Sustained pressure will force Fufa to share the $500,000

At a time when other African football associations are using their share of the $500,000 Fifa assistance to combat the effects of Covid-19, our group of football leaders remain tightlipped.

While releasing the money late last month, Fifa clearly mentions it on its website that this money is a “relief plan to assist the football community impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Fifa president Gianni Infantino furthers adds that: “The pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for the entire football community and, as the world governing body, it is Fifa’s duty to be there and support the ones that are facing acute needs. This starts by providing immediate financial assistance to our member associations, many of which are experiencing severe financial distress.”

Unfortunately, the powers that be at Fufa house have decided to hide behind vague statements to deprive the would-be beneficiaries. Fufa instead released a statement claiming that it will manage the money in accordance with the lined-up activities and availability of funds for each calendar year as approved by the Fufa executive and Fufa assembly.

In other words, this statement means that any club or member waiting for the rescue will have to wait till September when the Fufa assembly meets to deliberate the issue. It cannot get any worse when you know that the assembly is a mere rubber stamp of the executive’s orders.

Worse still, that assembly may not even meet this year due to the social distancing directives. All this means that clubs should forget any part of this money.

Meanwhile, nearly all football activities have already been shut down; so, what is Fufa going to spend this money on? Perhaps seminars and workshops. Isn’t it also ironic that disgraced fraudster Moses Magogo chose this moment to fulfill his pledge to pay each KCCA FC player $1,000 for winning the Cecafa club championship after 10 full months?

You do not have to be a rocket scientist to know the source of the money. That is why clubs need to put sustained pressure on Fufa to get their share of the $500,000. Anything less means enriching a few corrupt individuals run- ning the game.

josephmbazzi@gmail.com

The author is Nyamityobora FC president