By Robert Kayindi James
KCCA FC fullback Joseph Ochaya will battle Vipers SC striker Erisa Ssekisambu and URA FC center forward Robert Ssentongo for the accolade of Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2016 Uganda Premier League (UPL) awards.
The former Asante Kotoko defender scored seven times in the league last season to help the Kasasiro boys win their record eleventh league title.
Like Vipers’ defender Halid Lwalilwa and Sadolin Paints’ goalie Mathias Muwanga, Ochaya was also nominated twice in the UPL awards. He will also compete with Lwaliwa (Vipers) and JMC Hippos’ Musa Walangalira for the season’s best defender gong.
Having kept 16 clean sheets last season, Muwanga will compete with KCCA’s Benjamin Ochan and vipers’ Ismail Watenga for goalkeeper of the season.
Youngster Lwaliwa is also nominated in the category of the upcoming/young player for last season together with goalie Mathias Muwanga and Soana’s Musa Esenu.
This is going to the first time since the 2011-12 season that league awards will be held in the country.
Here is the full list 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)
• Wasswa Bbosa (Express)
• 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)
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/Print/Online (To be selected by the Awards Committee)