Reigning Uganda Premier League champions Kampala City Council FC has labelled rivals Jinja Municipal Council as “desperate” after the Busoga team lodged a complaint to Fufa questioning the registration status of left foot winger Isaac Muleme.
Muleme, a former SC Villa assistant skipper came in as a substitute in the 70th minute replacing Brian Majwega in KCCA FC 2-1 win over their Jinja counterparts on Friday at the Philip Omondi stadium, Lugogo.
But KCCA management believes all the paperwork was in order and the case is an attempt by JMC to take three points off their rivals.
“We have come across various media reports about the status of our player, Mr. Muleme Isaac who is contracted with us for a period of two seasons. We have also learnt that JMC petitioned UPL accusing KCCA FC of fielding an ineligible player,” a KCCA statement said.
Muleme and six other Villa players: Jonathan Mugabi, Nicholas Ssebwato, Misi Katende, Karim Ndugwa and Sulaiman Ochero were released before the start of the new season for what the club describes as “indiscipline.”
The said players have in the past however complained about delayed salaries at the club while others claim not to ever have been paid sign on fees.
KCCA now say they would want to clarify allegations claiming that Muleme wasn’t cleared by SC Villa as follows: “We were advised by the CEO Fufa in his circular dated August 1, 2016 to halt any process of signing up the player. Whereas the club had concluded all the negotiations and terms of the transaction with the player, we adhered to the directive and this is the very reason why he did not feature in the super cup win against Vipers SC on 14th August 2016.”
“We continued to consult with the officials at FUFA and was informed that Mr. Muleme Isaac and the other players like Mr. Sebwato Nicholas at Bright Stars were cleared to play for the clubs they wished to represent.”
“We accordingly submitted to the Fufa competitions committee an application for the licensing of Mr. Muleme Isaac which was granted vide number 921010001.
“The club was therefore granted permission by FUFA to field the player for our opening game against JMC.
KCCA vowed to go ahead and field Muleme in their Tuesday game against Lweza FC, a side the league champions are yet to beat in four league outings.
