CAF Okays Hamz Stadium for Uganda vs Burundi CHAN Qualifiers
The Chairperson of the Management Committee Hamz stadium Nakivubo, Mr. Rogers Mulindwa has given a highlight on the stadium's milestones since inception like hosting league matches, acquiring a FIFA certificate and successful preparations and completion of Hamz Cup, during his announcements regarding the new developments that the stadium is hosting Burundi vs Uganda (CHAN qualifiers) on Boxing day this month.
As the key requirements for approval by CAF for hosting the Chan qualifiers matches at Hamz stadium, the stadium had to ensure a detailed traffic flow and access plan is in place, which has been approved by CAF. They had to communicate the details of the matches, including ticket pricing and access plan, to the public. Engaging with FUFA to finalize the logistics and details for hosting the matches and lastly to develop a detailed security and traffic management plan to ensure a smooth and safe event, which they have done successfully.
“We have received the confirmation from the Confederation of African Football Association staff, which is a football regulating body on the continent of Africa. And we also have official communication from FUFA, the football governing body, that our stadium has been granted an opportunity to host the CHAN qualifiers matches.”
On Thursday at Hamz stadium, during a press engagement, Mr. Mulindwa said, the first fixture will be Burundi against Uganda on the Boxing Day, 26th of December this year, and that match will be played at 18 hours, which is 6pm. The second fixture will be on 29th of December and that is Uganda against Burundi.
He expressed how very grateful they are to CAF, and FUFA for the decision well taken. “Our commitment as Hamz stadium is to ensure that we have these matches well managed, so that we have a successful walk through as Burundi hosts Uganda in the match they would have hosted in their country, but because they don't have the facilities, then they are bringing the match here, and CAF has approved that.”
Mulindwa, however indicated how in n the recent days, they have had a number of inspections from CAF, different teams have been on ground and the most recent was last week, where they wanted them to provide the traffic flow and access plan which they did. What Hamz stadium submitted satisfied them, so want to make an appeal to Ugandans, that on 26th on Boxing day, in spite being in the festive season, let them come and watch, and support the first continental engagement, in Hamza stadium.
“We shall make sure we make the environment friendly as much as possible for the funs that are going to come in, we shall have to come up with a detailed plan of the fee charges. How to access the stadium after engagements with the FUFA, details on the security, and then we will communicate those details,” added Mr. Mulindwa.
In a period of less than a year, since I assumed this office as a chairperson of the Management Committee, milestones have been registred. “My first interest was to ensure that we have the league matches played here and the club licensing committee of FUFA did all what they could, and we have two League clubs of start times Uganda, Premier leagues playing here, and I am happy. Our next interest was to ensure that we secure the FIFA certificate of our tarf, which we got on 7th of October.”
The world football governing body FIFA certified Hamz stadium tarf that was another team, objective three was to look at having the stadium opened up to the community that surrounds it, hence the idea of the Hams Cup, he noted.
At these finals of the Hamz Cup, 50 million in prizes is being given out, and the stadium shall continue even having more tournaments after this one, but this is concluding today with the community involvement. And by doing so, the stadium is attracting people to watch the league matches organized.
