Kalyango credits Wokorach after landing MVP accolade

Oscar Kalyango (R) full of smiles as he receives his award from Uganda Olympic Committee president William Blick on Saturday night. PHOTO BY AMINAH BABIRYE.

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Kobs player says Heathens opponent Wokorach gave him the motivation to work harder.

KAMPALA

URU AWARDS
BEST OF 2012/2013 SEASON
Most Upcoming Female: Faith Namugga
Most Upcoming Male: Joseph Aredo
Top Try Scorer: Phillip Wokorach (11 tries )
Golden Boot: Phillip Wokorach . (78 points , 4 Pen , 2 DG , 30 Conv )
Best Referee: Ramsey Olinga
Best Team Coach: Tolbert Onyango
Best Team Manager: Brian Tabaruka
Best Print Journalist: Johnson Were
Best Journalist Radio and TV: Marvin Katondwanci
Fair Play Team: Sadolin Mongers
MVP Women: Brenda Kayiyi
MVP Men 2013: Justin Kimono
Top Try Scorer Women: Winnie Atyang (10)

BEST OF 2013/2014 SEASON
Most Upcoming Female: Emily Lekuru
Most Upcoming Male: Solomon Okia
Top Try Scorer: Justin Kimono (22 tries )
Golden Boot: Adrian Wasswa (136 points , 32 penalties, 20 conversions )
Best Referee: Sauda Adiiru
Best Team Coach: Robert Seguya
Best Team Manager: Michael Wandera
Best Print Journalist: Herbert Wafula
Best Radio and TV Journalist: Robert Madoi
Fair Play Team: Ezee Money Rhinos
MVP Women: Brenda Kayiyi
MVP Men: Oscar Kalyango

Every once in a time players come of age and start performing to the levels expected of them. When Oscar Kalyango burst onto the scene as a winger during his senior six vacation in 2009, he had all it took for one to emerge as one of the best players in the country but maturity issues kept holding him back.

The last two campaigns have been a different tale for the center as he has matured both mentally and physically to become a force to reckon with. Opponents dread meeting him in both defence and offence.

Kalyango had the biggest smile of all winners on Saturday night at Imperial Royale Hotel when he beat Emmanuel Ecodu and Romano Ogwal to be crowned the Most Valuable Player for the 2013/2014 rugby season.

The Kobs and Ugandan international credited Cranes’ teammate Michael Wokorach for forcing the best out of him. Both players are centers and produce exciting shows every time they come up against each other in the Kobs-Heathens derbies.

“I would like to thank my friend Wokorach who has pushed me to the limits. There is a day I played against him and he completely ‘owned’ me through the 80 minutes, Kalyango said in hi acceptance speech. “That experience made me work harder to avoid embarrassment when I faced him the next time and it paid off.”

Kalyango finished last season with 11 tries and helped Kobs win the league for the first time in five years.