Even at crossroads, there’s a glimmer of hope in our game

As we enter the final bend of the Uganda Premier League, it is a three-horse race with my SC Villa, Vipers and KCCA battling for supremacy.

What has been a mostly dull league is gaining traction but still, it is yet to attract the vibrancy and gripping nature expected. This is mostly due to the fact that clubs have had to do it all alone, right from publicity to marketing.

It is quite disheartening that the biggest headlines in domestic football always arise from controversy of match-fixing on lack of discipline. You rarely find a discussion about the rising stars of the game.

On the background, you will be hard-pressed to find someone that can ably break down the per- mutations for each of the trio because many local fans are just learning about the intriguing climax.

On the contrary, many Ugandans know all the dynamics of English Premier League. Last week, Vipers’ grudge match against KCCA FC could only attract a few thousands of fans, which is a big indictment on the level of competition we have.

Yet had Fufa and the UPL secretariat invested in the marketing and publicity of the game, that potential title decider would have been a sellout. Things is that the key stakeholders in UPL are resigned to giving local football fans the bare minimum.

In other words, fans virtually have no say in football matters in spite of the fact they have to pay to watch these league games. In professionally-run leagues, football authorities and clubs are accountable to fans. If a team is having a poor run of form, fans cause the coach’s sacking.

Fans need also to question to quality of technical and medical team. Also, if a player is not giving 100 per cent on the pitch, fans can boo them into lifting up their game. What’s more, there is no fans’ umbrella organisation to mobilize interest in the game in Uganda, instead everyone if on their own.

I am glad many clubs have taken to social media to promote their upcoming matches as well as profile star players but that is not enough when there is no concerted effort from Fufa and the UPL secretariat.

The author is SC Villa first vice president in charge of mobilization