The Eighth edition of the Fortebet Real Stars monthly awards returns next week and a long list of nominees vying for the gong in the different categories has been revealed.
The forthcoming awards have four sports disciplines such as Football (Coaches and players), Swimming, Rugby, and Boxing.
The players’ football category has five nominees in Brian Aheebwa (Mbarara City), David Bagoole (Busoga United), Robert Sentongo (Kyetume), Saidi Kyeyune (URA) and Frank Kalanda who plays his trade for Express FC.
Aheebwa played six games for Mbarara City last month scoring six goals, both in league and Cup. He netted four in the league and a brace in the Uganda Cup against Faith Hope and Love on the round of 32.
He is one of the bookies favorites alongside Busoga United’s attacking midfielder, Bagoole who produced man of match performances in three consecutive league victories for Busoga United plus an assist.
Kyetume’s veteran forward, Robert Ssentongo also appears on the nominees list having been influential for his team, scoring seven goals and four assists in all competitions.
Express forward, Kalanda is the fifth footballer nominated after bagging four goals in six matches, both in league and Cup.
The Coaches category has Jackson Mayanja (Kyetume), Brian Senyondo (Mbarara City), Sam Ssimbwa (URA), Abbey Kikomeko (Busoga United) and Wasswa Bbosa (Express).
Brian Ssenyondo managed five games with the Ankole Lions, winning four and registering one loss. He is joined in the race by Jackson Mayanja “Mia Mia”, Bbosa, Kikomeko and gong holder, Ssimbwa.
Holder, Ssimbwa bounces back after winning thrice, drawing once and losing once in all competitions.
Busoga United’s Kikomeko won four and lost one in the same period, a stellar performance that has seen the Jinja outfit move to the 4th position on the league table standings.
Express’ Bbosa who just returned to the club midway through the season, won twice adding a draw and a defeat last month to impress the fans on his return since replacing George Ssimwogerere.
In other Sports discipline, Kirabo Namutebi has been nominated for the best swimmer of February.
Kirabo, a daughter to the Uganda Volleyball Federation president Hadija Namanda won five medals for Uganda in the CANA Zone IV Championships in Gabrone.
She will need to beat competition from Avice Meya who won Bronze in the 200M butterfly at the same Championship and Alexis Kituuka.
In Boxing, Bombers captain Shadir Musa Bwogi who managed to get a direct ticket for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, is kept company by David Semujju and female boxer Emily Nakalema.
In Rugby, Heathen’s duo Aaron Ofoyroth and Joseph Oyet alongside David Sebwami have all been nominated for the best of February.
Ofoyroth, despite being absent for five league games at home, has been a main pillar in the Rugby Sevens National Team double outings of Viña del Mar in Chile and Montevideo in Uruguay in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, a primary new qualification format of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Ofoyroth finished the South America tour with 38 points including three tries against Paraguay, one against Germany and Brazil.
In close quarters is Joseph Oyet who played four games out of a possible five for Heathens in February and helped his team to maintain their unbeaten run, currently standing top of the league log with 58 points.
Daudi Semwami and Oyet lie in the wings of the run after impressive February performances.
Voting will be held next Monday at the Copper Chimney Restaurant in Lugogo.
The Real Stars Monthly Awards are sponsored by Uganda’s leading betting company Fortebet alongside Jude Colour Solutions under the management of Real Stars Sports Agency.