Uganda will not have a representative in the 2018 Caf Confederation Cup owing to financial difficulties for the teams that had been earmarked to take up the slot. Big League side Paidha Black Angels who qualified for the competition after finishing as runners-up to KCCA in the Uganda Cup final were supposed to represent Uganda but failed to confirm their participation as the club CEO Robert Jakony said they did not have the money to play in such a competition.
The Caf Confederation Cup, in which KCCA had a fairly impressive showing despite a group stage exit, had its door opened to struggling Cup semi-finalists Express FC, who initially accepted the invitation but later revealed they weren’t ready. Fufa spokesperson Ahmed Hussein told Matooke Republic SC Villa, who were also invited, declined to take up the offer, leaving Kitende-based Vipers SC as the last throw of the dice as they represented Uganda in the same competition only last year. Vipers PRO Abdul Wasike however explained that the call for his side to authenticate their participation came late and that’s the reason it went unanswered.
“We were the fourth choice and Fufa reached [out to] us very late. The club could not commit itself, given the struggles we are having this season,” Wasike stated, adding that their participation would also require them to part with an initial $10,000 (Shs36m) deposit to Fufa which all clubs taking part in continental competitions are asked to pay as a guarantee for paying potential penalties if they pull out of the competition.
This leaves KCCA as the only Ugandan team that will play on the continent this year, starting with Champions’ League group stage playoffs in early 2018.