KAMPALA – The Federation of Uganda Football Associations – Fufa confirmed on Boxing Day that government had released Ugx2b as part payment for the facilitation of The Cranes’ team ahead of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship – Chan 2022.
The bi-annual continental competition, reserved for players who feature in the domestic leagues of the respective participating countries, was pushed to 2023 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“Fufa has received from Government of Uganda Ugx2b as part of arrears to assist in preparations for Uganda Cranes squad ahead of the Chan Finals in Algeria.
“Part of the funds will also help in settlement of arrears accrued as a result of the team’s earlier international engagements.
“Fufa is allocated Ugx17b in the Annual National Budget but only Ugx4.8b has been disbursed….,” reported the Mengo based local football governing body, through its official website.
Fufa through its head, Moses Magogo, had threatened to withdraw Uganda’s participation from next month’s continental competition, reportedly due to lack of funds. Magogo, who doubles as the Budiope East legislator in Uganda’s parliament’s message seem to have touched sensitive organs of the government as the Finance ministry was quick in reacting – promising to release part of the required funds.
And soon, The Cranes’ version set to participate in the Chan tournament, embarked on preparations, conducting double session trainings ahead of its travel for pre-competition trials in Tunisia on January 1, 2023.
The tournament is slate for January 13 – February 4 in Algeria.
Coach Milutin Micho Sredojevic named a 35-member team, which entered camp at Paradise Hotel in Kisaasi, last week. Besides physical and mental fitness preparations, the team was also updated about the various anti-doping code, prohibited list of substance and methods, therapeutic use exemptions, dangers and consequences of doping, the doping control process and rights as their responsibilities as players.
Uganda qualified for Chan 2022 following 4-0 aggregate over Tanzania 4-0 to make their sixth appearance at this competition.
