Uganda midfielder Khalid Aucho has responded to the country’s football authorities following his dismissal from the team’s camp after he allegedly refused to adhere to the national team’s code of conduct.
On Friday, the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) announced that Aucho will not be part of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Burkina Faso and Malawi for failure to adhere to the National team Code of Conduct and FUFA Circular dated 4th March 2021.
FUFA alleged that the Egypt-based player refused to board official means of transport from Entebbe International Airport to the team camp at Cranes Paradise Hotel and termed it as indiscipline.
But the Misr El Makkasa’s midfielder refuted indiscipline claims asking the federation to respect the fact that footballers have a personal life.
“I know had to report to camp,” he told local media.“I mean, that’s why I traveled here in the first place, but I also needed to briefly see my family. I take so much time away from them.”
“I told the person they had sent to pick me that I was not feeling well and immediately needed to see a doctor ascertain why my body was not functioning well,” Aucho added.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]But FUFA should also normalize respecting players because it’s we the players who sweat out there. You just can’t tarnish my hard-earned name like that. I don’t think I’m undisciplined as they’re claiming.[/perfectpullquote]
“I had just spent 4 hours in the country and I’m punished severely? Yet some players have spent 12 and others over 24 hours but they haven’t been penalized or anything,” he concluded.
Aucho was already out of the Kampala tie against Burkina Faso through suspension but there were hopes of him playing the final Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game in Malawi.
Uganda will face Burkina Faso on Wednesday, March 24, at St Mary’s Kitende Stadium in Kampala, before travelling to face Malawi at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on March 29.
