Match fixing is a vice that has affected sports in general worldwide.
In Uganda, there have been several incidents of match fixing but FUFA has since sworn to defend the integrity of the game.
That is what a Douglas Bamweyana-led Commission had in mind when it fined three top division coaches, Mike Mutebi, Sam Ssimbwa and Fred Kajoba for putting the game into disrepute.
KCCA head coach Mike Mutebi, fresh from seeing his side knocked out of the CAF Confederations Cup and the Uganda Cup in the space of just under 76 hours, was given four-match touchline ban and a Shs2 million fine.
Mutebi had earlier during a press conference said that all the previous winners of the Uganda Premier league in the past 20 years, including his own KCCA, have been fixed. He claimed then and still maintains that he has enough evidence to back his claims.
The KCCA boss, when contacted, said he will not appeal the decision and will serve the ban and pay the fine.
“This is my position. Championships have been fixed and I will defend it even if it means costing his job. If they think this will make me shut up they are wrong,” Mutebi told Watchdog.
One the other hand, URA coach Sam Ssimbwa who was previously banned from all football related matters for nine months for utterances regarding him being able to fix matches for his team has also been banned for four game s plus a Shs2 million fine this time for uttering tribalistic sentiments after the 1-1 draw against Kirinya JSS.
“Today the referee was very unfair to us and you all saw it. But because this is your team and you are Basoga you act like it was all good. But this was broad day robbery,” Ssimbwa said in a post-match press conference.
Bright Stars Coach Fred Kajoba, whose crime was interference with play as he stepped onto the pitch and ordered his team off for what he termed as unfair officiating during the Tooro United game has been fined Shs2 million.
Bamweyana, the FUFA disciplinary committee head carried out necessary investigations and come up with a verdict on all the matters.
“Coaches Mike Mutebi of KCCA FC, Sam Ssimbwa (URA FC) and Fred Kajoba (Bright FC) have been handed financial fines (Shs 2M each) for bringing the game into disrepute. Ssimbwa and Mutebi also banned for four matches each. Mutebi’s matter forwarded to FUFA Match Integrity Committee.” said a statement on Fufa’s official twitter account.
Mutebi will miss the away games against Mbarara City, Bright Stars and Police Fc and the home game against Onduparaka in the league. While Ssimbwa will not be around when his side hosts Vipers SC this Friday at Namboole, both home games against SC Villa and Maroons and the trip to Ndejje.
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