Uganda's football clubs accept GTV deal

Uganda's football clubs has finally backtracked on their hard-line position on the GTV-FUFA sponsorship deal and agreed to cooperate "for the good of football". The clubs had earlier declined to cooperate with the local football federation's handling of the sponsorship from pay television GTV. However, they changed their position after a joint meeting with officials from the Federation of Ugandan Football Associations (FUFA) at Mengo on Sunday. The deal that offers 8.7 billion Ugandan shillings (4.9 million U.S. dollars) sponsorship over five years is expected to start with six Super League matches televised live and 77 relayed late in the first season. "It was not a matter of accepting the deal or not but finding a consensus and a way forward," said Express' Kavuma Kabenge, quoted by state-owned New Vision on Tuesday. "We accepted that we are partners in the game and agreed on a way forward," added Kabenge. Save for Kinyara and Maroons, all clubs were represented at the meeting that was addressed by FUFA marketing official Dennis Mbidde, legal counsel Fred Muwema and competitions committee secretary Moses Magogo. "The clubs had not internalised their benefits. They also did not know the background to the agreement," said Mbidde, adding "but when we explained its effects, they all agreed to support it." The clubs were also briefed on how clubs can benefit from their commercial rights. "We even offered to become their marketing and legal consultants. They should consult us (FUFA) for bargaining techniques," said Mbidde. "We want to eventually run a professional league. It might have some problems in the beginning but we are determined to go through it," he added. Meanwhile, Namboole stadium has cut down its facility charges for football activities to attract back clubs that quit the stadium over exorbitant fees. The stadium acting manager Francis Ikotot was quoted by the daily as saying that they had revised the charges from 0.18 million shillings (100 dollars) per match down to 0.1 million shillings (56 dollars) in a bid to make it conducive for clubs. Police FC and SC Villa who quit the stadium last season have already responded. URA stayed at Namboole last season. Despite earlier confirmation of Nakivubo as their home for next season, Villa secretary Luyimbazi Mugalu also revealed that they were shifting their Super League opener against Express FC to their new home in Namboole.