Onyango seeks clarity over Presidential cash pledge

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Jun 24, 2020. 12:00

Uganda national team captain Denis Onyango says he is seeking clarity from the country’s President over a US$1million pledge made to the players following their showing at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Last year’s AFCON saw the Cranes return to the continental tournament for a second successive time and they exceeded expectations by reaching the round of 16. This was despite a payment row with Uganda’s football governing body FUFA.

In response, President Yoweri Museveni pledged $1million to be shared among the players, which would go a long way in helping to deal with the financial implications of the Covid-19 outbreak, according to Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Onyango.

“We were invited to the State House and he promised us something,” he told Reuters in a phone interview from South Africa.

“We’ve tried all means of getting to him but we failed,” Onyango added.

Museveni’s press secretary, Don Wanyama, claimed the players’ message reached the president. “A reminder has been sent to the president to respond to it,” Wanyama said.