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The school failed to attain visas on time to travel for the championship, which got underway on Wednesday, 5th April.
Uganda's representatives at the CAF Schools Championships in South Africa in Royal Giants High School are rueing their missed opportunity to play at the championship.
The school failed to attain visas on time to travel for the championship, which got underway on Wednesday, 5th April.
BACKGROUND.
Royal Giants qualified for the tourney after emerging champions of the CECAFA zonal qualifiers beating Geda Robles from Ethiopia 4-2 in post-match penalties after a goalless draw in February in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
SOUTH AFRICA IT IS.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) in March then confirmed South Africa as the venue for the championship, away from Egypt, the initial host.
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The Confederation had earlier announced that the finals would be staged in Egypt but the new development means that the eight regional champions will tussle in Durban.
The King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban was the venue for the games from Wednesday, 5th April, to Saturday, 8th April.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Royal Giants were expected to be in Durban by Sunday to get ready for the tournament but still need to attain visas, according to the school's head coach Frank Mulindwa.
"We handed over the required documents on time to make the trip, but we were denied Visas by the South African Embassy," an angry Mulindwa told Pulse Sports in a phone interview.
"We reached out to everyone we could (Ministers, Parliament and the Speaker), but we were still waiting for someone to help. We invested so much; it is so sad."
Mulindwa adds that FUFA asked them to work closely with Richard Ssemanda, a procurement officer at the federation, to help them secure the visas on time which they did.
"FUFA told us to work closely with Ronald, and we gave him everything he asked for, so he should be able to explain what happened after."
Pulse Sports reached out to Ssemanda Richard, but he refused to divulge more details, requesting us to engage the association's director of communications Ahmed Hussein.
"Since they (Royal Giants) have involved the institution, it's better you talk to him."
Ahmed Hussein because they are in the loop about the situation." He said.
The speaker of parliament, Anita Among, rewarded Royal Giants with $5000 for qualifying, while FUFA provided 12 return air tickets.
Our continuous calls to Ahmed Hussein on his known phone number went unanswered by press time.
A cash prize of $300,000 awaits the winner, while the runners-up take home $200,000 and $150,000.
Royal Giants High School were pooled in Group B alongside Salima Secondary School (Malawi), Complexe Scolaire Ben Sekou Sylla (Guinea) and CEG Sainte Rita from Benin.
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