UPL: Permission Granted, Clubs Allowed to Utilize Junior Team Players But With Strings attached

By: Hassan Sendija

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) reached on decision to allow Uganda Premier League clubs to utilize their Junior Teams Players for the season 2020/21.

On Wednesday 12 May 2021, FUFA released a statement allowing Star Times Uganda Premier League Clubs to utilize their 2019-2020 Junior teams’ players.

The statement indicates that the UPL clubs wrote to FUFA requesting for permission to use their Junior players for the remaining fixtures of UPL season 2020/21. 

After consultations and meetings, FUFA granted them access but with some strings attached.

Here is the FUFA statement:

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not been able to kick off the FJL 2020/2021.

However FUFA has received requests from the SUPL Clubs to be allowed to utilise players of their FJL teams for the senior outfits as was the case with the previous seasons.

After consultations and careful considerations, it has been decided as follows in regard to the subject matter,

(i) The SUPL clubs are henceforth allowed to use upto four (4) FJL players in a single match.
(ii) The FJL Players should be in possession of their 2019/2020 players’ Licenses  

(iii) The newly promoted clubs for the season 2020/2021. i.e. Kitara FC, MYDA FC and UPDF FC will be given opportunity to register their FJL teams but within the provisions of the Regulations on the Status and transfer of players.

(iv) FUFA Competitions Department shall issue Provisional Players’ Licenses in all such cases.

(v) Any player in the above category must possess PCR negative COVID-19 test result as has been for the senior sides.
(vi) No player shall be registered or licensed without the parent’s/guardian’s consent.
The above provisions shall apply for the season 2020/2021 only.

With some clubs have remained with 7-8 matches to mark an end of 2020-2021 season, The decision seems to be much important to Clubs and players.