UPL Awards: Tactical geniuses; who will be named the finest for the season?

It will be a tough battle as Isabirye, Ssenfuma and Magera vie for the Coach of the year

FOOTBALL UPL Awards: Tactical geniuses; who will be named the finest for the season?

Allan Damba • 16:46 - 04.07.2023

Three hugely tactical coaches will battle it out for the Pilsner Uganda Premier League Coach of the Season, after showcasing their might last campaign.

Vipers SC gaffer Alex Isabirye, Jackson Magera who traded his game at SC Villa last season and Maroons FC's Mohammed Ssenfuma will vie for the grand prize.

The Pilsner UPL awards, which are coming for the second edition, will be held at the Kampala Serena Hotel, Kampala this Thursday.

Isabirye, guided Vipers to their sixth ever league title, fending off opposition from runners-up KCCA FC and third-placed Villa.

The tactician left BUL FC third on the league log in March to join the Venoms, who were languishing in the bottom half, albeit, with games in hand.

Isabirye guided Vipers to the UPL trophy, he's a contender

The latter were also struggling to score goals, but grinded out results, eventually guiding them to the title, courtesy of a superior goal difference.

Meanwhile, Magera was also impressive with Villa, in a season they mounted a league fight till the final day.

While they finished third with 52 points, one adrift of Vipers, the team accumulated more points on the pitch (54), only to suffer a boardroom two-point deduction due to fan-hooliganism.

Jackie Tahakanizibwa (L), Corporate Relations Manager at UBL hands over the Pilsner Coach of the Month Award to SC Villa coach Jackson Magera Kaddu

It was also a season that their own fans and the entire football circle didn't expect them to compete, as they had recruited less-known and inexperienced players.

On the other hand, Ssenfuma also took the league by storm, putting up impressive displays especially in the second round of the season.

Senfuma on the touchline for Maroons FC last season.

The soft-spoken coach guided the Prison Warders to sixth in the league with 41 points as the team played one of the most fancy football in the country.

He also managed victories against some of the league giants including URA FC, SC Villa, Arua Hill SC among others.

All the Categories

Coach of the Season: Mohammed Ssenfuma (Maroons), Alex Isabirye (Vipers), Jackson Magera (SC Villa).

Player of the Season: Milton Karisa (Vipers), Simon Tamale (Maroons), Charles Bbaale (SC Villa).

Goalkeeper of the Season: Simon Tamale (Maroons), Hassan Matovu (Soltilo Bright Stars), Nafian Alionzi (URA FC).

Defender of the Season: Warren Buule (Soltilo Bright Stars), Hillary Mukundane (Vipers), Gift Fred (Villa).

Midfielder of the Season: Wahab Gadafi (Arua Hill), Laban Tibita (Busoga United), Lawrence Bukenya (Wakiso Giants)

Young Player of the Season: Saidi Mayanja (KCCA), Patrick Kakande (Villa), Darius Ojok (Maroons).

Other categories: Topscorer, Most Assists, Players Player of the Season, Coaches' Player of the Season and Best Team of the Season, the Fair Play of the Team, and Platinum Award.