Ludo: Uganda’s World Cup hopes in the dark over finances

Uganda set to withdraw from 2022 Africa Ludo Championship

The Uganda Ludo National team (Uganda Doves) comprising 11 players that were selected by the Uganda Ludo Federation (ULF) might miss out on participating at two major tournaments.

Weeks back, Uganda Ludo Federation (ULF) was set to withdraw from the 2022 Africa Ludo Championship due to financial crisis and lack of support from the government and the National Council of Sports (NCS).

The competition is to dice off on 24th -28th September in Pretoria South Africa and Uganda are the defending champions having won the title last year Dubai.

According to the President of the Uganda Ludo Federation Kalule Hussein, the national team is destined for World Cup exit as the government has declined to get to the team’s rescue.

“We have won all Ludo competitions that we have participated in, all the international level and we have always flown the Uganda flag high but are always neglected when it comes to the support from NCS and government, ” Kalule expressed his dissatisfaction.

Adding, “We wrote to the Minister and he finally replied us, sent us to the General Secretary of NCS, but upon speaking to him he told us how the government hasn’t given them, yet we are now days away from the dicing off of the tournament.”

We managed to secure Visa’s but we need about 100 million shillings to travel to South Africa and defend our title. If we fail to participate at the 2022 Africa Ludo Individual Championship that’s an automatic disqualification from the 2022 Ludo World Cup yet to take place in November in Nepal and we shall be replaced by Ivory Coast.”

“We have not been supported enough by government yet other disciplines have been well support but in terms of wining tournaments we have always lived up to the billing, wining two major trophies in our last two continental engagements. ” he concluded.

Team Uganda entered a residential camp on Sunday at Kavumba to train ahead of the tournament.

The Uganda Doves team awaiting departure include Nagaddya Beth (Nansana Galaxy), Nakamya Kurusum (Basajja Bayiiya), Nabwami Grace (Kisansa Kireka) and Mugabi Peter (Ntinda United)

Others are Mayanja Henry (Nansana All Stars ), Matovu Huzaifa (Masaka Giants), Ssensanga Stephen (Kosovo), Mubiru Emmanuel (Nansana Galaxy), Natuhweza Johnson (Ntinda United), Mulondo Jimmy (Buyende United) and Nabuuma Teddy (Wakiso Club).