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Denis Musanje
On the commencement of the 2025/2026 Uganda Premier League season, the Federation of Uganda Soccer Associations (FUFA) undertook what appeared to be a commendable initiative geared towards enhancing refereeing necessities and strengthening effectivity monitoring. In pursuit of this objective, referees’ assessors efficiently the “coaches” of match officers have been subjected to competency evaluation checks to search out out their readiness to boost officiating necessities.
Assessors play a job as essential to referees as coaches do to players. Their analytical notion, objectivity, and ability to talk constructive strategies are essential in shaping refereeing effectivity. With out competent assessors, even primarily probably the most promising referees menace stagnation.
The assessments, carried out on the FUFA Cranes Paradise Lodge in Kisasi, consisted of technical and analytical examinations commonly known as “trivia checks.” These involved video-based match eventualities drawn from televised FUFA competitions such as a result of the Uganda Premier League and the FUFA Large League. Assessors have been required to guage incidents determining, for instance, whether or not or not an issue warranted a yellow or crimson card, or whether or not or not an offside offense had occurred whereas providing precise justification for his or her alternatives. In essence, the checks measured match interpretation, decision-making accuracy, and analytical reasoning.
Nonetheless, the outcomes painted a troubling picture.
Reliable sources contained in the federation level out that the preliminary transfer mark was set at 10 out of 20. Beneath this commonplace, solely two assessors Denis Batte and Catherine Nagadya effectively met the sting. In response, the transfer mark was subsequently lowered to eight out of 20. However even with this adjustment, effectivity remained largely underwhelming, with solely 4 assessors managing to achieve 9 out of 20.
The final score distribution was as follows:
11 marks: 1 assessor
10 marks: 1 assessor
9 marks: 4 assessors
8 marks: 2 assessors
7 marks: 5 assessors
6 marks: 4 assessors
5 marks: 1 assessor
4 marks: 3 assessors
3 marks: 5 assessors
2 marks: 1 assessor
1 mark: 1 assessor
A significant majority scored beneath even the adjusted transfer mark, elevating extreme points regarding the competence of those entrusted with guiding referees.
One could reasonably anticipate that people who carried out best in these evaluations will be prioritized for high-stakes matches, considerably via the decisive phases of the season when refereeing errors generally tend to increase. Satirically and perhaps predictably the choice appears to be the case. Assessors with lower scores have reportedly been assigned to primarily probably the most essential fixtures.
Numerous explanations have emerged. One justification cited is the need for regional illustration, guaranteeing that each match choices an assessor from a particular locality. One different, further contentious rationale, is the notion amongst decision-makers that former referees who didn’t attain FIFA standing are inherently a lot much less licensed to operate assessors. This notion, nonetheless, is actually flawed. Officiating on the FIFA diploma and assessing referees are distinct disciplines; the latter requires sturdy analytical capability, environment friendly communication (considerably in English), and a deep understanding of the fashionable recreation.
Additional relating to nonetheless are experiences that some assessors didn’t sit for the competency checks the least bit. Allegedly, their absence was attributable to involvement in political mobilization actions for a distinguished Member of Parliament with essential have an effect on in soccer circles. In what appears to be a troubling substitution of meritocracy with loyalty, such persons are nonetheless considered for analysis roles.
The irony is hard to ignore whereas referees proceed to face criticism for inconsistent performances in Uganda’s prime competitions, the very folks tasked with mentoring and evaluating them may themselves lack the obligatory competence or worse, bypass the system utterly.
The evaluation prepare was coordinated by Referees Supervisor Ssali Mashood and the FUFA Referees Standing Committee Chairman Brian Miiro Nsubuga, with examinations administered by Ali Tomusange Mulumba (a CAF Referees Committee member), David Davis Katabira, and Adipo Catherine.
If Ugandan soccer is to deal with the persistent topic of refereeing errors, consideration ought to delay previous the referees themselves to those liable for his or her enchancment. Until the necessities utilized to assessors match the expectations positioned on referees, the cycle of inconsistency may correctly persist leaving the enticing recreation entangled in avoidable controversy.
