are still unable to readily and independently verify with the Fifa dispute resolution chamber whether a case from Micho has indeed been received by them. Fifa, last year, expelled Zimbabwe from the 2018 World Cup qualifying for failing to pay former coach Jose Claudinei Georgini.

But before the decision was taken, Zimbabwe were given a grace period to clear the debt but still fell short. Given that Fufa have now made Micho’s case their “number one priority,” Uganda’s next World Cup qualifier against Ghana may not be in immediate danger.

Asked how he can continue working in the current state of affairs, Micho said: “I’m a professional that has done half work qualifying and full work will be in Gabon. If I stop working, I will be in breach of contract like Uganda is now. That is why legal action is taken.”

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