Uganda Hippos coach, Cranes legend and former international and professional player Jackson Mayanja, has asked the government to also honour the living and dead legends after he was awarded the Fortebet Real Stars Lifetime Achievers Award.

Mayanja reasoned that this would inspire even the upcoming sportsmen and women to work hard to achieve for the country and for themselves in the different sports disciplines.

Fortebet Real Stars Lifetime Achievers Awardee Jackson Mayanja (right) receives his award from NCS chairman Ambrose Tashobya at Garden City Rooftop. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“This award means a lot to me because the Real Stars Awards organisers honoured me when I’m still alive,” Mayanja said.

“We were only two players who opened the doors for professional football during my generation; I and Magid Musisi and we were the only professionals on the Cranes team then, so it’s a big recognition and I hope the government can also borrow a leaf and reward us too. Musisi can be honoured posthumously,” Mayanja stated.

During their end-of-year party, the award organisers also named JKL Lady Dolphins forward Brenda Ekone as the Real Superstar of 2022 at the end-of-year awards held at the Garden City Rooftop on Saturday.

Asst sports commissioner Sam Odong (left) presents an award to Brenda Ekone. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Ekone won the award having had five nominations, two of which she won in the August and September editions of the monthly awards. This was during the climax of the basketball league season where she also emerged as the league’s top scorer with 534 points.

“It feels great; it feels amazing and I’m so happy. Fortebet has been really supportive of sports. Personally, I can say this is my first time to win the Super Star Award, but it’s my third because I won in both the months of August and September, so I’m really happy,” Ekone said. She said she would be aiming for more of the same next year after receiving her award from the assistant sports commissioner of the Ministry of Education and Sports Sam Odong, who represented the sports minister, Peter Ogwang.

Odong hailed the organisers for initiating the first-of-a-kind awards that recognise all sports disciplines on a monthly basis while NCS Chairman Ambrose Tashobya who was in attendance said the government was looking at how best they can enumerate our athletes.

Fortebet Real Stars Lifetime Achievers Awardee Jackson Mayanja (3rd L) with Brenda Ekone (C) the Real Superstar of 2022 and the best personalities for the month of November Godfrey Nsubuga (2nd right back), Beth Nagadya (2nd right), Sandra Nambirige (left), Titus Ssematimba (2nd left), Lucy Akello (right). Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The best personalities for the month of November; Godfrey Nsubuga (Golf), Beth Nagadya (Ludo), Sandra Nambirige (Netball), Titus Ssematimba (Football), Lucy Akello (Hockey) and Titus Odeke Lual (Basketball) were also rewarded.