David GOMBE
FUFA has on Monday morning confirmed the top three nominees for the Female player of the year category.
These are Nakaziro Daisy (Lady Doves), Fauzia Najjemba (Kampala Queens) and Fazila Ikwaput (Lady Doves) are the three nominees who will battle for the Airtel FUFA Female player of the year gong.
She Maroons midfielder Joan Naggayi and Kawempe Muslim forward Margaret Kunihira are the two players who have failed to make the cut.
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We take a look at the three female footballers who have been shortlisted for the prestigious accolade.
FAUZIA NAJJEMBA (Forward – Kampala Queens)
Fauzia Najjemba was among the three final nominees during the last edition of the FUFA Awards held in 2019. Others were Hasifa Nassuna and the eventual winner Juliet Nalukenge.
Najjemba scored three goals in the FUFA Women Super League at Njeru as Kampala Queens fell short of the semi finals.
She is currently the captain of the U20 team that is competing in the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and inspired Uganda to a flying start to the campaign with an assist for Nalukenge’s opener in the 7-2 annihilation of Kenya in Nairobi.
She was also on target that day with a customary finish in the 21st minute.
Najjemba scored the second goal as the senior team Crested Cranes beat Ethiopia 2-0 in the first leg of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations Qualifiers at the St. Mary’s Stadium.
Uganda went on to eliminate Ethiopia 2-1 on penalties with Najjemba scoring one of the penalties.
She was the top scorer at CECAFA Women’s U20 Championship, scoring 11 goals in 5 games.
DAISY NAKAZIRO (Goalkeeper – Lady Doves)
Nakaziro together with her Lady Doves teammate Fazilah Ikwaput are touted as favourites to win the accolade having inspired the Masindi club to their first ever FUFA Women Super League at Njeru in May this year.
Just like in 2019, the Lady Doves captain was named best goalkeeper of the tournament following her commanding displays and timely saves.
She thereafter won the best goalkeeper accolade during the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers of the CECAFA Region as Lady Doves emerged as Bronze winners in the tournament held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Nakaziro made her Crested Cranes debut in the recently concluded COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa during Uganda’s 5-1 win over Eswatini.
FAZILAH IKWAPUT (Striker – Lady Doves)
Fazilah Ikwaput is the only player on the five nominee shortlist who has previously won this accolade. She won it in 2017 while playing for Oli High School WFC.
Ikwaput was so inspirational in Lady Doves’ FUFA Women Super League winning campaign having scored eight of the club’s 10 goals during the tournament.
She was the top scorer with eight goals but also the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. Her most notable exploit was scoring four goals in a single match against Isra Soccer Academy as well as coming off the bench to score the winning goal against UCU Lady Cardinals in the final.
Ikwaput also scored five goals, including a stunning equalizer against CBE of Ethiopia, as Lady Doves won Bronze in the Champions League qualifiers in Nairobi.
She however missed out on the subsequent Crested Cranes duties due to a knee injury.
The top three nominees for the Male player of the year category will be revealed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the awarding ceremony will be staged on Saturday 4th December at the Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo.
Previous Female MVP Winners
2015 – Sandra Nabweteme (Kawempe Muslim)
2016 – Hasifa Nassuna (Kawempe Muslim)
2017 – Fazilah Ikwaput (Olila High School)
2018 – Ruth Aturo (UCU Lady Cardinals)
2019 – Juliet Nalukenge (Kawempe Muslim)
