By James Robert Kayindi
Yesterday, the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) withdrew licences of four Vipers players due to failure to honor national team duty as the Cranes made a trip to Kitara Region over the weekend in the Cranes regional tour.
On Saturday, Uganda Cranes beat Kitara Region select by 6-0 but players Ismail Watenga, Deus Bukenya, Alitho James and Keziron Kizito refused to turn up as summoned hence having their licences provisionally withdraw.
On that note therefore, the reigning champions have released a statement to clarify their status on the matter. Read the full statement below:
“We received a communication from FUFA on Monday 21/09/2015, 15:53hrs under the subject “Provisional Withdraw of your players’ licenses”.
The letter asserts that four players i.e. Ismail Watenga, Deus Bukenya, Alitho James and Keziron Kizito contravened FUFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players article 37(2) and 39(3) and as such are ineligible for the next two league games i.e. M#35 and M#46 against KCCA FC and SC Villa respectively.
This came at a time when the final 18 man squad for the match had been named and the entire team in a residential camp at Buikwe ahead of Tuesday league game against KCCA FC.
Vipers SC would like to take this opportunity to inform all stakeholders of the club’s position below in the event of this regrettable state of affairs;
1. The club shall honor league matches M#35 Vipers vs KCCA and M#46 SC Villa vs Vipers SC as scheduled.
2. The club shall seek interpretation of the rules and respective articles to fully comprehend the contravention highlighted.
3. The club shall appeal against the decision above within the prevailing football governing structures and shall stand by the said players to uphold their rights and the club’s interests.
4. In the meantime, the club is pursuing redress to enable the indicted four players be cleared for today’s league game.
We look forward to an amicable and logical conclusion to this matter.
Thank you all for your understanding and support. “
We will keep you posted.
Email Robert: Robert.k.circles@gmail.com