Fortebet Real Stars Month of February 2023 winners:
- Football: Rogers Mugisha (UPDF & Uganda Hippos)
- Basketball: Jannon Otto
- Rugby: Pius Ogena
- Athletics: Jacob Kiplimo
- Badminton: Mohammed Fadilah Shamika
- Motorsport: Yasin Nasser & Ali Katumba crew
In 2020, the Uganda U-20 national football team (Hippos) qualified to the FIFA U-20 World Cup despite falling 0-2 to Ghana during the final played in Mauritania.
Perhaps, due to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic back then, the tournament was cancelled altogether.
Uganda hereby missed the glorious opportunity to play at the global stage in football.
This year round, the same team was stopped at the quarter final stage by Nigeria, falling 0-1 in Egypt to the young Eagles and missed the opportunity to qualify for the coveted championship in Indonesia.
One of the star players on the team Rogers Mugisha has however consoled self and vowed to keep focused for similar tasks ahead of him.
“We might not have qualified for the U-20 World Cup this time, but, I am determined I will one day qualify Uganda to the World Cup” Mugisha remarked as he addressed journalists at Jude Colour solutions offices in Kampala on Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Mugisha was named the Fortebet Real Stars player of the month (February 2023) given his outstanding performances for the Hippos in Egypt.
To claim the accolade, the UPDF attacking midfielder scudded off stiff competition from Royal Giants High school’s Patrick Katumba and KCCA goalkeeper Derrick Ochan.
Mugisha was named man of the match in the duel against Central African Republic (CAR) and named on the CAF Best XI of the group stages, alongside defender Rogers Torach.
Other winners:
Motorsport:
The rally crew of Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba won in motorsport after scooping the 2023 Mbarara Festival Rally on February 13th.
Nasser and Katumba used a Ford Fiesta R5 to race a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes and 15 seconds.
They beat off the challenge from Ronald Ssebuguzi and Mugambwa as well as Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru and Bongole.
Basketball:
In Basketbal, Jannon Otto beat off stiff competition from fellow national team players Maria Najjuma and Brenda Ekone.
The trio were part of team Uganda that featured in the Africa zone V qualifiers at the MTN Indoor Arena that qualified to the continental championships in Kigali, Rwanda.
Otto was singled out for the exceptional individual and team performancs.
Rugby:
KOBS Rugby club star player Pius Ogena won the award ahead of Heathens’ Aaron Oforywoth and Karim Ramathan.
Ogena staged a man of the match performance against the Buffaloes.
The 8th man shouldered off the opposition to carry the ball forward for the much needed tries.
Athletics:
Winner of the 2023 World Cross Country in Australia, Jacob Kiplimo excelled in athletics.
Kiplimo overcame Dorren Chesang and Joshua Cheptegei.
Badminton:
Teenage Badminton starlet Mohammed Fadilah Shamika took the Badminton award ahead of Husinah Kobugabe and Brian Kasirye.
Shamika picked the award accompanied by his father.
Real Stars Sports Agency executive director Isaac Mukasa graced the crowning moment accompanied by officials from Jude Colour Solutions and Fortebet.
