This Saturday, August 17, the highly anticipated CAF Champions League qualifier between SC Villa and Ethiopia’s CBE, is now in doubt.
The UPDF project engineer in charge of Namboole Stadium’s renovations, Lt. Col. Eng. Peter Seku Kidemuka, claims that the stadium is not yet prepared to host the game.
Speaking on Tuesday, Kidemuka disclosed that the stadium is still undergoing massive renovations, pointing out as a big concern the running track, which is still damp and incomplete.
“There is no team that will play here, it’s a lie. Namboole is still under renovation,” Kidemuka said on Wednesday.
“They can’t come and destroy this [running tartan], it’s still even wet,” he remarked emphatically.
Any suggestions that the stadium was cleared for the game were brushed aside by Kidemuka as unfounded hearsay. “This is where no team is allowed to play. “Unless they are dropped in the stadium by a helicopter,” he continued, emphasizing how unfeasible it would be to have any kind of event there given its current condition.
There are rumors that any harm done to the running track—which is still wet—would require a total reconstruction. It may be necessary to call in World Athletics experts once more for this process.
In a letter to the Namboole management, SC Villa and Kitara FC—who will play for Uganda in the CAF Confederation Cup—asked to use the stadium to hold their continental matches.
On Friday, August 16, Kitara was supposed to play Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya, while on Saturday, August 17, SC Villa was supposed to play CBE.
The Namboole management, however, turned down the requests of both teams, citing current renovations.
Furthermore, it has been alleged that the field has been harmed by recent Rugby Africa Cup training sessions that were conducted on the exterior field of the stadium.
SC Villa is reported to have persisted in their attempts in spite of the rejection, and they have subsequently announced publicly that they will be hosting their game at Namboole this Saturday.
Given that Namboole is one of just two stadiums in Uganda authorized by CAF to host interclub tournaments this year—the other being Kitende—this most recent development has caused uncertainty and anxiety among stakeholders, including supporters.
Due to a full schedule at the venue, Kitara’s other request to use Kitende was also denied. The club has decided to hold their match in Libya as a result.
When reached, State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang said he will meet with Namboole management on Wednesday morning to discuss the SC Villa problem.
The result of this encounter will probably decide whether or not Saturday’s match goes forward and whether or not SC Villa has to look for a last-minute home. CBE
