Airtel-FUFA Awards 2021: All the nominees

A total of 12 prizes are to be handed out when the sixth edition of the Airtel FUFA Awards take place at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

The awards to celebrate the most flourishing Ugandan footballers, take place on December 4 as Ugandan football’s governing body pays tribute the players who have excelled by handing out individual accolades.

The celebrations were suspended in 2020, owing to the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak and disruptions to the Ugandan sporting calendar, but the they return for 2021 and take the previous 12 months into account.

Top players like Denis Onyango, Eric Kambale and Fazila Ikwaput are in the race for different categories, with various stakeholders including fans consulted in the process of identifying top performers and online polls established to solicit for opinions.

Farouk Miya and Hasifah Nassuuna were the winners of the awards in 2015. Allan Okello and Juliet Nalukenge are the current holders having won in 2019.

Individuals like Emmanuel Okwi, Denis Onyango and Mike Mutebi have previously won accolades, and despite the unusual circumstances of the previous 18 months, there have been a host of standout individuals and it will be nail biting.

Some of the categories that will be named at the ceremony include Male and Female player of the year, FUFA Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, and Fans’ Favourite Ugandan Foreign based player.

The other categories are Beach Soccer Player of the year, Futsal Player of the year, FUFA Member Associations’ Award, FUFA Presidential Award, Fair Play Award, Best XI men, Best XI women and Best Squad of a particular year.

The Airtel-FUFA Men and Airtel-FUFA Women Player of the year will be the headline awards in the gala.

Vipers SC duo Bobosi Byaruhanga and Aziz Kayondo and they are joined by Express FC’s Eric Kambale for the Male Player of the Year award.

Kambale was integral in Express’ StarTimes Uganda Premier League title triumph last season, finishing as the second highest top scorer as the Red Eagles won their first league title in close to a decade.

He continued his exploits finishing as joint top scorer during the Red Eagles’ triumph in the CECAFA Kagame Cup, the first regional title in the club’s history.

Byaruhanga and Kayondo were both part of the Uganda U20 team that finished runners up during the AFCON U20 finals in Mauritania in January and also helped Vipers to victory in the Stanbic Uganda Cup.

Kayondo was named among the best XI of the tournament and also featured in all three games for the Uganda Cranes at the CHAN finals in Cameroon, going on to make his debut for the Uganda Cranes against Rwanda during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Teammate Byaruhanga was among only two players who played in all six of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to cap a brilliant year that saw him make his senior debut in July against South Africa.

Byaruhanga was named the best midfielder of the 2020/21 Stanbic Uganda Cup season and was as well named the MVP of the inaugural StarTimes Uganda Premier League All Star game.

The final nominee shortlist for the prestigious award is led by Lady Doves duo Fazila Ikwaput and Daisy Nakaziro and Uganda U20 captain Fauzia Najjemba.

Forward Ikwaput, winner of the award in 2017 was crucial as her side won the 2021 FUFA Women Super League title – the first in the club’s history.

Nakaziro was the driving force at the back for Doves, lifting the 2021 FUFA Women Super League trophy as captain after displaying leadership and plenty of resilience in goal.

Nakaziro was named as the best goalkeeper of the season, and continued her exploits with strong performances at the CECAFA CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifiers, once again winning the Golden Glove.

Najjemba scored three goals in three league games for Kampala Queens, but her star really shined brighter with the U20, finishing as the top scorer at the CECAFA Women’s U20 Championship, scoring 11 goals in five games.

After guiding Arua Hill to promotion to the StarTimes Uganda Premier Hussein Mbalangu was nominated for men’s coach of the year together with Express’ Wasswa Bbosa and Uganda U20 coach Morley Byekwaso.

Uganda U20 women coach Ayub Khalifah and Lady Doves’ title winning coach Fred Musiime and She Maroons’ Alex Sida are nominated for the women coach of the year.

Airte-FUFA Awards 2021 Full list of Nominees:

Airtel FUFA Male Player of the Year: Aziz Kayondo (Vipers SC), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC), Eric Kambale (Express FC)

Airtel FUFA Female Player of the Year: Fazilah Ikwaput (Lady Doves), Fauziah Najjemba (Kampala Queens), Daisy Nakaziro (Lady Doves)

Airtel FUFA Men’s Player of the Year: Morley Byekwaso (U-20 Hippos team), Wasswa Bbosa (Express), Hussein Mbalangu (Arua Hill SC/Mbarara City FC)

Airtel FUFA Women’s Coach of the Year: Fred Musiime (Lady Doves), Sida Alex (She Maroons), Ayub Khalifa (U-20 Women National team)

Fans Favourite Ugandan Foreign-based Player: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Fahad Bayo (Ashdod FC, Israel), Joan Nabirye (Vihiga Queens, Kenya), Taddeo Lwanga (Simba SC, Tanzania)

Beach Soccer Player of the Year: Wasswa Emmanuel (St. Lawrence Beach Soccer Club), Kigozi Ambrose (Buganda Royal Beach Soccer Club), Kawawulo Isma (MUBS Beach Soccer Club)

Member Associations’ Award: Express FC (Club), Uganda Youth Football Association (Special Interest Group), Kampala Region Football Association (Region Football Association)

Futsal Player of the Year: Farouk Tumwesigye (Big Talent), Mutyaba Travis (Synergy FC), Najib Muwonge (Mengo FC)

Other Awards: Airtel – FUFA Best XI 2021 (Men), Airtel – FUFA Best XI 2021 (Women), Airtel – FUFA Fair Play Award 2021, Airtel FUFA Presidential Award 2021