By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The captain of Uganda’s national football team “The Cranes” said on Tuesday he and his team mates are seeking clarity on a $1 million pledge that President Yoweri Museveni made to the players last year after their participation in the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
The cash pledged would be shared among the players and help them deal with the financial struggles caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, said Denis Onyango, who was voted the best African-based player of 2016.
The Cranes, as they are known, made a surprising run to the last 16 in Egypt last July before losing 1-0 to eventual finalists Senegal.
Their campaign in Cairo was marred by a payment row with players refusing to train at one point. The disagreement was resolved after the Ugandan Football Federation (FUFA) said it had offered the players an additional $6,000 each.
Upon the team’s return to Uganda, they were invited to a gathering with Museveni at State House in the capital Entebbe where the head of state made the pledge, Onyango said.
“We were invited to the State House and he promised us something,” the Mamelodi Sun downs and Uganda Cranes goalkeeper revealed.
“We’ve tried all means of getting to him but failed,” Onyango added.
So far Uganda has recorded 805 Covid-19 cases with no deaths. It began easing its lockdown, one of the strictest on the continent, in mid-May, but football is yet to resume.
