UPL CEO Bainamani Confident League Will Pass New Covid Rules Hurdle

Uganda Premier League CEO Bernard Bainamani is positive the league will carry on smoothly amidst new strict Covid19 rules.

Sport in the country will be allowed to continue despite new national lockdown restrictions announced by President Museveni on Sunday.

The President announced a mild coronavirus lockdown until July 19 as the Govenment moves to cut spiralling infection rates.

The new restrictions announced by the President include the closure of schools, churches and other public gatherings for 42 days!

In a list of exemptions, President Museveni allowed Sports events to operate under strict observance of SOPs with NO spectators while players MUST have negative PCR test.

Sport’s big worry is the restriction on Transport – Museveni said that public transport between and across districts are suspended effective June 10. All inter district travel banned except travel within Kampala Metropolitan.

The top and second divisions (UPL and Big league) are littered with Up country Clubs, and there are growing concerns that they may not manage to fulfil the transportation requirements.

“The President gave a general framework within which the respective bodies have to put arrangements in place to ensure that what he announced is implemented,” said Bainamani.

“Football involves moving of teams from one area to another across the districts. So mechanisms have to be put in place to allow the movement of teams, especially looking at the SOPs.

“Like if a team is moving, they must use a bus or Coaster so that social distancing is observed and in addition players have to be with their negative PCR tests identification documents. You have to have a cover letter from fufa or police that you can present in case of a road block.”

The new guidelines issued also include that Sports will have to be played behind closed doors. FUFA last week confirmed that all matches will be played without fans.

The strain of Covid19 has been a massive setback for the clubs as they continue to miss out on matchday revenue.

“And also, the teams have been playing matches under these same restrictions, they move past curfew time and they have not been hindered.

“The presidential address was last night. The league is coming back on June 15, we have more time to sit and see the way forward.”

The Matchday 27 travel hurdles (June 15-20)

To give you a clear picture, Jinja based BUL FC have to cross districts to play MYDA FC in Tororo on June 15. Mbarara City visit Kyetume in Mukono district on June 16. KCCA (Kampala) visit Kitara in Masindi district while Arua based Onduparaka have to travel for a game against Vipers in Kitende (Entebbe road). URA will be in Jinja against Busoga.


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