Internal disputes force Isabirye to quit URA

Alex Isabirye has attributed his resignation as URA FC head coach to the internal disputes within the club.

“There are so many reasons beyond finance that have forced me to resign. We all come into football to make friends but when people start to pull you down [work against you], then the best action to take as a coach is to step aside and watch from the side-lines,” Isabirye told the New Vision in the wake of his resignation from the club ahead of the CAF Champions League tournament.

There had been allegations that the club’s management had fallen out with him because of his stand against particular players recommended for consideration without his approval.

“The team’s poor performance is just an icing on the cake. Should I wait to lose my life because of a job?” Isabirye asked.

Two months back, there were reports that a Nigerian coach was being lined up to replace Isabirye.

However, URA chairman Ali Ssekatawa then rubbished the claims and insisted that the reports were being fuelled by people who were putting pressure on him to sack Isabirye.

“He will be the one leading us to the Champions League. He has worked hard with the team,” Ssekatawa said at the time.

According to the press release circulated by URA FC on Saturday, Ssekatawa hinted that Isabirye had decided to resign because of inconsistent results posted by the club in domestic football.

“URA FC is internally grateful to the work ethics and commitment exhibited by Coach Isabirye Alex in the last 3 years he has worked as head coach of URA …We hope that in the future, we might have another engagement with him”.

There are reports that the tax collectors are looking at the possibility of signing a foreign coach to handle the team in a bid to end intrigue within the club.

At the moment, Ibrahim Kirya has been installed as an interim coach.

Despite the coaching crisis at the club, the tax collectors are still confident of overcoming Cameroonian football giants Coton Sport FC de Garoua in their Champions League engagements next month.