Cranes players insist strike still on despite photos of ‘regrouped’ team

Cranes players have maintained that the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) owes them about Shs37 million each.

According to URN, the money in question was a promise from the federation for qualification to the 2019 Nations Cup and not the Shs2b given by President Museveni for the team to share after they sealed a place in Egypt.

The players now want the money paid before they can resume training ahead of the crunch round of 16 game against Senegal on Friday.

On Tuesday, players went on a sit down strike, protesting over unpaid bonuses.

Then, it was believed that the bonus – about Shs22 million ($6,000) each for beating DRC and drawing with Zimbabwe in the group stages of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations – was the reason for the strike.

Fufa quickly issued a statement insisting that all players have been paid outstanding dues amounting to about Shs54 million each as of Tuesday, July 2.

The players and technical team of @UgandaCranes have regrouped for post match analysis of Egypt game, plan for the evening training session at 7pm today and Senegal on Friday. @kawowosports @ntvuganda @sanyukatv @NCSUganda1 @DailyMonitor @Seb_Desabre #TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/DdalrTJHoD

— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) July 3, 2019

The team reportedly received $4,000 for their win against DR Congo and $2,000 for the draw against Zimbabwe.

The players also received $5,100 each for 34 days of camping till June 30 at a rate of $150 per day, $420 for the 14 days of camping in Uganda, together with $300 for the international friendly against Ivory Coast played in Abu Dhabi.

The Federation also released several pictures of regrouped players and technical team of Cranes during a post-match analysis of Egypt game, a plan for the evening training session and Senegal on Friday.

The team was also reminded of the code of conduct document that each of them signed prior to flying to Egypt.

But a senior player who did not want his name revealed told URN that they would go on with the strike until each of them receives their share Shs37million.

“Yes we decided as a group to keep out of training to send a big message across so that the leaders can pay us,” URN quotes a player.

Earlier on Wednesday, Fufa spokesperson Ahmed Hussein, when asked why the players would refuse to train even after all their monies had been paid said ‘only they can tell.’

The Cranes camp in Egypt is not the only one that has been rocked by pay disputes.

Reigning champions, Cameroon refused to fly to Egypt to defend their title after failing to agree on how much to be paid as bonuses. After the pay dispute was settled, the team flew to Egypt, but arrived late.

Zimbabwe also threatened to boycott their first group game against hosts Egypt, until they were cleared.

The Nigerian team players also boycotted one of the mandatory press conferences over unpaid winning bonuses.