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Delegates want club-funding discussion at Fufa General Assembly
Delegates attending an assembly. PHOTO/JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
Brian Ssenyondo representing Ntungasaze as a Fufa Big League delegate from Kampala and Buganda region, strongly disputes that notion.
It is that time of the year when Fufa delegates gather for their annual general assembly.
With this year being an elective assembly most of the attention will be drawn to Moses Magogo who is set to be confirmed as president for a fourth four-year term.
Away from that, the public is often left wondering what else delegates do at these assemblies.
The federation has over the years changed the mode of operation with delegates given a month to review minutes of the previous assembly as well as generate ideas and raise concerns about the state of the game making the assembly largely ceremonial.
We sounded out delegates about some of the issues they have raised or intend to put across when the 101st assembly in Hoima this morning.
There remains scepticism about the level of debate at the assemblies with claims dissenting voices are never accommodated.
Brian Ssenyondo representing Ntungasaze as a Fufa Big League delegate from Kampala and Buganda region, strongly disputes that notion.
“I have previously voiced my concerns and I am pleased that they were worked on.
"I advocated for sponsorship deals to trickle down to the Big League which has started happening.
"I also requested for broadcasting of games in the Big League which we also witnessed last season," stated Ssenyondo who was also recently appointed as KCCA coach.
One of the sticking points expected to dominate the assembly is funding and sustainability of clubs.
There is a long held view that for all the current Fufa administration’s achievements, club funding has often been left out of the discussion.
Deo Kasozi, who stepped down from his role as Kitara president at the end of the season, wants to see government funding directed towards the Uganda Premier League (UPL).
"There should be a deliberate effort to help clubs in the Uganda PremierLeague. We know that the government is already supporting football. But we can also still ask the government for more assistance and set aside financial support specifically to the 16 clubs and especially the community teams.
It would help retain some of our best players and improve the league," Kasozi explained.
Another UPL club official who preferred not to be named also shared similar sentiments and wants Fufa to do more in promoting the leagues.
“I do not see how clubs benefit from the federation. It is mostly done the other way round and we definitely want to have a discussion about how the league is run,” he said.
