The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) have dedicated the accolade won by Uganda at the Glo CAF Awards in the Nigerian capital, Abuja to President Yoweri Museveni.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday after receiving the award at FUFA House in Mengo, FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo said the contribution of the head of state towards the team cannot go unappreciated adding that it played a big role in ensuring the team get to greater heights.
“We must thank him for the environment that has enabled the game of football thrive in the country,” Magogo noted.
“The financial support he has given the team since we started the campaign has seen us reach the record 62nd and 12th places in the world and continent respectively.”
Uganda was in January last year ranked 62nd of the total 209 FIFA nations, the best ever position for the East African country.
An official from airtel (R) poses with the award certificate on Saturday.
Magogo said that the support from other stakeholders like fans also can’t go unnoticed stressing these too were crucial for the good performance of the national team.
“If the entire country can rally behind us the way they are now, we can achieve a lot.”
Magogo also applauded shot stopper Denis Onyango for being voted the best African player locally a gong, no other Ugandan had ever got.
“As FUFA we shall see how to reward him for the excellence,” Magogo noted.
FUFA CEO Edgar Watson who received the award on behalf of Uganda said it was so exciting that every country represented at the awards night applauded Uganda.
“It is a time to celebrate for the achievement by our country,” he said.
Uganda was voted the African national team of the year 2016 after breaking the 39 year jinx and qualified for this year’s Afcon finals to be played in Gabon later this month.
Denis Onyango was also voted African player of the year based in Africa beating Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe) and Rainford Kalaba from Zambia.