On August 16, 2022, FUFA Club Licensing Committee resolved not to license the Mukono-based, Kyetume FC for the 2022/23 season. The decision was reached after the club failed to meet the set deadlines of submitting minimum requirements for the application for a Club License to participate in the FUFA Organized Competitions.
According to the Club License committee, Kyetume FC had only registered three players on the FUFA Connect System by August 12th, 2022 against the required minimum of 18 players. Consequently, the club was demoted to the third division. However, FUFA noted that the club has a right of appeal through the FUFA Licensing Appeals body by Monday, August 22nd, 2022.
However, the Club CEO, Martin Namugera, who never wanted to comment on the matter confirmed to URN in a phone interview that the Club has already started the process of appealing the decision.
Kyetume is the latest victim of the “problematic” FUFA club licensing criteria, which puzzles several clubs at the beginning of the new season including SC Villa. The Jogos failed to meet the requirements and were left out of the first fixtures of the previous season until they met the requirements and were reinstated.
But what entails the FUFA club licensing criteria and what makes it difficult for clubs to meet the requirements? Uganda Radio Network-URN looks into the process to understand why several clubs struggle to meet the requirements.
In an exclusive interview with URN, Ahmed Hussein, the FUFA Communications Director, Ahmed Hussein explained that FUFA Club licensing covers five aspects of professional football including, the sporting part, finance, administration, structure or legal, and the infrastructure of the club.
According to the FUFA Club Licensing Regulations 2022-2023, under the criteria requirements for finance, the club must submit the proof of payment to FUFA of the License Application Fees, the Annual Financial Statements for the previous Financial Year of the Club, the Club Bank Statement for the last six-months to-date of submission.
Additionally, the club must submit proof from the bank that the Club CEO is a principal signatory to the club bank account, and proof of payment of players and coaches every three months among other requirements.
In the criteria requirements for sporting, the regulations indicate that a club must submit FUFA License for the Football Academy of a minimum of Class B owned and operated by the Club, contracts of all players registered by the Club, pre-competition medical reports for each player in accordance with the medical requirements.
Under the criteria requirements for infrastructure, each cub applying for a license must have a home stadium and a training ground, but the acceptable pitch must be all-green natural grass or artificial turf with proper markings in accordance with the prevailing FIFA Laws of the Game. It further indicates that a club must have office premises that accommodate the club secretariat.
In the criteria for administration, the regulation notes that the club must have key club positions fulfilled. It states that the club must appoint a full-time Club Chief Executive Officer. Other required personnel includes Finance Officer, Marketing and Communications Officer among others.
The club is also required to have a head coach who meets the CAF B standards before the kickoff of the season, as well as an Assistant Coach, Goal Keeper Coach, and Fitness Trainer. In the same development, the regulation states the club must provide club ownership declaration forms. Speaking to URN, Hussein explained that club licensing was initiated a few years back in a bid to professionalize local leagues
While several clubs struggle to fulfill all the requirements at ago, Ahmed Hussein explained that there are basic requirements that are required from a club if it is to attain a license provided that the applicant commits to fulfill the requirement in a given time.
Asked whether clubs are given enough time to meet all the requirements before a decision is made, Hussein explained that the exercise started earlier in March 2022 for all clubs that were going to participate in the forthcoming season.
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