By Yasiri J. Kasango
Derrick Were, a former Uganda Christian University (UCU) Cardinals goalkeeper and captain, was named the best player of the decade as the university football league celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Were, the current Bright Stars custodian, was awarded at the Imperial Royale Hotel Kampala during the awarding ceremony.
Were, the 2019 UFL winner with UCU, defeated former KCCA and Nkumba University midfielder Yasser Mugerwa and former Mbarara University Science and Technology (MUST) forward Musindo Siraje to take the honor. The two players were also named best midfielder and best forward, respectively.
Were was also named the best goalkeeper of the decade, beating out Mathias Kigonya of Kampala University and Kirya Samson (Makerere University).
“I should say, it was God; it’s really an honor for me, only out of the three years I played did I get this; it’s beyond my expectations, I really want to thank my teammates from the years 2017 to 2019 and UCU for giving me the scholarship, maybe if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have reached this far,” said Were.
Other players honored included Muwawu Faizal, who scored 21 goals and held the league scoring record for the previous ten years, Musindo Siraje, best forward, Yasser Mugerwa, best midfielder, and Muganga Douglas from Nkumba University, best defender.
UCU had two players in the best eleven of the decade, namely Derrick Were and Kaye Kizito.
1. Were Emmanuel (UCU)
2. Gift Fred (Bugema)
3. Kawawulo Ismail (MUBS)
4. Muganga Douglas (Nkumba)
5. Akabwai Geoffrey (KIU)
6. Mugerwa Yasser (Nkumba)
7. Kaye Kizito (UCU)
8. Mutyaba Muzamir (KU)
9. Owori Douglas (Uganda Martyrs)
10. Musindo Siraje (MUST)
11. Okot Moses (Uganda Martyrs)
