Against all odds, Sadolin Paints’ goalkeeping coach Kenneth Magada made it to the final list of nominees for the category of best goalkeeping coach for the league awards due on August 12 at Serena Hotel.
Born June 8, 1980, the 36 year old faces stiff competition from Vipers’ Stephen Kiggundu and The Saints Moses Oloya.
Popularly known as ‘General Y’ in the Eastern part of the country, Magada played football for many local clubs but his biggest club was now relegated Simba in 1999.
He failed to cement a starting berth at the army side and joined Miracle and later Hearts FC at the turn of the millennium but ended up at Bugembe United, now Sadolin Paints where he was partly a player but as well as a coach.
He has been instrumental in helping the Painters reach where they are now. Alongside Samadu Msafiri, he has been part of the club right from lower leagues to top tier.
He has worked with a number of goalkeepers but his most outstanding are Didi Muhammad (Soana) and Mathias Muwanga who is also in the running for the Best Goalkeeper of the Season category.
“Being nominated is a big recognition,” he told upl.co.ug. “It’s an indication of hard work and I want to thank my fellow coaches and the goalkeepers I have worked with this season,” he added.
Although he comes up against more experienced men in the business, Magada’s case for a gong has been made easy thanks to Muwanga, who kept a record 16 clean sheets in the league.
“I think I deserve to win it. Numbers don’t lie,” he stated.
Away from The Painters, Magada coaches Kamuli Park and nearly guided them to promotion to the FUFA big League but lost 1-0 to Kataka in the Eastern Region Play offs.
BRIEF PROFILE
Name: Kenneth Magada
Date of Birth: June 8, 1980
Clubs Played for: Miracle, Hearts, Simba and Bugembe United
Clubs Coached: Sadolin Paints, Kamuli Park
Prominent Goalkeepers worked with: Didi Muhammad and Mathias Muwanga