The global pandemic Coronavirus outbreak has led to a huge set-back in the development of football, just like any other sports disciplines in the country.
This prompted the World football governing body (FIFA) to release the operational funding in form of a hefty COVID 19 relief package to all the 211 member associations for this year.
The latest development is a huge step taken by FIFA as a relief plan of assisting the football communities that have been greatly affected by the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
FIFA moved to dish out a whopping $150m (Shs. 570Bn) in total, distributed among the 211 football governing bodies affiliated to FIFA with each entitled to get $500K (Shs1.9Bn).
Different football club administrators and officials in Uganda have since come out to request FUFA to scatter the share amongst them inorder to help them mitigate the effects of the Coronavirus.
Speaking to the Newvision newspaper, Proline Football Club director Mujib Kasule believes that since FIFA released funds to member Federations to help them recover from the Coronavirus crisis, FUFA should do the needful and immediately distribute the funds to the clubs that have been hit.
“Most clubs in the country depend on gate collection and with the league still on a standstill, different clubs can nolonger fulfill their obligations that includes paying players’salaries and allowances,” said Kasule.
He added, “FUFA should consider Uganda Premier League clubs as their first priority since they have been greatly affected by COVID 19 crisis. Clubs have incurred huge costs in paying the players’ salaries, Coaches and staff yet we are not receiving any coin from gate collection. Other leagues in the country like the FUFA Big League, Regional League and Women Football League should also be helped.”
FUFA however maintains that the money will be spent on activities which were submitted to FIFA at the beginning of the year and an accountability will be provided.
The activities which were included in the July-December 2020 budget include, Youth Football, Women Football, Educational courses, human resource development and institutional costs.