The Ugandan football governing body, FUFA has stated that they will not hesitate to give midfielder Khalid Aucho another chance to don the national team colors as a Cranes player, should he be humble enough to be remorseful and apologize for his misconduct.
“The player has been dismissed from the current Cranes camp but may be considered for future National team engagements,” FUFA announced.
The super efficient, hard tackling midfielder, Khalid Aucho was indefinitely suspended by FUFA for misconduct.
Aucho is still on suspension having acquired a red card two minutes before a Tito Okello goal saw Uganda Cranes suffer a set-back in the TOTAL Afcon 2021 qualification campaign, losing 1-0 to South Sudan during a group B duel at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
It was a a tactical decision from the Cranes technical team to summon Aucho given his experience. He was set to miss the encounter with Burkina Faso at St Mary’s Kitende but was eligible and would most probably be fielded to play a vital role in the middle of the park away to Malawi.
Uganda Cranes will now play two crucial matches in one week against Burkina Faso on Wednesday 24th before going away to Malawi on Monday 29th.
The Cranes are 2nd in Group B with 7 points one below leaders Burkina Faso with Malawi and South Sudan collecting 4 and 3 points respectively in four matches.
Aucho’s suspension justified, but hurried;
FUFA condemned Aucho for refusing to board the official means of transport organised to pick him from Entebbe International Airport to the team camp at Cranes Paradise Hotel-Kisasi when he landed from Egypt.
FUFA reported that Aucho had refused to even report to camp since his arrival in the country, but the soft spoken player told theGrapevine that it was only a few hours since he had landed into the country and needed some necessary private time before he reporting to the camp.
Aucho says he landed at Entebbe Airport towards 3pm, and less than 4 hours later, he got an e-mail notification of his suspension.
“I reached at a half past 2, then I told the person they had sent to pick me that I was not feeling well and immediately needed to see a doctor to ascertain why my body was not functioning well,” Aucho narrated.
“I knew I had to go to camp, I mean, that’s why I traveled here in the first place, but I also needed to atleast briefly see my family. I have to see my kids to bless me whenever I’m home because I take so much time away from them,” he added.
No excuses! No one is above the law;
FUFA stressed that it’s its sole duty to duly enforce regulations with all its 9 National teams just like it was for goalkeeping coach Fred Kajoba who was no exception when he was asked to leave camp for breaching Covid-19 regulations as the Uganda Cranes prepared for the CHAN tournament.
Further rectifying about the rurrent Uganda Cranes camp preparing for two AFCON Matches against Burkina Faso and Malawi, FUFA re-echoed that;
“All Uganda Cranes Players and Officials are bound by the National Teams Code of Conduct formulated way back in 2017,”
“When players were invited for National team duty two weeks ago for the two matches vs Burkina Faso and Malawi; an air ticket was sent and a circular dated 4th March 2021 attached reminding players and officials of their obligations in line with National Teams’ Code of Conduct. Permission for players to miss from camp is only granted by the Head Coach, in this case, the player had to follow the same procedure. Unfortunately, player Aucho Khalid didn’t” FUFA emphasised.
Bobi Wine: Aucho was dismissed because of me, FUFA: It’s A Lie!
Unlike earlier serious reports about Aucho was being witch-hunted for his varrying political affiliations, unpopular with the federation’s president, Moses Magogo, FUFA strongly maintained that the decision against the player totally has no political inclination, despite the fact that Moses Magogo is a senior cadre in President Yoweri Museveni’s ruling NRM government, and Aucho oftentimes and openly supports Bobi Wine, a key opposition figure at the moment who condemns Museveni’s government.
FUFA was forced to release an immediate response to dispute Bobi Wine’s claims that Aucho was not merely dismissed for misconduct but other hidden political reasons.
He claimed with evidence that; “The midfielder has in recent times distinguished himself as an athlete who is conscious of the injustice orchestrated against his fellow citizens by the State and its institutions.”
“He has been using his social media channels to speak out against this injustice, and to sympathise with the victims. It is unfortunate that he is now the latest victim of the State’s persecution of those that stand with the people,” Bobi Wine claimed.
The player himself argued that; “But even if I support any political party, it’s not criminal but constitutional. Me supporting Bobi Wine and is simply a matter of choice, every Ugandan is entitled to. Like we can be members of the same family but you can support one soccer team and I choose to support another.”
No Panic: Goodluck Uganda Cranes…
After his shocking dismissal, Aucho said he accepted FUFA’s “harsh” decision on him and will take it in good faith.
“I love my county and I wish the team good luck in the next two very important games,” he said.
Cranes head coach, Abdallah Mubiru affirmed that there’s no panic whatsoever in the Cranes camp.
“We have no pressure at all. The only difference this time round is because it’s a local coach taking full charge but like the last attempt, I can assure you we are going to the AFCON,” Mubiru confidently stated before adding;
“I have worked with most of these players right from school, and their junior levels of playing the game. I have ideally been part of their journey, it’s very easy for me to work with each one of them. And for the senior players, they already know what we’re upto,” Mubiru said.
“For me it’s bussiness as usual. The team I’m working with is highly experienced, Mbabazi, Massa, Kajoba and the whole technical team is of great positivity to our aim. They’re all very cooperative,” he added.
Team Update;
On the initial list FUFA produced of the 31-man squad, comprising of 4 goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 11 midfielders and 6 forwards, upto 13 players (all foreign based) are absent, including team captain Dennis Onyango.
The summoned 8 local based players all trained today at St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende, joined by other 10 foreign based players. Left back Ochaya is the latest to join the Cranes camp, and pacy forward, Abdu Lumala is among the available 18 players.
By Baron Kironde
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