Pool League Faces Disruption Amidst Technical Director Dispute

The new season of the Nile Special National Pool League is off to a rocky start, with administrative issues causing a significant disruption to match schedules. After just two rounds of play, several clubs failed to participate in the recent weekend fixtures.

This standstill stems from a decision by the Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) Technical Committee to postpone games amidst an ongoing dispute involving the former Technical Director, Muhammad Wasswa Kayiiya. The PAU executive committee had decided to replace Kayiiya, acting on advice from the National Council of Sports (NCS).

The NCS had previously informed the PAU executive that the association was registered under the National Sports Act. However, their communication also flagged the Technical Director position as vacant due to an unresolved petition questioning Kayiiya’s qualifications, raised by former general secretary Paul Wasike.

Wasike challenged Kayiiya’s academic credentials, and the NCS, finding insufficient proof of certification, deemed the election non-compliant. Kayiiya has contested the NCS’s intervention, appealing to the PAU Appeals Committee, with a ruling expected soon.

In the interim, Prince Ainemasiko was appointed as the acting Technical Director. However, these changes created confusion, leading teams like Scrap Buyers, Adi’s, and Kireka to skip matches. Venue issues also compounded the problem, with several locations reportedly unwilling to host games, leaving limited options and only a few matches proceeding.

Despite the administrative turmoil, some teams managed to play. Club 408 secured two victories, defeating Corporate and Greater Mukono. Sinkers also emerged victorious, with a strong performance against Nakawa, highlighted by Sulaiman Muliya’s exceptional play.

The fate of the postponed or missed fixtures now rests with the competitions committee, which will decide how to manage these games.