Some of the players have left the club yet FUFA ruled that only players registered for the 2020/21 season will be considered
Vipers SC has protested the resumption of the 2020/21 Stanbic Uganda Cup where they were due to play Police in the semifinals. Express takes on BUL in the other semifinal.
In a letter from Vipers CEO Simon Peter Njuba to FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, seen by Kaaro Karungi Sports, the club claims they can’t assemble a team in one week yet players have been out of action for 62 days.
“Assembling a semifinal competition team in one week for players that have been laid off for 62 days since 6th June with some players staying outside Uganda, playing may be difficult within the slated period,” read the letter in part.
“Considering the safety of players and other stakeholders, Vipers will only be ready to play beginning 30th August 2021.”
The club’s communications chief Abdul Wasike confirmed that they wrote to FUFA over the matter.
“The continuation of the Uganda Cup does not make sense since URA were already declared representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup, so what shall we be competing for? Secondly, the ties come up nine days from now yet the players have been in lockdown for more than 50 days. Technically it is wrong,” noted Wasike.
“These players need time to get back to their full fitness since they have spent a lot of time without playing. Furthermore spending on COVID-19 tests, training programs and matches in a tournament whose winner is already deprived of a representative slot in CAF competitions, to me, it does not add up.”
Wasike also pointed out with transfer season underway, some of the players have left the club yet FUFA ruled that only players registered for the 2020/21 season will be considered.
“Players have joined other clubs and registration for the coming season is just underway. How do you use a player you have just registered in a tournament of last season and if you are to use one for the 2020/21 season are they still available?” wondered Wasike.
