Uganda Cup teams to share cash prize after Covid-19 annuls term
For The Good Of The Game. Daniel Ogong (L), Stanbic Bank Marketing Manager, and Fufa CEO Edgar Watson talk during the press conference to announce the decision of clubs sharing the prize money yesterday in Mengo. PHOTO | JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
- Good Gesture. A sum of Shs60m will be shared by the clubs that had progressed to the Round of 16 and quarter final stages of the 2020 Stanbic Uganda Cup in what has been termed as a good gesture from the sponsors.
Organisers of the Stanbic Uganda Cup have announced that teams that had reached at least the Round of 16 will share a Shs60m cash prize after the season was confirmed void.
Speaking at the press conference held at Fufa House in Mengo yesterday, Stanbic Bank marketing manager Daniel Ogong explained that despite the Cup cancellation, the sponsors will honour its commitment by paying prize monies to clubs that had progressed to the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals.”
Kataka, KCCA, Kitara, Kyetume, Proline and Light SS, which had progressed to the quarter finals will be rewarded with Shs6m each while URA, Wakiso Giants, SC Villa and Mbarara City, who were yet to play their Round of 16 fixtures, will each take Shs1.5m. Kiboga Young, Dove, Maroons, UPDF, Tooro and Free Stars, who were eliminated at the Round of 16, will each receive Shs3m.
Fufa CEO Edgar Watson was excited for Stanbic Bank for agreeing to pay the clubs at such a time when most clubs have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I wish to extend my appreciation for this gesture from our sponsors Stanbic Uganda. At this time when all clubs are struggling for incomes, we really appreciate this gesture,” Watson said.
Contentious
The truncated competition which had reached the Round of 16 when it was prematurely stopped after Uganda registered their first case of coronavirus in mid-March, was nullified.
Fufa Deputy chief executive Decolas Kiiza confirmed that there will be no winner and KCCA which was handpicked by the Executive Committee in May, will play at next season’s Caf Confederation Cup.
But competition rules were largely ignored. In determining the winner due to force majeure at and after the Round of 16, the winner was supposed to be determined by the points and goals acquired for the matches played since the Round of 64.
Article 23 stresses that “three points shall be awarded for a win and two for a knockout win through post-match spot kicks and 0 for a loss,” the rules state.
It adds that where some teams have played more cup games than others, a formula is suggested to determine the final positions. “Total number of points earned from the number of games played multiplied by the total number of games supposed to be played divided by the number of games played,” Part three of the article adds.
This calculation would have given Mbarara City the opportunity to be declared the cup winners. The Ankole Lions started the campaign with a 2-1 win in the Round of 64 before trouncing FHL 9-0 in the next round. Yet appointed representatives KCCA began with similar 2-0 wins over Catda and Bukedea Town Council before ejecting Dove 1-0 in the Round of 16.
Fufa directive
The option for choosing the continental representative fell on last year’s winners Proline. Article 24 of the Uganda Cup rules which states that “where the competition has been declared null and void, the cup winner of the previous season shall represent Uganda in any international competitions instead.”
But Kiiza stressed that the executive decision premised on the Fufa Statutes overruled the competition rules subject to licensing guidelines enshrined in article 85.
ARTICLE 23 STATES;
Facts: Three points shall be awarded for a win and two for a knockout win through post-match spot kicks and 0 for a loss. It adds that where some teams have played more cup games than others, a formula is suggested to determine the final positions. Total number of points earned from the number of games played multiplied by the total number of games supposed to be played divided by the number of games played.
THE BREAKDOWN
SHS6M FOR SIX CLUBS
Quarterfinalists. Proline, KCCA, Kyetume, Light SS, Kitara and Kataka will get prize rewards of Shs6m each.
SHS3M FOR SIX CLUBS
Eliminated At Round Of 16. Kiboga Young, Dove, Maroons, UPDF, Tooro United and Mukono based Free Stars will each pocket Shs3m.
SHS1.5M FOr 4 CLUBS
Those That Were Yet To Play Their Round Of 16 Matches. Uganda Revenue Authority, Wakiso Giants, Sports Club Villa and Mbarara City will each take home Shs1.5m.
