Sserunkuma’s night

KAMPALA.

It was a no-contest triumph but winning the Uganda Premier League MVP award on Wednesday came with augmented pressure for former KCCA striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma.

On the night when there was less glamour at the awards gala at Grand Imperial Hotel, Sserunkuma also bagged the top scorer award, fans’ player of the year on top of the MVP award and prize car.

“I’m now under pressure for what I have achieved this season,” revealed the striker who was also voted the club MVP recently.

“Fans in Uganda and at new club Buildcon (in Zambia) expect a lot from me yet I also want to prove that I didn’t fluke.” From the absence of his challengers; Muhammad Shaban and Emma Okwi, to KCCA’s awards dominance, everything at the venue pointed to Sserunkuma as the man of the moment, never mind playing Sunday football just over two years ago.

“This has been a long and challenging journey. I had given up playing serious football and turned to playing Sunday games with Kampala International when my colleague Richard Ddamulira advised me to join Lweza,” Sserunkuma reminisces.

“Joining KCCA was another war altogether as some board members considered me past my sale date. I thank coach Mike Mutebi who upon seeing me playing for Cranes legends against Barcelona did all he could to see that I play for KCCA again.” He dared his KCCA colleagues to follow his example next season and yield awards.

“My pastor James Kato (of Natete Jesus Worship Centre) preached that what you dream is what you get. After scoring five goals at the start of the season, I knew I had to push Shaban all the way and take the boot - and it happened.”

Betway prize money to each of the individual winners painted some colour on a rather below par organized event that had former EALA Speaker Dan Kidega as the chief guest.

Best xi of the season

Ismail Watenga (Vipers)
Nicholas Wadada (Vipers)
Habib Kavuma (KCCA)
Timothy Awany (KCCA)
Halid Lwalilwa (Vipers)
Taddeo Lwanga (SC Villa)
Ibrahim Saddam Juma (Express)
Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA)
Muhammad Shaban (Onduparaka)
Emmanuel Okwi (Villa)
Geoffrey Sserunkuma (KCCA)
Coach: Mike Mutebi