The SC Villa Executive has vehemently protested a backdoor deal apparently in the works between FUFA and the National Council of Sports (NCS) following a larger meeting with the Minister of State for Sports Henry Okello Oryem on Wednesday, November 26, 2003.

Reliable information available to SC Villa indicates that some FUFA officials – in an application of their trademark double standards – tried to convince the minister that Express (winners of the 2003 Kakungulu Cup) should be registered for CAF competitions even before the Committee probing corruption in football submits its report and recommendations.

FUFA’s lame argument to the minister, NCS and the Probe Committee is that the controversy was mainly with the NSSL and not the Kakungulu Cup.

On the other hand SC Villa (the winner of 2003 NSSL) would have to wait for the outcome of the Committee’s report. In short, SC Villa would be shut out of continental competitions in 2004 – while Express, one of the main suspects in bribery and general corruption in football – would be rewarded.

SC Villa cannot and shall never accept such corruption and the distortion of facts to again be perpetuated by the same FUFA officials who have severally been named accomplices in ruining our game.

Besides, the scope of the terms of reference of the Probe Committee extends to the entire FUFA, NFLC and especially the 2002/3 soccer season. In that context the Kakungulu Cup competition that run concurrently with the NSSL cannot be isolated. That notwithstanding, it is the same officials that have been responsible in both competitions for the appointment of ‘Arrow Group’ referees, drawing of fixtures and the ultimate administration.

If they, in collaboration with the beneficiaries could -exhibit such excesses as seen in the NSSL, there is no reason why they would break habit in the concurrently run Kakungulu Cup.

SC Villa – as has been said before – is ready to respect the outcome and recommendations from the Probe Committee’s investigations.

What is unacceptable is for FUFA, and others to again corrupt the whole process by taking shortcuts or the backdoor in partisan favouritism, more so under the nose of the Minister. This brings back memories when the Minister towards the end of the 2002 season summoned FUFA officials, SC Villa and its rival accusers Express to his office.

The minutes of the very revealing proceedings were supposed to be released within that week, and the Minister was to act immediately. Apparently because the case appeared to have gone against the accusers, who had seemingly already biased the minister, he chose not to do anything to date. In fact SC Villa still maintains an audio and a video record of that meeting.

It is significant that this time the minister has caused a press release to be issued just few hours after the meeting involving the minister, FUFA, NCS and the Probe Committee.

SC Villa’s position however remains the same. We should all either remain patient, wait for the results of the probe committee or we forget any claims and pretences that we are trying to clean the game.

In the press release from the Minister’s Office, Mr Oryem gave FUFA leeway to consult with the NCS in order to allow Express to sneak onto the continent before the Probe Committee releases its report.

Now under the cover of “urgent administrative decisions” FUFA and others are once again short-circuiting the process of fair play – to add onto their catalogue of misdemeanours in the 2003 season.

This is shameful and unacceptable to anyone of sane and honest mind. Why the hurry? Wasn’t it agreed by all parties that football action and all decisions would be on hold until the probe committee has handed in its report and recommendations acted upon?

This contradicts the position stated in the release that there was “a clear commitment by all members in attendance to give the outcome of the Probe Committee the highest attention it deserves even if this meant reviewing time frames that had already been set for specific activities such as commencement of the new football season, participation in continental tournaments, among others.”

We hope the NCS – which is led by the otherwise respectable Mr Wilson Tumwine – will not fall into this evil trick being engineered by the same elements under investigation.

It should not be lost to the NCS and the Minister that FUFA is heavily indebted to its principal creditor and his interests.

The ministry’s statement last night said that the Probe Committee report is more than 90% ready and would most likely be out by the end of this week.

So again what is all the hurry? – with FUFA trying to confuse the NCS chairman Mr Wilson Tumwine – to once again give a particular club favoured treatment when all the other innocent clubs have suffered in so many painful ways in order to give the Probe Committee opportunity to do its work unmolested.

SC Villa would wish to caution all concerned that such acts shall not go unchallenged and the club will not hesitate to expend its energy and resources

in any way it deems appropriate to stem this wanton immorality. In the end there shall be a heavy price for all within the soccer fraternity to pay; and our game shall sink even further because there doesn’t seem to be a genuine commitment at the top levels to clean out the rot.

Edward Mugalu Luyimbazi
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SC VILLA

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