The 2023/24 StarTimes Uganda Premier League Player of the Season will be unveiled today at a grand event held at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel.
The award ceremony, set to honour the league’s finest talents, features SC Villa’s Ronald Ssekiganda and Patrick Jonah Kakande as the frontrunners for the coveted accolade, following their instrumental roles in securing the club’s elusive 17th league title.
Kakande, with a commendable record of nine goals and four assists, and Ssekiganda, who orchestrated the team’s play and scored three critical goals, have been pivotal to SC Villa’s success.
Their performances have placed them at the forefront of this year’s awards, highlighting their significant contributions to their team’s triumph.
However, the competition for the Player of the Season award is intense. Denis Omedi, who scored 15 goals for Kitara, KCCA’s Golden Boot winner Muhammad Shaban, and BUL’s defensive stalwart Ronald Otti are also strong contenders.
Shaban’s impressive tally of 17 goals earned him the Golden Boot, underscoring his prolific season.
In addition to the main award, several other categories will be contested. Ssekiganda is a favourite to win the Midfielder of the Season award, contending with KCCA’s Joel Sserunjogi and Maroons’ Abraham Tusubira, despite Tusubira leading in assists.
The Young Player of the Season title features Kakande in a tight race against KCCA’s Usama Arafat and Wakiso Giants’ Kenneth Kimera.
For the Best Defender award, Otti faces stiff competition from SC Villa captain Kenneth Ssemakula and NEC’s Joseph Dhata. The Best Goalkeeper award sees SC Villa’s Tom Ikara, who kept the most clean sheets with 12, vying with Kitara’s Crispus Kusiima and Maroons’ Hannington Ssebwalunyo.
SC Villa’s Dusan Stojanovic is the favourite for Coach of the Season, but he faces strong challenges from KCCA’s Abdallah Mubiru and Kitara’s Brian Ssenyondo. The winners will be determined by a combination of public votes (40%) and an expert panel of coaches, captains, and journalists (60%).
Additional awards include the Best XI, Best Goal, Players’ Player, Coaches’ Player, and Fair Play Team of the Season. The Uganda Premier League board will also present a Platinum Award to an individual who has significantly contributed to the league’s progress.
Nominees for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) include Patrick Kakande (SC Villa), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA), Ronald Otti (BUL), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa), and Denis Omedi (Kitara). As anticipation builds, tonight’s event promises to be a celebration of the league’s outstanding talents and achievements.
