Masaka Local council football club has lost 7 key players and its head coach James Magara ahead of the next season. The players have signed up with other clubs raising fears among the fans of Masaka LC football club. They are Ashaddu Bugembe, Costa Muziba, Herman Waswa and Sam Ssenkoomi amongst others. Bugembe and Muziba have signed for former Uganda Super league champions Express FC.
Herman Waswa has joined Sports Club Villa while Sam Ssenkoomi has signed for Uganda Revenue Authority. Other players threatening to leave are Joseph Kasekende and Ronald Lukungu, the team captain. Ronald Lukungu, the captain Masaka LC says that the club is a facing a mass exodus of player because of emoluments.
He says about seven other players are at the verge of leaving the club because the management has failed to pay their salaries for the last five months. Lukungu, who is paid about 600,000 shillings every month, says as soon as the last season came to an end, the club management promised to clear their salary arrears within two days but nothing has been done up to now.
He says that as a result, players have resolved to look for greener pastures to avoid the misery they suffered last season. Lukungu says that unless Masaka LC clears his outstanding arrears and increases their allowances he will not hesitate joining another club.
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James Kisekka, the acting Masaka Local council coach says he fears many players will leave the club. He says what is worrying him is the fact that the management has not signed a single new player for the new season that is scheduled for September.
Kisekka says that the remaining players have also shunned training because of unpaid monies. But Joseph Karungi, board chairman Masaka LC says that the players will be paid soon. He says the district has earmarked 80million shillings this financial year for paying the players salaries and maintenance.
Kalungi says they are waiting for the district council approval to use some of the money to sign new players to boost the team. Masaka local council LC FC struggled to finish in 10th position last season because various challenges faced by the club.
