)
The ugliest finger though, was tribal behaviour among the West Nile fans, and they are usually quick to disassociate themselves from a group where they feel excluded by slight difference in ethnicity.
Tribal tensions have long existed in the football circles of the West Nile region and despite being nominal at times, they appear at every slightest opportunity.
The looming plague was envisaged in West Nile's 4-1 humiliation to Busoga Province in Kamuli, in the FUFA Drum.
Everything started well for the defending champions, as they got ahead within the first 15 seconds of the game, Muhammad Shaban's very early goal - the fastest of the tournament so far.
)
Twelve minutes later, Jerome Kirya equalised for Busoga, before second half goals from Isaac Waigona, Laban Tibita and Ibrahim Mugulusi.
The loss was too heavy for the defending champions, who were so hard to beat the last campaign to take in!
Of Course, fingers were quickly pointed at the coach, Caesar Okhuti and his tactics, then players whose personal errors are thought to have cost the team, while some just feel the team didn't prepare well enough.
The ugliest finger though, was tribal behaviour among the West Nile fans, and they are usually quick to disassociate themselves from a group where they feel excluded by slight difference in ethnicity.
Some of the accusations now are gross, and totally baseless!
)
Tribalism quickly infiltrated the debate that was otherwise supposed to be based on a tactical and technical review of the game.
Lugbara is the most dominant ethnicity in the region, with most Lugbara people settling in Arua and the surrounding districts.
)
Then, there are also other ethnicities in West Nile like the Alur, Madi, Kakwa and Aringa among others.
Not so sure how it's related to performance in sports, but some people from the other minority ethnicities attributed the agonizing loss to the team being 'reserved' for Lugbara.
They claimed the team is for West Nile not for Arua. They therefore felt the team selection should have emphasised on striking a regional balance.
)
The team was adamantly coined 'Lugbara Province' by a section of fans.
A fan named Collins Aluma started; "from the moment I saw the lineup released today, I lost interest in the West Nile team."
)
"That is Lugbara Province, it's not good, check no greater Nebbi players appearing in the squad, my blame is on coach Okhuti," a fan lashed out after the game.
"Almost 100% Lugbara Province players, but hard luck players," another said while another shouted; "this was Lugbara Province not West Nile."
As such, unlike in the past where games were only hosted at the Greenlight Stadium, Arua, this time round, West Nile will share a home.
)
Paridi Stadium in the Madi Sub region, Luo Grounds, Nebbi in Alur and Greenlight will be the host venues in the current edition.
Apparently, the Alur Kingdom in June even wrote to FUFA, demanding to have a separate province from West Nile province in relation to the FUFA Drum tournament.
Amidst all that confusion, the White Rhinos have to get back to West Nile real quick and start preparing for the next FUFA Drum game that's only one week away, a home encounter against Bugisu Province at Onduparaka's Greenlight Stadium in Arua.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)