KCCA Football Club was last Saturday crowned 2016/17 Uganda Premier League champions at their Phillip Omondi stadium, Lugogo.
This was the 12th time that the club were victors.
The trophy and medals presentation came after a 2-1 victory over already relegated Sadolin Paints before a cheerful crowd on a day their veteran striker Geofrey Sserunkuma also scored his 21st league goal to galvanize his season’s goal poaching exploits.
Kawowo Sports’ David Isabirye inks down his best line up for the entire season as far back as August 2016 to May 20th 2017.
Tom Ikara (Goalkeeper) – Kirinya-Jinja S.S:
Ikara is partly the reason as to why Kirinya-Jinja S.S survived the drop zone to the FUFA Big League.
He had the command expected of any goalie, dealt with the aerial challenges and made saves whenever it necessitated.
He recorded 12 clean sheets throughout the season.
Nico Wakiro Wadada (Vipers):
Nico Wakiro Wadada is Vipers’ team captain.
He is so powerful and intelligent with or without the ball.
Wadada has the engine of a wood pecker that builds a lavish apartment out of a solid eucalyptus with a mere beak in a record time.
He has customized the Ugandan right wing back to be the ‘Wadada avenue’ accompanied by energetic lung bursting runs with deft and romantic body gigs.
This season he maintained the status quo. It therefore goes without a saying, he is the best right back in the league.
Issa Mubiru (Soana):
The former Soana Junior graduate was solid and played a significant role for the side before his injuries that paved way for Baker Lukooya at left back.
He edged Vipers’ Dan Birikwalira who was inconsistent throughout the season.
Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers):
Calm and composed, Lwaliwa was decent through out the season.
Good in the air and excellent on ground with timely tackles.
The ability to build play from the back with confidence gives him an edge over many central defenders in the league.
Rashid ‘Mertasacker’ Toha:
He has steadily evolved into a decent center back over a quick period of time.
Like Halid, the Onduparaka center forward has been awesome in the air and improved a great lot on ground.
The growth in confidence has seen Toha venture upfront and scored crucial goals for the club.
He has also improved a lot defensively with diminishing blunders.
Tadeo Lwanga (SC Villa Jogoo):
The tag ‘Engineer’ befittingly deserves Lwanga not because it is his true profession, but due to the special role has been played for SC Villa this season.
The club captain has been the fulcrum of the side. He has indeed engineered inter-play for the club marred in technical staff switch for a long spell this term.
He provided all the bolts to the entire Villa machine.
The Engineer beats KCCA’s Isaac Kirabira, Onduparaka’s hardworking Ivan Mbowa, Vipers’ Deus Bukenya and Kirinya Jinja S.S’ Emmanuel Akol to the slot this season.
Saddam Ibrahim Juma (Express):
Rediscovered the form at the Mayuni side during a time he was released by Vipers last season.
His potentiality has never been in question on any day since he served in the famous KKL side.
Rather, he needed to be reminded of what he does best and did exactly that.
Muzamiru Mutyaba (KCCA):
If the KCCA team was a choir, Mutyaba was then the choir master who provided that crucial leadership and directional compass – dictating the wavelength of the vocal chord, tempo, precision and the tones themselves.
Simple but elegant, Mutyaba has mastered to perfect his own deed.
Just like the choir conductor, Mutyaba applied the visible gestures with the hands, arms, face and head as the rest of the KCCA orchestra adhered religiously.
He provided that much needed beat, tempo and shape of the ‘ensemble’.
He enjoys play, involves as many stakeholders concerned and a specialist at that defence splitter.
Geofrey Sserunkuma (KCCA):
Old is gold. Sserunkuma, in his early thirties proved just that.
‘Goals’ this season become the veteran striker’s middle name.
Soft spoken and a bit laid back, he buries all the personal weaknesses with that much needed ingredient – the eye for the goal net.
He simply scored for fun. From dead balls (penalties to be precise), tap-ins, shots, glancing and powerful headers, Sserunkuma scored every type of goal this term.
21 goals in the domestic league is an icing on the red letter season for the 30 year old plus striker.
Muhammed Shaban (Onduparaka):
Before the arrival of Ceasar Okuhti, the Onduparaka captain led the line almost single handed and still delivered home the goods.
Shaban had a couple of important goals and assists for the club especially at their Green Light stadium home that helped the side accumulate important points in their debut season.
The forward has proved that he is a true team leader.
Shafiq Kagimu (URA):
Kagimu has been one of the lively players for the 2016/17 Uganda Premier league.
His ability to take on the opposition with confidence, work hard, create and convert chances created gives him a cutting edge above many.
Manager: Mike Mutebi (KCCA)
In light of the old school adage, a fish rots from the head, Mutebi was the fulcrum of the KCCA’s successful title defence.
He ensured internal order, was punctual as always and prepared well for the opponents.
Above all, he encouraged his players deliver to the best of their expectations.
He will simply the best around.
Assistant Manager: Livingstone Mbabazi (Onduparaka)
Settled in well at Onduparaka. He loves his job though there lots of aspects he needs to polish on his personal etiquette as managers are role models.
Subs: Ismail Watenga (Goalkeeper, Vipers), Denis Okot Oola (KCCA), Godfrey Lwesibawa (SC Villa Jogoo), Deus Bukenya (Vipers), Ivan Mbowa (Onduparaka), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (SC Villa), Isaac Kirabira (KCCA), Juma Balinya (Lweza), Paddy Muhumuza (Lweza/Soana), Living Kabon (Onduparaka), Villa Oromochan, Yunus Sibira (Kirinya-Jinja S.S)
