Tough conditions from FUFA force URA's decision to withdraw from Mapinduzi Cup

Four-time Uganda Premier League champions URA FC have pulled out of the 2024 Mapinduzi tournament slated for December 28 to January 13 in Zanzibar.

According to URA, they received an official invitation from the tournament organisers, which was also accompanied by a letter from the Tanzania Football Federation to FUFA.

The Tax Collectors affirmed their willingness to form part in the tournament, only for the tough conditions set by FUFA to force their withdrawal.

The local football custodians insisted that URA could only participate if they didn't violate their schedule in the Uganda Premier League.

In the two weeks of the tournament, URA had three UPL matches scheduled, and FUFA couldn't allow a postponement for the sake of the Mapinduzi Cup.

"In a letter from FUFA dated 22nd December, after expressing readiness to travel to Zanzibar to represent the country, the approval to go and take part in the tournament was subjected to the following conditions as agreed upon by FUFA and UPL:" URA said.

"All URA FC SUPL fixtures must continue uninterrupted," URA revealed FUFA's tough condition for their participation.

In the same period of the tournament, URA will play Mbarara City FC (December 28), KCCA FC (January 2) and SC Villa five days later.

"It left us with no option apart from withdrawing in order to honour our fixtures," the club added.

The Taxmen had been pooled in Group A along with Tanzania's Azam FC and Zanzibar outfits Mlandege FC and Chipukizi United.

It has since been confirmed that South Sudan’s Jamus FC has taken up URA's spot.

In 2016, the Tax Collectors became the second Ugandan club to win the tournament after KCCA FC in 2014, when they beat Tanzania’s Mtibwa Sugar 3-1.