by Sande Bashaija
Kampala
KCC Lions and UCU Canons could both play in next year’s MTN-Fuba League men’s top division following a disagreement over their rescheduled game.
One of the two teams is meant to be relegated to the lower tier alongside Knight Riders but retaining them in the topflight could be the only solution to the stalemate.
UCU failed to turn up in time for the rescheduled fixture last month and KCC were awarded four points by forfeiture, which would guarantee them topflight status. But UCU blamed their late coming on misinformation by the Fuba technical committee and requested for a replay, which KCC Lions rejected.
National Council of Sports (NCS) has since intervened in the matter as an arbitrator. “They came to us for advice (last week). As arbitrators, we realised that neither of the teams deserves to be reprimanded since Fuba accepted the blame for the mess,” NCS general secretary Jasper Aligawesa told Daily Monitor yesterday.
“We thought keeping both teams in Division One would be one of the options to solve the standoff,” Aligawesa added. “But I guess the matter has been dissolved.” Whereas Fuba are keen to have the match replayed in the spirit of fair play, KCC Lions won’t buy the idea.
“We are meeting on Thursday (today) to discuss the matter,” basketball governing body Fuba general secretary Tom Ocamringa told Daily Monitor on Tuesday. “We hope to come up with a final decision.” But, whatever the outcome of today’s meeting, KCC Lions are only ready to settle for a topflight slot.
“This is not an ordinary match that can be replayed,” KCC treasurer Dennis Karugaba said. “It’s a matter of life and death. If we lose it, we shall be relegated.
We are not ready for that.” There are 10 teams in the First Division and adding another would come with several technicalities, Fuba have argued. This would also give Riders grounds to fight relegation in the boardroom.