Fufa’s Magogo gets rousing approval at AGM

LUWEERO.

There were minor, or even negligible moments of deviation, as the 92nd Fufa Ordinary General Assembly gave its president Moses Magogo a rousing endorsement for his work.

During the nearly six-hour marathon sitting at Nimrod Hotel, Luweero on Saturday, Fufa got its 2015 activity report approved smoothly.

Proposals to have four women’s delegates, approve a five-year strategic plan “to transform football” and grant the Futsal Association of Uganda associate members also sailed through.

Auditors, KAL Associates, were given another two-year mandate and the electoral commission to handle the 2017 poll where Magogo, president since 2013, will be a candidate was passed too.

In addition, the Shs14bn budget for next year was endorsed despite objections some Uganda Premier League chairmen and Buganda region delegate Rogers Mulindwa.
It was Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) delegate Deo Mutabazi who nailed the assembly as one Magogo would be glad about the proceedings.

Given the chance to speak last by Fufa chief executive officer Edgar Watson before the president’s closing remarks, Mutabazi read a rather disorganised “Thank You” statement to the assembly.

Saying that he represented the views of beach, women, referees, coaches, players and 71 delegates in all, Mutabazi asked the 88-member assembly to back “continuity to achieve the strategic plan.”

“Why look for a technician to fix what’s not broken?” Mutabazi said amidst endless loud clapping from the delegates, most of whom wore Fufa’s official blue suits.

“Since you (Magogo) came, companies call me to sponsor beach soccer. I stand here to represent the views of many: Thank You. Let’s the executive focus on the 2017 Afcon and Russia 2018,” he said.

It bordered on bad choreography as Mutabazi laboured to make his point despite delegates Yusuf Kamulegeya, Fasial Muhammad and John Odong having offered hints in their earlier submissions.

Jinja’s Muhammad gave the Fufa executive an “82% score” where Odong, representing Soroti, elavated that to “95%” saying that “we are proud of you and admire your leadership. You have put Ugandan football on the map of Africa.

A one Maraka also joined in signing the praise hymns. “We will give you that Kisanja (loosely translated as another term).

In his opening remarks, Magogo had stated that “the game is stable now and football is doing the talking. Let’s get rid of the theory that football should be organised by people outside football.”

“They call you people here ‘potato growers’ but in here, we have doctors, lawyers and no many other distinguished people who love football and want to see it develop,” he said.

After receiving the “Thank You” statement from Mutabazi which he didn’t share with this newspaper, Magogo promised to “organise a free and fair election to give all a chance.”

The departed, among them ex-Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Abel Dhaira and veteran sports commentator Andrew Patrick Luwandagga, were honoured.

Also, western delegates led by Abbas Ssendyowa, moved a motion to thank President Yoweri Museveni and the government for the support towards the national team, to which Magogo asked and got standing ovations from the packed assembly room.

The numbers

71

The number of delegates in attendance at the 92 fufa ordinary assembly