Denis Musanje
Namboole double header;
Kitara FC Vs Vipers (Boycotted)
KCCA FC 2-1 SC Villa
Ugandan football finds itself in a crisis after Vipers SC led by their president Dr Lawrence Mulindwa kept their word and never showed up for their match against Kitara FC in the Namboole double header on Saturday.
In their communication to FUFA and Uganda Premier League Secretariat on Thursday, 2nd October, defiant Mulindwa stated that his side was not to take part in the planned double header.
The seven time league champions had earlier raised their issues in letters dated August 23rd, September 23 and September 29 as well as during meetings with FUFA officials.
In an interview with New Vision, Mulindwa painfully stated that is ready to leave Ugandan football but won’t bow down in the fight for what he believes is right for Ugandan football.
“I want to assure Ugandans that I can’t be intimidated, bribed, or corrupted. If you want to dismiss Vipers out of Ugandan football, I have no problem. Me I don’t feed on football; it is football that feeds on me. But Fufa feeds on football; remove football and they will not exist.
“If they are not willing to listen, I am not ready to bow down. This is the beginning of the struggle; if they don’t consider their position, we shall fight. Don’t expect to change my mind because where they are taking is gambling, manipulation of football, match fixing.” Said Mulindwa
Vipers stayed true to their word and never showed up for the match against Kitara FC on Saturday with referee Shamirah Nabadda, awarding the Hoima based side a walk over.
The late kickoff game was the Kampala derby between KCCA FC and SC Villa, two of the most successful clubs in the league.
It was a lifeless atmosphere at Namboole as the two sides that have won the Uganda Premier League title 13 and 17 time respectively met under the lights of Namboole.
KCCA FC smiled to a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Umar Lutalo while Najib Yiga scored for SC Villa.
Before both games, fans through their groups had threatened that they were to shun the new league and on Saturday they were of no-show in the Namboole stands.
The absence of fans in the fixture between the involved two sides that have won thirty league titles between them, shows how many are yet to embrace the new reforms.
FUFA has to use the two weeks international break to resolve the situation before the league resumes but as it stands fans and Vipers remain firm.
