USPA 2011 awards a women affair
Jan 26, 2012
IF you thought women were the weaker sex, you might want to rethink that perception in sports cycles.
By Douglas Mazune
IF you thought women were the weaker sex, you might want to rethink that perception in sports cycles.
Women instead appear to have marginalized their male counterparts in the 2011 season.
Eight of the 12 Nile Special USPA Monthly award winners were women and two of their own are in contention for the big one – the Sports Personality of 2011 Award.
Athlete Annette Negesa and motor rally driver Susan ‘Super Lady’ Muwonge will run against badminton star Edwin Ekiring and long distance runner Moses Kipsiro at USPA awards night at Golf Course Hotel tomorrow.
And the women have every reason to be in such a bullish mood.
“The contest is between me and Muwonge. There are four contestants but the real battle is between us. Our achievements were great and deserve to be honoured. If I don’t win then it should be Susan,” Negesa said after a morning training session Wednesday.
Muwonge returned the favour in a separate interview.
“I ran against Kipsiro and he beat me in 2007 but for the 2011 award the competition should be between me and Negesa. I am confident I deserve a top award but I respect Negesa’s memorable victories on the international scene. It’s great to have women putting up a great show. It’s 50-50 for us,” Muwonge stated.
Negesa won two gold medals in 800m and 1500m races at the Africa Junior Athletics Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, won 800m gold at the All Africa Games and bronze in the world junior championship.
Muwonge became the first Ugandan woman to win the national motor rally championship. Kispiro won a 5000m gold at the All Africa Games while Ekiring won silver at the All Africa Games.
Monthly winners in 2011
January - Jamila Lunkuse
February - Susan Muwonge
March - Uganda Cranes
April - Martin Toroitich
May - Annet Negesa
June - Kobs (U-23 team)
July - Ponsiano Lwakataka
August - Sarah Nambawa
September - She Cranes
October - Susan Muwonge
November - F. Namakula
December - National women T20 Cricket team