USPA to honour 2019 best sportspersons at scientific gala

Outstanding sportsmen from 2019 will today be recognised for their sporting excellence at the annual Nile Special USPA Sportsman of the Year gala at Serena Hotel.

But, the biggest sports gathering for sportsmen and administrators from all walks of the sporting spectrum returns not with the usual pomp, but in a ‘scientific way' and under strict adherence to the Safe Operating Procedures because of the rampant coronavirus pandemic.

Current 5,000 and 10,000m World Record holder Joshua Cheptegei is in contention for the top award in the 35th edition gala alongside Doha 2019 women's 800m world championship winner Halima Nakaayi and Cranes striker Emmanuel Okwi.

Cheptegei set the athletics scene alight in 2019 when he won the World Cross Country championship, took the 5000m Diamond League championship as well as picking a 10,000m World Championship gold.

Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Okwi who currently plies his trade in Egypt made the nomination list for having performed exceptionally well with the Cranes especially in the AFCON qualifiers and final tournament in Egypt, as well as his former club Simba FC of Tanzania where he scored 19 goals including 3 in the CAF Champions League.

If Chepetgei wins the top award, it will be the 17th time that a member from the athletics family wins the award since the '70s.

Athletics with 16 winners have dominated the awards since 1974. Motor rallying has taken 4 with football and netball bagging three and two accolades respectively each.

Some of the other awardees on the day which starts with a luncheon for the guests and sportsmen include Pius Ogena (rugby), Daudi Okello (volleyball), James Okello (basketball), Ibrahim Kongo and Lillian Achola (volleyball), Joseph Cwinya-ai and Martha Babirye (golf), David Ssemujju (boxing), and Isaac Mubikirwa (bodybuilding) among others.

There will be other awards for the Team of the Year, Best-Run Federation, Most Organised event, and the Legendary Award of the Year that will go to veteran volleyball administrator Neko Muduse Ojara of the Nemo Stars.

The award by USPA for the overall sports personality is the grand award on the day.

Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) is a body that brings together all sports journalists in Uganda across the different media platforms-radio, TV, print, and online, with a membership that reaches 200 people.

Over the years, USPA and Nile Special have celebrated the success of Uganda's sports personalities. More than 30 sports personalities will be awarded at the gala.

 

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