Ankole Cup marred by suspension of club officials after match fixing claims

Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The organizing committee of the Ankole Football Tournament has suspended two officials for alleged match-fixing.

The two officials are Nuwasiima Alonso the Team leader and mobilizer of the Sheema District organizing Committee and Mushabe Osborn the Chief Mobiliser Ibanda District committee.

According to a statement released and signed by the Tournament Chairperson Nuwasiima Micheal, the two are accused of misconduct.

“As investigations into alleged misconduct go on, the persons Alonso Nuwasiima and Osborn Mushabe are hereby suspended from any involvement in the activities of Ankole Cup until the matters are resolved,” reads the statement.

Their suspension follows a release of audio recordings involving two people purported to be Nuwasiime and Mushabe negotiating funds to be given to players and match officials from the district of Buwheju to allow Sheema district to defeat them in the final game of the group stages.  The amount discussed was between 1.5 million and 2 million shillings.

When contacted Mushabe denied the accusations.  Nuwasiima, refused to comment saying the investigations will reveal the truth.

The match played on Sunday saw Sheema defeat Buhweju 2-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals against Kazo District.

Earlier, before the suspension, the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee Nyinoburyo Rodrigo had summoned the two to appear before the Committee to answer the accusations.

The Tournament in its third edition was started by District Chairpersons in the Ankole and aimed at developing talents among the youth in the region and improving unity.

The Districts that are participating in this edition include; Mbarara City and District, Isingiro, Ibanda, Kazo, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Rwampara, Mitooma, Rubirizi, Sheema, Ibanda, and Buhweju.

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URN