When the second edition of the Local Football Appreciation (LFA) Awards were launched on Friday, March 6 at the Chint Electronics head office along Jinja road, it brought a sense of nostalgia.
Last year, unlike the years before, there were no domestic football awards held as had been previously with both the Uganda Premier League (UPL) and Fufa awards. Both the UPL and the Fufa awards had become part and parcel of the football calendar for the past five or so years, causing much excitement.
But with a slightly different scope, the LFA awards, which are slated for June, will be handing out 39 distinct categories. This will not only provide many winners, but is a highlight of recognition for those whom the different categories are named after, and how exceptional it will be to celebrate them.
For example, the LFA best male player of the year award has been named after former SC Villa and Uganda Cranes striker, Majid Musisi (RIP). Arguably one of the best footballers to grace this land, Musisi, who passed on in December 2005 remains an icon in scoring goals.
It is against that fact, that he was a force to reckon with on the continent, before he plied his trade in France at Stade Rennes back in 1992. In that case, for whoever wins the Musisi award, it will be a great honour.
According to Raymond Kayungirizi, the Operations Director of the LFA, these awards have been well thought through to fit real icons of Ugandan football. It is for that matter that the best referee award is called the Charles Masembe award, following how much he transcended African football as one of its finest men at the centre, back in the late 1990s.
Masembe, who was present during the launch, officiated the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations final in South Africa. He spoke fondly of his involvement in football, from being a player, and now an administrator.
Masembe noted that football had shaped his life, and that he was in no doubt, many others can be inspired by his story, and also benefit from football by serving it diligently. As a major sponsor of the LFA awards, John Kimbowa, the Head of Corporate and Public Affairs at Chint, he said that as the official shirt sponsors of KCCA FC, they are part and parcel of Ugandan football.
Therefore, being part of the LFA awards is purposed on supporting the growth of football in the country. Perhaps not many people have been foot soldiers of Ugandan football more than the journalists and writers, who report on it and provide its coverage, too.
In due recognition to that, the best football reporters and broadcasters will be recognized and rewarded for their efforts through the LFA football writers excellence award that was named after Aldrine Nsubuga, Television Presenter award named after Mark Ssali, and Football show of the year named after Hassan Badru Zziwa, a columnist with The Observer newspaper.
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