A month after the completion of the 2015-16 Azam Uganda Premier League (UPL) campaign, the league organisers have launched the season Awards.
In a press conference held at Mandela stadium, Namboole Boardroom, the organisers have revealed that the awards ceremony will be held at Serena Hotel, Kampala on Friday August 12, 2016.
Amongst the categories, a player of the year, goalkeeper of the year, defender of the year as well as midfielder of the year nominees have all been revealed.
In the category of MVP, KCCA defender cum midfielder Joseph Ochaya will battle for the gong with league top scorer Robert Sentongo (URA) as well as Vipers’ marksman Erisa Sekisambu with league CEO Bernard Bainamani revealing the grand prize for the winner.
The MVP will be awarded with a car while other category winners will also have prizes to win.
Sadolin Paints’ young goalie Mathias Muwanga, Vipers’ Ismail Watenga and KCCA’s Benjamin Ochan are nominated in the category for the best season’s goalkeeper.
Ochaya is also nominated in the category of defender of the season alongside Vipers’ Halid Lwaliwa and JMC Hippos’ Musa Walangalira.
In the same line, fans will have a chance to vote for their best player of the season through a media platform.
Fans will have to decide their own season’s best player via a media platform. To choose, a fan will send an sms with a player’s name to 8888.
The best fan of the season, life time achiever’s award, longest serving player of the league as well as young/upcoming player of the season will also be awarded plus the best sports’ journalist (football) of the previously concluded campaign.
Fair-play (Team & Individual), UPL Best 11 of the season are other awards catergories on the menu.
Education and Sports’ Minister First Lady Janat Museveni is expected to be the Chief Guest at the awarding ceremony on the day.
SUMMARY OF NOMINEES
Footballer of the Season (MVP
- Joseph Ochaya (KCCA)
- Erisa Sekisambu (Vipers)
- Robert Ssentongo (URA)
Goalkeeper of the Season
- Mathias Muwanga (Sadolin Paints)
- Benjamin Ochan (KCCA)
- Ismail Watenga (Vipers)
Defender of the Season
- Joseph Ochaya (KCCA)
- Musa Walangalira (JMC Hippos)
- Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers)
Midfielder of the Season
- Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA)
- Richard Wandyaka (JMC Hippos)
- Ibrahim Kayiwa (Express)
Top Scorer
- Robert Sentongo (URA) – 18 goals
Coach of the Season
- Mike Ray Mutebi (KCCA)
- Charles Ayiekoh Lukula (Soana)
- Moses Basena (The Saints)
Goalkeeping Coach of the Season
- Steven Kiggundu Billy (Vipers)
- Moses Oloya (The Saints)
- Kenneth Magada (Sadolin Paints)
Young Player of the Season
- Mathias Muwanga (Sadolin Paints)
- Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers)
- Musa Esenu (Soana)
Life Time Achievers Award
Longest Serving player of the League
Fan of the Season
Best Referee
- To be determined by the FUFA Referees Standing Committee
Fans’ Player of the Year
- To be determined by fans through platforms declared by the league organisers – Key Word UPL Space Name of Player and send to 8888 Via SMS
Best Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- To be selected from the one of the 16 UPL Clubs by the Secretariat
Best Sports Journalist
- Television
- Radio
- Photography
- Online
- [To be selected by the Awards Committee]
Champions of the Season
- KCCA (57 points)