The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
World Cup qualifiers
Group A :Libya, Guinea, DR Congo, Tunisia
Group B: Zambia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria
Group C: Gabon, Morocco, Mali, Ivory Coast
Group D: Burkina Faso, South Africa, Cape Verde, Senegal
Group E: Uganda, Congo, Egypt, Ghana
President Yoweri Museveni has boosted Cranes’ World Cup preparations and offered to clear coach ‘Micho’ Milutin Sredojevic’s three-month salary arrears.
Uganda are drawn in one of the toughest groups in the Africa zone, 2018 World Cup qualifiers. They are in Group E with Congo and African giants Egypt, Ghana. The qualifiers start in October, with Uganda away to Ghana.
Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) president Moses Magogo revealed Saturday he had got a phone call from Museveni, in which he promised financial support.
“The President has required me to deliver a message to the team and the coaches that they should represent their country to the pride of Ugandans. He has extended financial support of sh660 million to help in the preparations ahead of the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match against Ghana in Tamale October 7,” said Magogo.
Museveni was later quoted as saying, “I tasked Mr. Magogo to tell the team to represent our country with pride and assured them of my full support.”
According to Magogo, Museveni said the money be used to cater for the teams logistics ahead of the qualifier and help calm down head coach Micho, who had taken to social media to make his case.
Micho led Uganda to a historic qualification to the African Cup of Nations Finals, the first time since 1978 but issues surrounding his pay threatened to overshadow the celebrations.
It forced the soccer governing body to come out with a statement, in which the said “FUFA greatly appreciates and recognises the immense contribution and extra efforts of our national team coach in helping Uganda qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 38 years.”
FUFA admitted they indeed owe Micho unpaid salaries and “shares his frustrations over the delay,” nit said that “during the costly AFCON 2017 qualification campaign, FUFA prioritised all the meager resources at its disposal to facilitate requirements for the success of the team and campaign.”
They said that in preparation for the final group D key match against Comoros, Micho had been paid three times and received all his bonus and allowances entitlements for the AFCON 2017 campaign just like the rest of the team members.
“FUFA is committed to ensuring all his salary arrears are cleared and we are confident this will be handled. Coach Micho’s unpaid dues are currently FUFA’s number one priority and the federation is doing everything in its means to raise the funds needed to clear the outstanding amount,” the FUFA statement said then.
