I don’t support move to boycott Uganda Cranes- Bobi Wine

Self proclaimed Ghetto president, Gladiator and singer Bobi Wine says does not agree with boycott threats by a section of Ugandans on social media towards the national soccer team- The Cranes.

Following the circus involving Bobi Wine and the Mandela Stadium management in which the singer was denied access to the stadium for his long awaited Kyarenga Album launch, fans took to social media threatening they would boycott the upcoming Cranes Vs Cape Verde game (November 16).

However, through his Facebook page, Bobi Wine says he does not agree with the threats or the action to boycott the national team.

“I don't agree with the trending hashtag #boycottugandacranes. Uganda Cranes is our national team in which we should always take pride and support with all our abilities. These young men, just like most of us work hard to raise our flag high using their talent even when they are insufficiently facilitated.”

“If musical talent is being suffocated, let's not take all the other talent down the drain. Our national team is the mirror of the best and the worst in us as a nation so all they need is Love and understanding, not condemnation. We are all Uganda Cranes and Uganda Cranes is us.”

The management of Namboole Stadium revoked its earlier provisional offer to host the concert on November 9th, 2018 sighting a complaint from Uganda’s football governing body, the Federation of Uganda’s Football Association (FUFA).

In a letter dated 19th October, 2018 that has been accessed by Nile Post, The Namboole stadium management has informed Bobi Wine, through Mr Emma Serugo, the director of Emma Promotionz and Marketing Agency that they will not be able to host the Kyarenga Concert on 9th November, 2018 following a complaint from FUFA that hosting any public event within the International football match period will put the stadium into an unacceptable standard to the detriment of CAF docking off points from the Uganda Cranes for the upcoming match due on Saturday 17th November 2018 with Cape Verde.

” In light of the above stated matters coupled with the Mandela National Stadium’s mandate ‘To promote sports in Uganda’, we regret to inform you that the stadium shall not be able to host your event as tentatively booked. You are therefore advised to seek for an alternative. Thank you.” – A letter from Namboole reads in part.

FUFA wrote to Namboole Stadium on 17th October 2018 following a provisional offer by the stadium management to host the Kyalenga concert on 9th November 2018 which gave the concert a green light as Bobi Wine needed to just seek approval from the Uganda Police as required by law.

In its complaint, FUFA also says that Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) is under a “red flag” having received a warning from CAF after a similar event was organised before Uganda Cranes played Ghana in October 2017 last year.

They said CAF is keenly observing the Stadium conditions as a key competition factor.