Police FC Chairman AIGP Asan Kasingye says that most UPL Clubs cannot afford to meet the costs of Sports Resumption amidst Coronavirus restrictions.
President Museveni, on Sunday, gave Sports Resumption a greenlight but with strict restrictions.
The President said that all players must be tested 72 hours before the match, and the testing will expire every after two weeks.
In addition, the teams have to be quarantined for the whole duration of the championship.
“I have been one of those affected by Coronavirus. its not one of the experience I would not wish anyone to go through,” Kasingye said on NTV Pressbox.
“For starters, I will agree with President on prohibiting fans from attending the Open sporting activities, he president was spot on. We have to watch from TV, we can miss the stadium aura but its something I entirely support.
“Secondly, the need to test once a fortnight. It’s understandable but there is a challenge. Testing is going to pay be privately paid by the clubs. Government has set a Covid19 testing fee of 240,500 meaning I will need 25 players which totals up to Sh7.5m per game.
“UPL Clubs survive survive on 40m, some of the clubs may pull out. Where are they going to get the money? We are not going to get gate collection, if a sponsor is not having fans, it will affect the business side of the sport which is the air we breathe.
“On camp quarantine – the club will fork more money for feeding etc as players will not go back home, which will lead to additional expenditure of 30m. About Sh230m in total is needed. Clubs will not play until this is well addressed.”
The 2020/21 Uganda Premier League is tentatively set to kickoff on October 17, 2020.
Kasingye added: “Its expensive to run a club, we pay about sh13m monthly to just the technical team only. Government should waive the Covid19 tests fees for the teams.”
FUFA head of Communications Ahmed Hussein revealed that they are planning to meet the Government, NCS among others stakeholders to forge a way forward.
“We want to find modernities on what exactly the testing is all about. Its expensive definitely butt we want to see how we will beat that,” Hussein calmly stated.
“We have to be optimistic. We just have to engage Government and see if we have the tests subsidised. The sports industry needs the government more than ever.”
National Council of Sports General Secretary Doctor Patrick Bernard Ogwel said that Government is committed to developing Sports as it was evidenced by allowing and helping Athletes to fly out for competitions abroad during the difficult times of Covid19.
He stated that NCS will meet Sports Federations, make further consultations among others before agreeing on the way forward. He added that “we shall lobby for more money” because players have to be tested.
