By James Robert Kayindi
The football fraternity in Uganda will live to remember Monday, 2nd February, 2015 as a very historical day after the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) together with Tanzanian based pay TV giants, Azam Television launched the Azam Premier League (APL) yesterday at the Nile Hall, Serena Hotel in Kampala.
The TV giants signed a three and half year deal in which they tabled $1.9M (5.4billion Uganda shillings) to facilitate the league and this will begin as soon as the second phase of the league kicks off.
FUFA president Eng. Moses Magogo hailed the achievement reached upon by the federation under his leadership and the entire cabinet.
“Being a good leader is about making bold decisions and this is a very big decision we have made,” Magogo remarked.
“A bold step in Uganda’s football. One of the best days of Uganda’s football. I thank Azam T.V for the timely financial support. The league is thus the FUFA Azam Premier League and from today we officially announce the termination of the relationship with Uganda Super League”, reads a statement on the federation’s website.
The Uganda premier League (UPL) now becomes the Azam Premier League (APL) after the TV sponsors were given naming rights like it is in one of the European big leagues, the Barclays Premier League.
Azam TV chief Executive Officer, Rhys Torrington also acclaimed the bond they have created with FUFA and Ugandan soccer at large.
“We thank FUFA and the clubs for entrusting Azam TV. We are committed towards developing football and taking this game to another level. We are ready to sponsor the other football competitions of the federation –The FUFA Big league, The Uganda Cup and the like. We have not just brought the dollars, we are here to stay” said Torrington as reads on the federation’s website
Email Robert: Robert.k.circles@gmail.com
