Nile waters football awards with sh150m
Jul 22, 2009
THE top award of a brand new car has been maintained while cash prizes have been increased and a referees’ category added to the annual Nile Special Football Awards gala.
By Michael Nsubuga
THE top award of a brand new car has been maintained while cash prizes have been increased and a referees’ category added to the annual Nile Special Football Awards gala.
According to Anfield Communications, the organisers, sh150m has been earmarked by sponsors Nile Breweries for the September 26 event at Golf Course Hotel.
Addressing the press during a media breakfast at Serena Hotel yesterday, the firm’s director Aldrine Nsubuga announced that the Most Valuable Player and the best coach will each walk away with sh1m, while winners in the other five categories will get sh500,000, up from sh100,000 last year.
The launch was graced by former Coventry, Charlton Athletic and Kaizer Chiefs striker Shaun Bartlett.
Nsubuga emphasised that the purpose of the awards was to discover and reward outstanding talent. He noted that last year’s awards had added value to the winners, prompting them to perform better.
‘‘Ugandan footballers are our principle interest. These awards are supposed to show us the depth of talent that the country has instead of the usual stars,†Nsubuga explained.
Brian Umony, now with South Africa’s SuperSport United, won the top award last year.
Thirty six ‘football experts’ (coaches and assistants) will kick off the nominations with each providing a name for each category.
After tallying, the top three in each category will form the final shortlist from which the public will vote through an SMS platform provided by TrueAfrican.
Nile Breweries marketing director Mike Olsen was happy with the professionalism and transparency shown during the inaugural awards and commended the organisers for mooting the idea.
‘‘We take these awards very seriously. We will continue supporting them as long as they are organised in a transparent manner to help in talent and football development in the country,†Olsen promised.
Bartlett hailed the brewers for the sponsorship. He described it as exceptional and that it was every footballer’s dream to be recognised for their talent.
THE top award of a brand new car has been maintained while cash prizes have been increased and a referees’ category added to the annual Nile Special Football Awards gala.
According to Anfield Communications, the organisers, sh150m has been earmarked by sponsors Nile Breweries for the September 26 event at Golf Course Hotel.
Addressing the press during a media breakfast at Serena Hotel yesterday, the firm’s director Aldrine Nsubuga announced that the Most Valuable Player and the best coach will each walk away with sh1m, while winners in the other five categories will get sh500,000, up from sh100,000 last year.
The launch was graced by former Coventry, Charlton Athletic and Kaizer Chiefs striker Shaun Bartlett.
Nsubuga emphasised that the purpose of the awards was to discover and reward outstanding talent. He noted that last year’s awards had added value to the winners, prompting them to perform better.
‘‘Ugandan footballers are our principle interest. These awards are supposed to show us the depth of talent that the country has instead of the usual stars,†Nsubuga explained.
Brian Umony, now with South Africa’s SuperSport United, won the top award last year.
Thirty six ‘football experts’ (coaches and assistants) will kick off the nominations with each providing a name for each category.
After tallying, the top three in each category will form the final shortlist from which the public will vote through an SMS platform provided by TrueAfrican.
Nile Breweries marketing director Mike Olsen was happy with the professionalism and transparency shown during the inaugural awards and commended the organisers for mooting the idea.
‘‘We take these awards very seriously. We will continue supporting them as long as they are organised in a transparent manner to help in talent and football development in the country,†Olsen promised.
Bartlett hailed the brewers for the sponsorship. He described it as exceptional and that it was every footballer’s dream to be recognised for their talent.