For the past four years, the famous Airtel FUFA Awards have been received with mixed reactions.
Just like all the global awards, the negative critics have showed their discontent especially in the MVP categories both Men and Women.
Farouk Miya deserved the accolade according to many in 2015. Shaban Mohammed’s win in 2016 created major controversy when he beat Denis Onyango, then, the Cranes captain was voted the African player of the year.
In 2017, Muzamir Mutyaba, against all odds, was awarded ahead of Geoffrey Sserunkuma while Moses Waiswa was not the deserved winner when he was awarded ahead of Allan Okello last year.
The same can be said in the Women category; Sandra Nabweteme and Hassifa Nassuna were deserved winners in the first two editions but Fazila Ikwaput and Ruth Arturo beating Vannesa Kalungi and Tracy Jones Akiror respectively, created many doubts.
With a luxurious car at stake, the obvious choice for the winner has not been considered and this has made the awards’ ratings to deteriorate year in year out.
Of recent, the winners were voted for by the fans via SMS and it has seen the MVP award going to the popular player not the technically gifted one.
Speaking in a press launch held at Serena Hotel, on Wednesday, Airtel Marketing manager Remy Kisakye urged the organisers to come out clean, transparent and share the awarding mechanics used to the public.
In a bid to promote sanctity, the awards’ organisers have come out to change the voting criteria.
FUFA Executive member and Chairman marketing Rogers Byamukama, revealed that this year’s nomination and voting processes have been redefined:
Each of the coaches and captains of the UPL clubs nominated their best five candidates for the FUFA male player of the year 2019.
Coaches of the FUFA Women Elite league/FUFA women super league nominated their top five candidates for the FUFA female player of the year 2019.
There will be 2nd round of voting by the coaches and captains for Male player of the year and female player of the year to get the top five.
Public voting will get underway after release of top five for male and female player of the year on 14 November until 14 December 2019.
