The brief occasion that lasted about 45 minutes received a nostalgic feel when UPL member David Serebe read out late Henry Balamaze Lwanga as the recipient of the Platinum award.
Patrick Kakande, SC Villa’s baby-faced assassin who honed his dribbling skills at the defunct Kadiba grounds in Mengo, believes he has already matched his early career promise of being one of the best players in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
Almost all the guests that attended the less-glamorous Pilsner league awards event at Sheraton on Saturday lavished praise on the diminutive playmaker as the ‘next big thing’ in Ugandan football.
Having dragged SC Villa to the 17th league title with nine goals and four assists, Kakande deservedly bagged the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), players’ player of the season, young player of the season awards and also made the league’s team of the seaso
For adent league followers, it was crystal clear why the online voters (reportedly accounted for 40 percent) and the technical panel unanimously went for Kakande ahead of challengers; Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa) Muhammad Shaban (KCCA), Denis Omedi (Kitara) and Ronald Otti (Bul).
In fact, some guests in the room were left debating how Yunus Sentamu’s goal of the season (scored for Vipers against Wakiso Giants) wasn’t weighed in context with Kakande’s jaw-dropping goals against Gaddafi and Kitara.
Otti beat Joseph Dhata (Nec) and Kenneth Ssemakula to the best defender accolade as Kitara’s Chris Kusiima shocked Thomas Ikara (Bul) who had the most clean sheets (12) to the best goalkeeper award.
Jogoos triple delight
Put simply, the awards live away ceremony was largely a SC Villa affair that had Serbian gaffer Dusan Stojanovic voted the best coach, Ssekiganda the best midfielder and a couple of slots in the best team of the season.
“I’m happy for Kakande and I can assure you he has a bright future if he remains focused. My loyalty to Villa has been rewarded and I believe we can win more trophies.
Uganda Premier League Awards
Player of the Season: Patrick Kakande (SC Villa)
Players’ Player of the Season: Patrick Kakande (SC Villa)
Coaches’ Player of the season: Denis Omedi
Goalkeeper of the season: Chrispus Kusiima (Kitara)
Defender of the season: Ronald Otti (Bul)
Midfielder of the season: Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa)
Most Clean sheets (12): Tom Ikara (Bul)
Most Assists (10): Abraham Tusubira (Maroons)
Top scorer (17 Goals): Muhammad Shaban (KCCA)
Goal of the season (against Wakiso Giants): Yunus Sentamu (Vipers )
Coach of the season: Dusan Stonjanovic (SC Villa)
Fair Play Team of the Season (33 Yellow Cards and 1 Red Card): Vipers
Platinum Award: Henry Balamaze Lwanga (Late)
Best XI of the Season
Chrispas Kusiima (Kitara), Joseph Dhata (Nec), Nicholas Mwere (Bul), Ronald Otti (Bul), Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA), Abraham Tusubiira (Maroons), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA), Patrick Kakande (SC Villa), Denis Omedi (Kitara)
