KAMPALA – The fourth edition of the Airtel-FUFA Awards was launched at Sheraton Hotel-Kampala on Wednesday, 07-11-2018.
Like it has been in the past, this year’s edition will also be sponsored by Telecom giants Airtel hence acquiring the naming rights once again. At the ceremony, it was announced that the awards have incorporated the Uganda Premier League Awards which used to be held at the end of every season.
In this year’s awards, Airtel has injected a whopping Shs 100 Million to ensure that the ceremony runs smoothly.
Speaking at the launch of the awards, Airtel Head of Brand and Communications, Rammie Kisakye said that the company is committed to continuing the uplifting of Ugandan football.
“We are happy to partner with FUFA for the fourth running to sponsor the Airtel FUFA Awards, said Kisakye.
“Airtel Uganda is committed to supporting football right from the grass-root to the national team and our support of these awards, re-affirms total commitment for developing football at all levels.
We thank FUFA for continually recognizing talent and pledge as a brand to continue supporting this cause as we strive to see Ugandan football players become highly regarded in Africa and across the world.
“As a brand, we have been associated with the promotion of football at all levels from the Airtel Rising Stars, Masaza, awards to the national team (Uganda Cranes).
This year’s edition will have 15 different categories with the best Female and male footballers walking away with a Grand prize of a car on top of other giveaways at a ceremony that will be held at Speke Resort Munyonyo on the 7th of December.
They will also be boosted by National Insurance Cooperation who have injected Shs 10 Million, Nile Special, Bul, Ecobank, Betlion and PostBank.
The FUFA President, Eng. Moses Magogo emphasized that the federation shall continue recorgnising excellence in football.
“The Federation continues to recognize individual and team excellence, said Magogo.
“The FUFA Awards are aimed at honoring excellence for Ugandan footballers annually that help in raising the bar.
“Some of the gallant past winners are now plying their trade outside Uganda like Fazila Ikwaput, Faruku Miya and Muhammed Shaban while Muzamiru Mutyaba is playing in the CAF Champions League with KCCA Football Club.
“I will end by urging all Ugandans to turn up in huge numbers on the 17th November 2018 at Mandela National Stadium when Uganda Cranes plays Cape Verde in the AFCON 2019 qualifiers.
The Categories in this year’s FUFA Airtel Awards:
1. Airtel-FUFA Male Player of the year.
The nominees in this category were chosen as per the opinion of all the 16 coaches of clubs playing in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League based on the players’ performance in the year 2018.
The Nominees are Allan Okello (KCCA FC), Moses Waiswa (Vipers SC) and Vianne Sekajugo (Onduparaka FC)
2. Airtel- FUFA Female player of the year.
The nominees in this category were chosen as per the opinion of all the 16 coaches of clubs playing in the FUFA Women Elite League based on the players’ performance in the year 2018.
The Nominees are Tracy Jones Akiror (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Ruth Aturo (UCU Lady Cardinals FC) and Shadia Nankya (Uganda Martyrs High School-Lubaga).
3. FUFA Upcoming Talent (FUFA Juniors League U19).
The nominees in this category were chosen as per the opinion of all the 16 coaches of clubs playing in the FUFA Juniors League based on the players’ performance in the year 2018.
4. FUFA Most Promising Player Award (Playing in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League between 20-23 years of age).
The shortlist is a summary as per nomination time of opinion of the Uganda Premier League Technical team. The team cast their votes in favour of players who they deemed excellent in 2018.
5. FUFA Coach of the year.
The Uganda Football Coaches Association (UFCA) will select the best coach for this Award. The voting for this category is on-going but ends Monday, 12th November 2018.
The winner in this category will also manage the FUFA Best XI team.
6. FUFA Best IX.
This category will be voted for by the members of the Uganda football Players Association (UFPA) in which all players, retired or active are members. The players will choose the best goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and strikers from a team will be chosen as per the number of times a player appears on different teams.
The best IX is restricted to players featuring in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League only.
7. FUFA Presidential Award.
The recipient of this award is selected by the FUFA President. The award can go to any individual either in Administration, Referee, Coach, Sports medicine, Media, Fan, Support Personnel or Employee in honour of one special event or a lifetime achievement.
8. FUFA Fair Play Award.
This award will go to the team that has the least number of points accumulated from both yellow and red cards in last season’s Uganda Premier League. Every yellow card accumulated earns a team one point while two for a red card.
9. FUFA Individual Fair play Award.
The Award will go to an individual who exhibited high levels of sportsmanship spirit that promoted fair play in 2018. The winner could either be a fan, administrator or club official and they will be determined by the Uganda Premier League Secretariate.
10. FUFA Referee of the year.
This category will be decided by the FUFA Referees Standing Committee (FRSC) who will come up with a short list of 5 referees from which the winner will be decided by a panel of 20 senior persons in refereeing.
11. FUFA Upcoming Referee of the year.
This category will be decided by the FRSC who will come up with a short list of 5 referees from which the winner will be decided by a panel of 20 senior persons in refereeing. the nominees will all come from the FUFA Juniors League.
12. FUFA Beach Soccer player of the year.
This category’s winner shall be determined by the Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA). UBSA will be required to select their own criteria to determine the winner.
13. Fans’ Favourite Ugandan Player of the year.
This award is limited to Ugandans irrespective of where they are playing their club football from and the winner will be determined by the fans.
14. Fans Favourite Ugandan player (foreign-based).
This award will also be determined by the fans and it is limited to Ugandans playing their trade outside of the country.
15. Fan of the Year Award.
The winner in this category will be determined by the Uganda Premier League Secretariat.
The awards are aimed at honoring excellence for Ugandan Footballers annually to help in raising the bar in terms of competition as some of the gallant past winners are now plying their trade outside the country.
Last year, KCCA FC midfielder Muzamir Mutyaba and Olila High School forward Fazilah Ikwaput scooped the MVP Award in the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively. The duo took home brand new vehicles.
The other Male MVPs from the past awards include Shaban Muhammad (2016) and Farook Miya (2015).
