By Spy Uganda
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) representatives are part of the UEFA Assist program that addresses the needs of national associations outside Europe.
UEFA founded a program called UEFA Assist to help national associations and confederations outside Europe with the aim of increasing solidarity between the two parties and enhance football development.
The three officials held meetings with football stakeholders in Uganda with the aim of conducting operational reviews of FUFA’s work in line with its strategic plan.
UEFA Head of International Relations football operations specialist Eva Pasquier, and two consultants Stewart Reagan (former CEO of the Scottish Football Association) and Ken MacLeod are in Uganda on the request of FUFA to help the local federation learn from best practices.
The officials, who were welcomed by FUFA CEO Edgar Watson on Thursday, also spent Friday at the FUFA headquarters where they had discussions with a number of FUFA officials including President Eng. Moses Magogo, FUFA CEO, Directors and Managers in their respective areas.
FUFA’s focus areas are; Governance, Development, Infrastructure, National teams, Competitions, Marketing and Communications, Finance and Administration, and Membership.
FUFA CEO Edgar Watson highlighted the importance of this visit to Ugandan football.
“The representatives of UEFA are here to asses how football is run in this country on invitation by the FUFA president and his Executive with a view of trying to see how we can try to improve on our management in the execution of administrative issues within areas concerning marketing, finance, competions and how the Executive conducts its business,” he said.
The UEFA officials also held meetings with Ministry of Education and Sports, sponsors, fans, UPL secretariat staff and board representatives, football clubs’ CEOs and the media.
This is the first time UEFA is visiting Africa, and Uganda is the first country to benefit from this program.
The UEFA team will engage the FUFA Executive in a two-day retreat at Serena Hotel, Kigo on Saturday and Sunday where they will, basing on their findings from the discussions with stakeholders, advice and guide the FUFA on the way forward.
