Vipers SC forward Milton Karisa clinched four Pilsner-StarTimes Uganda Premier League Awards, including the Player of the Season, at a colourful ceremony held at Kampala Sheraton Hotel on Thursday night.
Karisa scored nine goals and made eight assists to help Vipers secure their sixth league title and eventually win the Player of the Season Award of the 2022/23 edition.
The Vipers forward beat SC Villa attacker Charles Bbaale and Maroons goalkeeper Simon Tamale for the coveted accolade.
This was Karisa’s fourth award of the night after the Cranes forward picked up the Coaches’ Player of the Season, Most assists of the Season, and made the SUPL XI.
“Without God this would not have been possible,” said Karisa, ““I thank my coaches, teammates, fans and the people who voted for me.”
Karisa was vying with KCCA’s Allan Okello and Arua Hill’s Wahab Gadafi for most assists.
But with all three having made eight assists, it came down to who scored the most goals, and this is where Karisa (nine goals) beat Okello (six) and Gadafi (five).
The party at Vipers wasn’t stopping anytime soon as Alex Isabirye also beat former Villa tactician Jackso Magera and Maroons’ Mohammed Ssenfuma to the Coach of the Season award.
Another Venom, Hillary Mukundane, beat Villa’s Gift Fred and Warren Buule of Soltilo Bright Stars for Defender of the Season award while Maroons’ Darius Ojok won the Young Player of the Season accolade.
Busoga United’s Tibita Laban edged Arua Hill’s Gadafi Wahab and Wakiso Giants Lawrence Bukenya to the best midfielder award.
Maroons’ Tamale kept 13 clean sheets in 22 matches, winning seven Man of the Match awards – the most in the league, and two Player of the Month accolades to win the Goalkeeper of the Season accolade.
The award that got the biggest appluase went to Ugandan football legend Andrew ‘Fimbo’ Mukasa.
The former Cranes, SC Villa and Express striker received the Platinum Award, which goes to personalities that have contributed to the game’s growth. Last year’s went to Vipers president Lawrence Mulindwa.
Mukasa is arguably Uganda’s best ever finisher inside the 18 yard box. His record of 45 goals in one single season in 1999 still stands today.
Full list of winners
Player of the Season – Milton Karisa (Vipers SC)
Players’ Player of the Season – Charles Bbaale (SC Villa)
Coaches’ Player of the Season – Milton Karisa (Vipers SC)
Young Player of the Season – Darius Ojok (Maroons)
Goalkeeper of the Season – Simon Tamale (Maroons)
Defender of the Season – Hillary Panuel Mukundane (Vipers SC)
Midfielder of the Season – Laban Tibita (Busoga United)
Coach of the Season – Alex Isabirye Musongola (Vipers SC)
Most Assists of the Season – Milton Karisa (Vipers SC)
Goal Scorer of the Season – Allan Kayiwa, 13 goals (Express FC)
Fair Play Team of the Season – Blacks Power (30 yellow cards, no card)
Platinum Award – Andrew Fimbo Mukasa
Team of the season (4-3-3)
Simon Tamale (GK – Maroons), Grant Matsiko (Wakiso Giants), Denis Kaka Omony (Bright Stars), Gift Fred (SC Villa), Hillary Panuel Mukundane (Vipers SC), Lawrence Bukenya (Wakiso Giants), Wahab Gadafi (Arua Hill), Laban Tibita (Busoga United), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Charles Bbaale (SC Villa), Allan Kayiwa (Express)
Coach: Alex Isabirye Musongola