Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Football Club were on Friday evening crowned champions of the 2015/16 Uganda Premier League at Nakivubo stadium on Friday evening.
Bar all the talking points from the season past, there are a couple of individual players that excelled in their different playing positions.
Kawowo Sports’ David Isabirye took a close scrutiny all season round for the top performers.
Benjamin Ochan (KCCA) – Goalkeeper
Consistence has been the key password for Ochan, now a two time league winner.
Even when the club struggled at the back, he was called once in a while to thwart goal bound threats.
Survivor of a nasty accident on Entebbe road late March 2016, Ochan inspired KCCA to the 11th league crown with customary saves and exceptional command of the back line.
He has lately improved with dealing about aerial threats that arises from teasing crosses.
Aggrey Kirya (Simba) – Right Back
Kirya plays the role of that contemporary right back.
He is blessed with an awesome work ethic, with bundles of calories to burn as he executed his routine wing back duties to perfection.
Three goals to his name spiced his wonderful season despite seeing the army side relegated after 20 years of diligence in the top flight football.
Aggrey Kirya played the right back role with all hi soul and heart
Joseph Ochaya (KCCA) – Left Back
On countless occasions, KCCA head coach Mike Ray Mutebi has inter-changeably employed Joseph Ochaya as a left back and attacker.
Depending on the nature of opposition, tide of the game, Ochaya has served the purpose to perfection.
The former Asante Kotoko player has thrived more as a left back who marauds to attack to lay and shoot that final ball.
The lanky player has been a joy to watch all season round.
Halid Lwalirwa (Vipers) – Central Defender
Calm and composed throughout the season, he has been partly the reason for some sanity at the Vipers backline.
The Uganda Hippos captain has been the neutral factor at the heart of Vipers’ back-line in good and tempting moments.
Benard ‘Scholes’ Muwanga (Bright Stars) – Center Defender
Solid, a good game reader and composed are important aspects that define an efficient center half.
So is Muwanga. Was at the heart of the Bright Stars in the first round when the Matugga based side frustrated many clubs.
Peter Katumba (Sadolin Paints) – Anchorman
Katumba for the second successive season has remained a consistent top performer for the Bugembe based side.
As solid as the Nyero rocks, he has been an inspirational pillar for the club.
Ascended to the team captaincy at the start of the season, the former Simba, Masaka Local Council and BUL holding midfielder had an incredible outing in the first five games that witnessed his summon to the CHAN bound team in Rwanda.
Early injuries cost him dear but recovered well in January and resumed business as usual.
A typical team leader, Katumba also excelled at timely execution of tackles and passing with purpose.
Milton Karisa (BUL) – Right wing
Industrious and a team player. He has improved match in, match out since the day of the Big league with JMC Hippos.
The quick decision making, odd assists and goals to his name rewarded him to the Uganda Cranes select side to the West Nile region that fell to Sizza Olega’s goal.
Muzamir Mutyaba (KCCA) – Central midfielder
There could still be questions posed to his commitment vis-à-vis ‘potentiality’.
Mutyaba added the league crown to the Uganda Cranes 40th CECAFA senior challenge cup where he also finished man of the match in the final game against Rwanda.
Erisa Ssekisambu – (Vipers) – Center forward
The athletic and diligent Ssekisambu has indeed lived by the consistence tag.
A great season last year with SC Villa where he won the Uganda Cup best players’ crown, he was snatched by rivals – Vipers and he has wonders.
At Vipers, he orchestrated mostly from his preferred right wing with late ghosted runs at the central offensive department.
Robert Sentongo (URA) – Center forward
He has the technique of finishing with either foot at the most convenient timing.
A few discipline cases limited his playing time but he remained the lethal Robert Sentongo of 10 years ago.
Walter Bankene (JMC Hippos) – Left wing
Bankene is a robust player, as hard working as a queen bee in a busy hive.
He is blessed with the positional discipline and can easily shoot with either feet.
Honourable mentions:
Mathias Mugwanya – Goalkeeper – Sadolin Paints, Fred Okot (Lweza), Dennis Rukundo (Maroons), Patrick Kaddu (Maroons), Abel Eturude (SC Villa), Jackson Nunda (KCCA), Samuel Ssekitto (URA), Erias Lumbabula (Police), Tonny Odur (Express), Geofrey Sserunkuma (Lweza), Musa Esenu (Soana), Swaibu Kakwaya (SC Victoria University), Saddam Ibrahim Juma (Vipers)
