Magogo defends Cranes failure to pick medals

KAMPALA- Fufa president Moses Magogo told the media on Wednesday at Mengo that Cranes players and technical team were too tired to travel to Luuka District to receive their Independence medals from President Museveni at the weekend.

“They came back (from Ghana) at 4am and we thought they were too tired after the hectic West African journey,” he said.

The medals were awarded to players that took part in the entire Afcon qualification campaign, which saw Uganda ending a four-decade absence from the Nations Cup finals.

While Magogo might have a point on the possible jetlag, Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Ivan Ntege, Robert Odongkara, Timothy Awanyi, Lubega Idrisa, Brian Majwega, Brian Umony and Erisa Ssekisambu among others did not travel to Ghana and could have represented the team.

In expounding, Magogo came short of dismissing the medals, saying the ceremony was “not such a big occasion” that they (players) had “to attend at all costs.”

“Everyone is free to celebrate Cranes as such and we as Fufa cannot limit that. We are not fazed by who got the medals because we also have our Fufa Awards in December,” he said.

It is alleged that Magogo, who is credited with carrying on the reins from the previous Fufa regime, was not been impressed by not being on the list to receive medals yet his predecessor Lawrence Mulindwa was. Mulindwa picked his in person.

That, sources claimed, could have informed Fufa’s decision not to make arrangements to transport players to Luuka. But Magogo was not flinched by corridor talk, preferring to stay on specifics.

“History will have it that Uganda Cranes qualified for Afcon with Magogo as Fufa president,” he insisted, “Micho (Sredojevic) as coach and Massa (Geoffrey) as captain. Period.

“We are (actually) lobbying to meet the President with the senior team. Ironically, Museveni has never met the Cranes ‘A’ team for a dinner because he has been hosting the Cecafa teams.
“We want to meet him privately so that he should start recognising each player by name like other country’s Presidents do.”

Magogo added: “I’m glad that I have the president’s hotline and whenever he gets a chance to speak to us, he has bailed out the Cranes.

“In fact, we got the big result in Ghana because of his $20000 he advanced to us. We want him to standardize the policy so that Cranes is assured of government backing like it is with other nations.”

MEDAL RECIPIENTS
Denis Onyango, Nicholas Wadada, Joseph Ochaya, Isaac Isinde, Murshid Juuko, Khalid Aucho, Luwagga Kizito, Tony Mawejje, Geoffrey Massa, Farouk Miya, Moses Oloya, jamal Salim, Godfrey Walusimbi, Hassan Wasswa, Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Ivan Ntege, Yunus Ssentamu, Emmanuel Okwi, Denis Guma, Robert Odongkara, Timothy Awanyi, Lubega Idrissa, Brian Majwega, Brian Umony, Yasser Mugerwa, Erisa Ssekisambu, Richard Kassaga, Micho Sredojevic (Coach), Moses Basena (Assistant coach), Fred Kajoba, Ronald Kisolo (Team Doctor), Chris Muyinda (Team Manager), Ivan Ssewanyana (Team Physiotherapist), Ahmed Kabali (Team Driver), Saidi Lugolobi (Team Kits man), Lawrence Mulindwa, Fred Lukwago (RIP), Abby Dhaira (RIP), Amir Kalanzi (RIP)

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