With the 2017/18 season now a closed chapter, PML Daily correspondent Shaban Lubega looks at the 11 stand out performers in the league plus one on the touchline.
GK – Samson Kirya (SC Villa)
Has always been a good goalkeeper despite the limited playing time throughout his career. Kirya took the number one tag at Villa this season with both hands and proved his worth throughout the season, conceding only 12 goals and in the process helping his side push for the title until the final weeks of the season.
His performance away to Onduparaka goes down as one of the very best by a custodian throughout the 2017/18 season.
RB – Eddie Kapampa.
Kapampa has been part of one of the best defensive lines in the league last season. From his league debut against KCCA at Lugogo, Kapampa has not looked back as stand out performances have been attributed to his name whenever Maroons played.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he moved to a bigger club this off-season.
LB – Mustapha Kiiza (KCCA FC)
What a player he may turn out to be in the near future for both KCCA and the national team.
Kiiza led the chats for assists with 12 to his name and the fact that its rear for a defender to achieve such a fate should tell all you need to know about the 19 year old. His left foot has been a joy to watch, prompting U-20 coach Matia Lule to add him to his fold.
CB – Geoffrey Wasswa (Vipers SC)
Another national U-20 main stay that makes our team, Wasswa has so far lived up to the hype that forced Abdallah Mubiru to hand him his debut two years ago.
Calm and composed on the ball is some of the few attributes that have seen him become a feature on Vipers’ starting list ahead of seasoned performers like Shafic Bakaki and the just returned from injured Halid Lwaliwa who is widely seen as his ideal partner at center half.
CB – Timothy Awany (KCCA FC)
The 22 year old has put in outstanding performances week in and out throughout the season and it easy to see why Mike Mutebi gave him the captain’s arm band.
When KCCA was struggling, he was always the main reason as to why the current Uganda cup defending champions won or drew games that they may be were poised to lose.
Still yet to make his breakthrough into the national team but it would be safe to say that ‘it’s just a matter of time’.
MF – Taddeo Lwanga (Vipers SC)
One of the key pillars in Vipers’ title winning side, Tadeo hit the ground running like no other defensive midfielder in the league since his transfer from SC Villa at the start of last season.
Hard in a tackle and composed in possession has been his key attributes throughout the season, laying a favorable environment for the more attacking players to flourish.
He made his breakthrough in the national team during the just concluded season and he became a main stay in the setup.
MF – Nicholas Kasozi (SC Villa)
What signing he has turned out to be for the 16 time record league champions.
A joy to watch on the ball and immensely gifted while without it interms of reading the game, Kasozi has arguably the best performer in that Villa team that pushed for the league title up until the last few weeks of the season.
LW – Martin Kizza (SC Villa)
Kizza has terrorized defences all season and managed to grab nine goals and several assists to his name.
Lost it towards the end of the season and many will point that out as may be the reason to why Villa fell short in a season that had many believing the league crown may finally return to Villa Park.
His consistent diving has been a key feature of the bad side of his game but putting that aside, the former KCCA winger has been a joy to watch.
RW – Milton Karisa (Vipers SC)
Carried the Vipers’ attack on his shoulders before the arrival of Dan Sserunkuma in January, Karisa has been one of the most consistent performers throughout the season, notching 12 goals from the wide position as sealing a spot on the national team.
FW – Daniel Muzei Sserunkuma (Vipers SC)
17 goals in the Uganda Premier League is not an easy fate by any player and Sserunkuma has done it this season and in the process, won the Golden boot.
When Vipers were struggling in front of goal, he was the man brought in to solve the puzzle and how he has done exactly that, scoring 11 goals in 14 matches, adding six that he had grabbed for Express in the first round.
FW – Nelson Senkatuka (Bright Stars)
With 15 goals this season, the forward has enjoyed the most prolific season of his career to date.
Usually operating from the central attack, Senkatuka has scored more than 50% of Bright Stars goal and it’s hard to imagine where Fred Kajoba’s side would finish minus the forward’s goals.
Coach: Asaph Mwebaze (Maroons FC)
Maroons took the league by storm and their 10th place finish cannot clearly show how brilliant the side has been over the course of 30 games.
When they were promoted to the top tier, many pundits predicted that the side would go down instantly due to their transfer activity but Asaph Mwebaze had other ideas, building a strong defensive organisation that has seen them lose only five games all season and a joint third low of 20 goals.
With a better striking line, may be they would have finished higher in the table but with the Mwebaze at the helm, you can be confident that that issue will be addressed by the start of next season.
