FUFA Competitions Disciplinary Panel has ruled that new signing Filbert Obenchan was eligible to play for KCCA FC after a petition from Mbarara City FC.
Mbarara City earlier petitioned FUFA claiming that KCCA FC fielded an ineligible player in Filbert Obenchan during their game at Lugogo on January 5.
Obenchan came on in the 80th minute of the game for John Revita on his return at the Club as they picked a 1-0 win over the Ankole Lions, just a day after he was announced as a KCCA FC player.
Mbarara City’s petition quoted FUFA rules that say that a player is only eligible to take part in football competition if there is at least five (5) days between the date of receipt of registration form by FUFA and the day of a match, unless the license is issued earlier.
Mbarara City said that KCCA FC didn’t allow the requested five days to elapse before using Obenchan in their league game.
FUFA Competitions Disciplinary Panel chairman chairperson Deo Mutabazi has said that the said rule is conserved for players who are still under the registration process but when a player is already registered and validated to play it may not affect him.
“A player is regarded as registered after his application is validated on the registration system and a license is issued.” Article 7(17) validates Obenchan to be fully able to play in the Startimes Uganda Premier League,” reads a statement from Mutabazi.
“Please not that the player Obenchan is a duly licensed by FUFA and an eligible player to play any game.”
The ruling means that KCCA FC will not face any charges because they rightly used Obenchan.
