Last week, Cranes’ Egypt-based midfielder Khalid Aucho was suspended from the National Team camp citing indiscipline after he failed to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
Aucho had been summoned for extra use during the next Cranes fixture in Malawi owing to the fact that he was ruled out of the immediate game with Burkina Faso after he was given marching orders in Uganda’s tie with S. Sudan that was won by the latter. With Aucho ruled out of the qualifier with Burkina Faso, his presence in camp was only to galvanize the squad in the next fixture.
After his call up to the camp and his arrival to Uganda, FUFA issued a statement that they had done away with him and also supplied him a return ticket to facilitate his travel back where he came from- Egypt.
In a statement from FUFA, they confirmed that the player was “dismissed from Uganda Cranes Camp for failure to adhere to the National team Code of Conduct and Fufa Circular dated 4th March 2021.”
“Aucho refused to board the official means of transport organized to pick him from Entebbe International Airport to the team camp at Cranes Paradise Hotel-Kisasi and has not even reported to camp since his arrival in the country. The player’s club Misr El Makkasa and Egypt Football Association have duly been informed about the decision and a return air ticket has been issued to him for his travel back to Egypt.”
Bobi Wine Seeks Empty Political Capital on Aucho
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Bobi Wine there on ring-fenced the incident and drove a fake narrative that Aucho had been dismissed for being in bed with him. This got his hyper hooligan supporters in a frenzy of sorts.
In a post which he later shamelessly deleted, Bobi Wine claimed that Aucho was a victim of the “State’s prosecution of those that stand with the people”.
“FUFA, our football authority, claims that Khalid (Aucho) was dismissed for alleged indiscipline. But it appears, as can be deduced from these screenshots, that there is more to Khalid’s fate than meets the eye,” Bobi Wine stated, attaching screenshots on Aucho’s Facebook posts.
“The midfielder has been using his social media channels to speak out against this injustice and to sympathize with the victims. It is unfortunate that he is now the latest victim of the persecution of those who stand with the people,” he claimed.
Aucho Distances Self from Bobi Wine’s Allegations
Aucho quickly distanced himself from Bobi Wine’s statements with an apology that gave a blow to Bobi Wine. He confirmed he skipped protocol and went home to see his family.
In a statement issued to FUFA, fans, and Uganda Cranes teammates via his Twitter handle, he noted that he is remorseful and will take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to his suspension from the national team camp ahead of Afcon qualifiers ties against Burkina Faso and Malawi.
“I reached at a half past 2 pm, then 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. I knew I had to move to camp, I mean, that’s why I traveled here in the first place, but I also needed to at least briefly see my family. I have to see my kids bless me whenever I’m home because I take so much time away from them,” Aucho admitted to flouting rules.
With the glaring apology, NUP intolerant fanatics on social media started hurling insults at Aucho for accepting to be cowed. They had expected him to make the point they were making.
A few moments after that, shameless Bobi Wine pulled down his post in which he made claims of Aucho being suspended for political reasons, as usual, cementing himself as a fortune hunter that jumps on anything to gain political capital.
