Mbarara City have vowed to appeal their exclusion from the Uganda Premier League after failing to provide an adequate venue.
The Ankole Lions were meant to host Express FC on September 28th when the League is expected to kick off, only for FUFA to exclude them from competition.
“You are hereby informed that your club has been excluded from competing in the Uganda Premier League season 2018-2019 due to non-compliance by failure to officially provide a fully inspected and approved venue to host matches,” began a letter signed by Uganda FA Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson, and dated September 25.
“There were certain requirements which all the 16 teams were supposed to meet including a green playing surface and well-done perimeter fencing to protect the players and fans,” Watson told KweséESPN.
The FUFA CEO noted that large patches of the playing surface at Mbarara City’s Kakyeka Stadium were without grass, while the dressing rooms required refurbishment, the stadium lacked an internal perimeter face and there was no provision made for fan segregation.
“Under the FUFA Licensing Regulations your club is eligible to register in the 3rd Division competition in the 2018-2019 season,” Watson added.
However, speaking to KweséESPN on Wednesday, Mbarara chairman Mwine Mpaka has vowed that his club will lodge an appeal against the suspension.
“It is true we have still failed to meet certain requirements, but we shall request that we can use another stadium as is provided for in the statues while we continue to improve Kakyeka Stadium,” he began.
“We received communication from FUFA informing us about the decision that has been taken by the Licensing board,” he continued. “We want to assure our fans and the public that the club management will work against the clock to engage FUFA and an appeal will be submitted to make sure the decision is reversed.
“We shall abide by the option of hosting a few league games away from home as we complete the upgrade of Kakyeka Stadium to the required standards.
“We request our fans to be flexible, and bear with the inconveniences that shall be caused by change of the hosting ground for the start.”
City, located 267km out of the capital city Kampala, finished 11th place last term.