Fufa Account for Only 40, 000 Tickets From Bissau Game

Andrew Mwanguhya

8 June 2011

Kampala — Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) maintain they printed only 40, 000 tickets for a game watched by approximately 60, 000 people at Namboole on Saturday.

It was by God’s grace, a point emphasized by Fufa president Lawrence Mulindwa at a media briefing at Sojovalo Hotel on Rubaga Road yesterday, that this number left Namboole – a 40, 202 capacity stadium – safely. Uganda Cranes beat Guinea Bissau 2-0 to edge ever closer to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

But the 40, 000 tickets were clearly exceeded as people stood in all the entrances to the terraces. There was even a near-stampede at the entrance with hundreds forcing their way at the same time as dignitaries motorcades entered.

Tickets were also not torn on entering, a factor that refueled recycling, and some Fufa officials were seen selling tickets at the gate although Mulindwa vehemently denied the allegations. “I promise that for the next game, we shall address those issues,” he said, “On not tearing tickets, even one of my officials is implicated and I’m investigating it. But we didn’t sell tickets at the gate.”

Mulindwa, who declined to disclose the company contracted to print the tickets, also denied that Fufa printed more than 40, 000, but couldn’t clearly explain the excess people.

Meanwhile, Fufa vice president technical Anthony Kimuli said they amassed Shs618m from the sale of 32, 618 (@Shs15, 000) and 4, 300 (@Shs30, 000) tickets for open stands and pavillion respectively.

Tickets printed: 40, 000

Tickets sold

Open stands: 32, 618 (Shs489, 270, 000)

Pavillion: 4, 300 (Shs129, 000, 000)

Invites: 3021 (local clubs, referees and guests)

Not sold: 61

Total: 40, 000 (Shs618, 270, 000)

UBC and marketing: Shs23, 500, 000

Grand total: Shs618, 270, 000 + Shs23, 500, 000 = Shs641, 770, 000

Expenditure

Air tickets for players and match officials: $35, 345 (Shs84, 675,026)

Accommodation (visiting team and officials): $7, 864 (Shs18, 834,281)

Ticket printing: $5, 000 (11,976,000)

Cranes accommodation: Shs10m

Officials and Cranes allowance

and Cranes refreshments: Shs17, 506, 693

Security: Shs24m

Bonus: Shs80m

Stadium: 60m

Gate operation: Shs21m

Publicity: Shs42m

Total: Shs369, 992, 000

Balance: Shs271, 778, 000

Fifa: 4% of gross total (Shs25, 670, 800)

Caf: 3% of gross total (Shs19, 253, 100)

Total: Shs25, 670, 800 + Shs19, 253, 100 = Shs44, 923, 900

Balance after all expenditure: Shs226, 854, 100

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