By : Danito Nsubuga
The 2016-17 season has seen KCCA reclaim the Uganda Premier League title for the 2nd time running and SC Villa, Vipers, Express and URA have failed to live up to preseason expectations, Onduparaka and Soana have been pretenders as the word itself suggests, Lweza ,JMC Hippos and Sadolin paints FC did not survive the proverbial guillotiné, That all said, we shall now focus on the outstanding players and Managers that have managed to shine throughout the season. We have decided to select them in a 4 : 3 :3 formation.
IKARA THOMAS ( KIRINYA JINJA S.S)
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The old adage that says, “Good strikers win you football matches, but great goal keepers win you Championships” fits well with this young Kirinya Jinja s.s custodian, he did not win them the league but he won them very priceless points that helped them maintain Super league status on the 1st attempt. He recorded a whooping 13 clean sheets only bettered by Vipers’ Ismael Watenga, he takes our number one spot.
DENIS OKOT (KCCA FC):
This has been a very closely contested place between him and Vipers’ Nicholas Wadada but Okot has been a model of consistency at the back for KCCA FC and a player who has been crucial to the club’s success this season both local and on the continent. The captain’s displays have been so colossal to Mutebi’s mean defense especially at home.
HALID LWALIWA : ( VIPERS SC )
Vipers have had the meanest defence this season, conceding only 18 goals. The St. Mary’s Kitende product being a mainstay in this backline, he automatically takes the sweeper’s berth in our team of the season.
HABIB KAVUMA : ( KCCA FC)
The defender has grown into the role of being the club’s experienced head at the back and he has created a tandem partnership with Timothy Awany. Kavuma has also made a big transition from a swift left back to a very comfortable center back.
SAMUEL SSEKITTO: ( URA FC)
His ball playing gifts, combined with a better understanding of the role, have made him indispensable to Ibrahim Kirya’s side, He loves moving forward and he has been arguably the defender with the highest number of goals with a total of 5 this season, most notably that equalising goal against SC Villa at the death in the 2-2 draw at Lugazi.
IVAN MBOOWA : (ONDUPARAKA FC)
The former Saints Fc player signed by Leo Adraa to bolster his midfield at the start of the 2016/17 has done exactly what his job description reads. He has played in all Onduparaka’s games save for the heavy 3-1 loss to Proline and 7-0 against KCCA FC all at Lugogo when he was out with sickness.
TADDEO LWANGA: (SC VILLA)
The hard tackling Villa captain is endowed with a huge engine which enables him dominate the space in front of the back four and providing a formidable shield as well, he has the ability to create going forward with great precision and a super eye for a killer pass. He was also voted Villa player of the season by the Jogoo faithfuls
IBRAHIM SADDAM JUMA: ( EXPRESS FC)
After being released by Vipers SC who deemed him surplus to requirements, he found a new lease of life at Express like a fish thrown in a new water pool. He rejuvenated his career by making eye catching displays for the red eagles and scored some spectacular goals especially that non stop rebound against KCCA in the 3-1 defeat at Lugogo. He managed a tally of 7 goals from this position, no wonder KCCA wasted no time in signing him up before the season even came to a close.
EMMANUEL OKWI: (SC VILLA)
Everyone wonders what would have happened had Okwi started this campaign with the Jogoos, he only joined during the January transfer window but he made a whole lot of difference. His industry, finesse, willingness and the ever positive attitude helped him hit double figures in such a short period of time including a hat-trick versus Onduparaka in Masaka.
GEOFFREY SSERUNKUMA: ( KCCA FC)
The easiest of all positions to pick. He has produced one of the best goals scoring displays in recent years, the veteran center forward has managed a total of 21 goals to his name this season only Shaban Mohammed coming closer with 13, what a difference ?
SHAFIK KAGIMU (URA FC)
The enterprising winger signed from Water FC in the 2015/16 season is a joy to watch, he loves cutting in from the right to shoot at goal, he has tormented defenders all season and also managed to score 8 goals from midfield, he has recorded a good number of assists too, Big future awaits.
Manager: MIKE MUTEBI ( KCCA FC )
What more could we say of the KCCA tactician ? , The pragmatic manager has produced a magisterial pronouncement of himself by managing to balance and rotate his team to fight on all battle fronts both local and international
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Ibrahim Kirya ( Coach URA) , Allan Kayiwa (Soana), Adriko John (SC Villa )Nicholus Wadada (Vipers SC ),Ismael Watenga.(Vipers SC) , Shaban Mohammed (Onduparaka) Daniel Shabena (JMC Hippos), Mukasa Musa (Express fc) Nelson Senkatuuka (Proline Fc) , Tonny Odur (Vipers) Mahad Yaya Kakooza (Express fc)
© SWIFT SPORTS
