Magogo: Fufa’s next step is commercialisation
Moses Magogo FUFA President 2017-2021
KAMPALA. The next challenge for Ugandan football is mint as much money as possible to deal with the game’s challenges, according to Fufa president Moses Magogo.
This was the cornerstone of his victory speech following the resounding ratification by the 93rd Fufa General Assembly that gave him 69 of the 72 votes in Masindi on Saturday.
Magogo, in office since 2013, got another four years at the helm of the beautiful game. He was the only candidate but need 45 of the 88 delegate to endorse him as the Fufa statues.
“We are proven and what we promised four years ago, we have over delivered. We were always certain of this support and it’s only today that we prove,” Magogo said at Kabalega Resort Hotel.
“That delivery is what football people have used to give us this support. I can assure you that football will not be the same.
“Our focus is on commercialization such that we generate more resources. We have seen that we know what to do and we are proven and will follow the five-year strategic plan passed last year.
“We are tasking ourselves to move the Fufa budget from Shs17bn to Sh35bn. With those resources, we can deal with all issues including development,” he said with an emotionless look.
Adding that: “the era of football depending on rich people is over because it’s not sustainable. Football needs to make money and whoever is making a contribution should be paid.”
It had been a tough past week for Fufa following Uganda Cranes’ coach Micho Sredojevic terminating his contract over unpaid dues.
Magogo confirmed to the assembly that they owed the Serbian, who joined South Africa’s Orlando Pirates last Thursday, US$54,000 (Shs194m).
The assembly was seamless without any major hiccups, bar the noticeable absence of Proline director Mujib Kasule who was thrown out of the race to challenge Magogo for lack of the prerequisite requirements. Critical among the things passed were Fufa’s audited books from 2016 and budget proposals for the year ahead. Magogo’s four-year term has been illuminated by Uganda’s maiden qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations in 39 years and improving the corporate structure of the body.
He has often cited building human resource, relatively stable leagues, a functional website and radio, and building relationship at Fifa and Caf as his trump cards.
Tanzania’s Leodegar Tenga and Djiboutian Suleiman Hassan Waberi represented the two bodies respectively and spoke of him in glowing terms.
He returned the favour while also applauding the delegates.
“I thank the delegates who have entrusted me once again with a mandate of four years,” he said.
Adding that; “I am overwhelmed. I am always a very strong person emotionally. We will deliver football. I guarantee you that four years from now football will not be looking the same.”
Magogo, co-opted into the Caf executive committee to become the first Ugandan to get that far in the African football hierarchy, is facing a Fifa investigation in regard to the sale of 2014 World Cup tickets allocated to Uganda.
FUFA EXECUTIVE (2017-2021)
Moses Magogo (President)
Justus Mugisha (1st VP, schools)
Darius Mugoye (2nd VP, Kampala region)
Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi (3rd VP, UPL)
Rogers Byamukama (member, Kitra region)
Hamid Juma (member, Kampala)
Hajji Abdul Ssekabira (member, Buganda)
Issa Magoola (member, Eastern)
David Karyebare (member, Northern)
Richard Ochom (member, North East)
Rasoul Ariga (member, West Nile)
Chris Kalibala (member, Western)
Agnes Mugena (member, Women)
