The wait is over and tomorrow, Thursday, July 6, the best from the 2022/23 StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) season will be awarded.
Sheraton Kampala Hotel is host to this edition’s Pilsner-SUPL Awards, with champions Vipers SC having their coach Alex Isabirye and players Milton Karisa and Hillary Mukundane lined up for accolades in different categories.
But it is the Vipers skipper, Karisa, who is up for the big one.
The forward is up against SC Villa attacker Charles Bbaale and Maroons goalkeeper Simon Tamale for the Player of the Season award.
Karisa scored nine goals and made five assists as the Venoms won their sixth league title, beating KCCA on goal difference.
The Uganda Cranes forward will hope to clinch the MVP award this time after losing out to then teammate Cesar Manzoki last year.
SC Villa’s Bbaale is the other genuine contender. The forward netted 12 goals for the Jogoos to push the title chase until the final whistle on the last day.
Bbaale missed out on the golden boot only by a goal to Express forward Allan Kayiwa.
Maroons short-stopper, Tamale, is the unique entry in this prestigious MVP category.
His impressive season at Maroons, where he kept 13 clean sheets in 23 matches, as well as won six Man of the Match accolades, has already earned him a move to Rwandan side Rayon Sport.
Tamale could now walk away from Sheraton with both the season’s best player plaque and Goalkeeper of the Season award.
URA’s Nafian Alionzi and Hassan Matovu of Soltilo Bright Stars are the other players contending with Tamale for best goalkeeper’s accolade.
Gaddafi Wahab (Arua Hill), Tibita Laban (Busoga United) and Lawrence Bukenya (Wakiso Giants) are fighting it out for Midfielder of the Season, while SC Villa’s Gift Fred, Hillary Mukundane of Vipers and Warren Buule of Bright Stars for best defender.
For Coach of the Season award, Vipers’ Isabirye is favourite after leading his side to the league title.
Maroons’ Muhammad Ssenfuma and former SC Villa coach Jackson Magera are the other contenders.
According to the awards organiser, Obal Atubo, the two-hour awards ceremony will be graced by the Sports Minister Peter Ogwang.
Pilsner Uganda Premier League Awards 2023
Sheraton Kampala Hotel
7pm -9pm
Live on Fufa TV
Major Pilsner-SUPL categories
Player of the Season
Milton Karisa, Vipers
Charles Bbaale, SC Villa
Simon Tamale, Maroons
Goalkeeper of the Season
Nafian Alionzi, URA
Hassan Matovu, Soltilo Bright Stars
Simon Tamale, Maroons
Defender of the Season
Warren Buule, Soltilo Bright Stars
Hillary Mukundane, Vipers
Gift Fred, SC Villa
Midfielder of the Season
Gaddafi Wahab, Arua Hill
Tibita Laban, Busoga United
Lawrence Bukenya, Wakiso Giants
Young Player of the Season
Saidi Mayanja, KCCA
Patrick Kakande, SC Villa
Darius Ojok, Maroons
Coach of the Season
Mohammed Ssenfuma, Maroons
Alex Isabirye, Vipers
Jackson Magera, SC Villa