The state minister for sports, Peter Ogwang has responded to the ongoing embarrassment involving Uganda’s representatives in the 2024/25 continental football competitions.
Lack of sports facilities in Uganda has dragged Uganda Premier League champions SC Villa and Uganda Cup winners Kitara FC back and forth.
Kitara will play both legs of the CAF Confederation Cup against Al Hilal, Benghazi in Libya literally giving the latter home and away advantage.
On the other hand, Villa remain in suspense with the UPDF Engineering Brigade noting that Mandela National Stadium, Namboole is not ready to host games at the moment.
“It’s important to host games both at club and national team levels that we are all aware,” Ogwang was quoted by Kawowo Sports.
“Therefore, allow me to convey my sincere regrets to Kitara. It’s a shame that they’ll not host their game from home.”
Villa’s opponents Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) are set to arrive in the country on Thursday.
“Imagine the opponent already has Namboole in mind as the venue and all of a sudden that is changed, it doesn’t make sense.”
“So on Wednesday morning, I will hold a meeting with the Ministry of Defence because as a client, I feel they’ve delayed and I am certain this will be resolved for Villa to host from Namboole,” Ogwang noted.
Kitara will be action on Friday, August 16 for the first leg of the first phase of the Confederation Cup preliminaries while Villa will enter the fray at the same stage but in the Champions League the following day.
