By Robert K Circles
As the National Football team, the Uganda Cranes prepare for double header with the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers later this month; the government has deserted them according to reports reaching our desk.
Apparently, the local football governing body (FUFA) was expecting some financial assistance from the central government like the case was last year in November when the Cranes had to play Togo in a back-to-back fixture in a space of four days in Lome and later on in Kampala in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
A similar assistance was also provided for the national team by President Yoweri Museveni when they had to play Comoros away in the first leg of the AFCON qualifiers. It is on the back of such assistance that the federation was hoping for some financial aid from the government but as it looks now, the Cranes have been hung out to dry.
“At exactly 3:37pm yesterday Uganda Cranes breathed its last air. This was the time when Moses Magogo received a call from government and was told in black and white that they would not be funding the Cranes to go to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso,” a one Timothy Katende revealed.
Allegedly upon receiving the communication, FUFA president Engineer Moses Magogo sought guidance and help from his close ally and former federation boss, Lawrence Mulindwa.
“He (Magogo) called up Mulindwa, and met him at Serena hotel. On telling him the bad news that government had abandoned the Cranes, Mulindwa could not believe it. Mulindwa then advised Magogo to borrow money if that is what it takes to transport the team to Ouagadougou,” the source further stated.
The reports continue to suggest that the team will be traveling to Ouagadougou for the first leg tie even without the government’s assistance after the FUFA president borrowed money that is said to have come with a huge interest.
It also said that in the process, Mulindwa had to help negotiate with Ethiopian Airlines who asked for a 50% down payment to transport the team while Magogo approached the money lenders. And as of now, that seems to be situation at hand as the Cranes prepare to play Burkina Faso away on 26th March and on 29th in Kampala.
Uganda lead Group D with maximum points from two fixtures while Burkina Faso and Botswana are tied on 3 points in second and third places respectively while Comoros are pointless at the bottom.
