Onyango favourite for top Airtel-Fufa 2016 award

South African-based goalkeeper Denis Onyango

What you need to know:

  • The women’s award, that comes with a car too, is a contest between last year’s winner Sandra Nabweteme, currently studying in the US, and three others.
  • Ruth Aturo, Hassifa Nassuna (both Kawempe Muslim) and Christine Nambirige (She Corporate) constitute her competition.

Kampala. Ugandan footballers will swap those sweaty jerseys for well-pressed blazers and suits for the Airtel-Fufa awards today at Speke Resort, Munyonyo.
South African-based goalkeeper Denis Onyango is favourite for the top award, the Male Player of the Year, even if it’s unlikely that he will attend the ceremony.
The Uganda Cranes shot-stopper is expected to be in goal when Mamelodi Sundowns host Free State Stars in the ABSA Premiership encounter tomorrow.

“He (Onyango) is in constant communication with the federation president (Moses Magogo) and we expect him to be around,” Fufa publicist Ahmed Hussein revealed. Onyango was excellent as Uganda qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, a first in 39 years.
The reigning sports journalists’ footballer of the year also won the ABSA Premiership and the CAF Champions League with his club.
His competition is in the shape of Belgium-based Farouk Miya who won the award last year, taking home a car. A similar prize will be given this year.

Miya captained Uganda Cranes at the Africa Nations Championship in Rwanda and scored the remarkable goal against Comoros to break the Nations Cup duck.
The local-based trio of Joseph Ochaya (KCCA), Erisa Ssekisambu (Vipers) and Muhamamd Shaban (Onduparaka) complete the five-man shortlist.
Ochaya, also the Azam Uganda Premier League Most Valuable Player (MVP), won the league with his club and has been part of Cranes’ successes. Ssekisambu led Vipers to the Uganda Cup title while Shaban fueled Onduparaka’s rise from the Fufa Big League to the top tier.

The women’s award, that comes with a car too, is a contest between last year’s winner Sandra Nabweteme, currently studying in the US, and three others.
Ruth Aturo, Hassifa Nassuna (both Kawempe Muslim) and Christine Nambirige (She Corporate) constitute her competition.
One of Allan Kabonge (Onduparaka/Masavu), Mike Mutebi (KCCA) and Goerge Nsimbe (Vipers) will be named coach of the year.
In all, 10 diadems will be handed as football’s corporate sponsors take stock of one of the most successful years for the game here.