And the best is...Shaban
Airtel’s Remmy Kisakye, UOC boss William Blick and Fufa president Moses Magogo pose with the Player of the Year Shaban Muhammed (2nd left). PHOTO BY JB SSENKUBUGE
KAMPALA- Shaban Muhammad’s meteoric rise from a little-known footballer reached its biggest climax thus far, being crowned the 2016 Airtel-Fufa Male Player of the Year on Friday.
There was a loud cheer, then a hush of silence at Speke Resort Munyonyo, after Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) William Blick read out the Onduparaka striker shortly before midnight.
Shaban pushed pre-event favourite, South Africa-based goalkeeper Denis Onyango, into second with last year’s inaugural winner Farouk Miya, now in Belgium, finishing third.
“I am very happy,” Muhammad, in a low-tone, told the guests. “My brother will help drive to Arua on Sunday (today),” he added.
The award came with a car but the 20-year old doesn’t have a driving license yet. He started the year among Vipers’ reserves and finished it as part of the Nations’ Cup bound Uganda Cranes.
That journey involved leading then-little-known Onduparaka from the Fufa Big League into the Azam Uganda Premier League for the first time and reaching the Uganda Cup final. He was joint top scorer of the Uganda Cup, on seven goals, along with Vipers’ Erisa Ssekisambu and leds the 2015/16 league with the same number by press-time.
Shaban’s 13 goals in Onduparaka’s promotion run must have swayed many, more than his neatly-pressed black suit, matching white shirt and bow tie.
In the women’s category, an ecstatic Hassifa Nassuna dethroned former Kawempe Muslim SS teammate Sandra Nabweteme to the Female Player of the Year. Ruth Aturo came third.
African club champion Onyango and Nabweteme will receive consolation prizes of land titles in due course after an event attended by the state minister of sports Charles Bakkabulindi.
KCCA’s Mike Mutebi was highly appreciative of fellow coaches after being named coach of year ahead of Allan Kabonge (Onduparaka/Masavu and George Nsimbe (Vipers).
Ali Tomusange, a referee at the 2002 World Cup, received the Fufa presidential award from the federation boss Moses Magogo while Vipers got the Fair Play diadem.
Beach Soccer’s Ivan Kintu was named referee of the year.
