Manzoki leads sweep as Vipers dominate UPL Awards

Vipers SC have emerged the biggest winners at the 2022 Pilsner End of the Season SUPL Awards, walking home with nine accolades overall, more than any other club.

Venoms’ star forward Cesar Manzoki has been the biggest individual winner, with five awards to his name in the event held at Kati Kati Restaurant, Lugogo on Friday.

Manzoki won the Most Valuable Player of the Season beating Milton Karisa and Muhammad Shaban.

The Emperor also won the Player’s Player of the Season as voted for by the 16 Uganda Premier League captains..

He also won the Forward of the Season accolade. In this category, he shrugged off competition from front partner Yunus Sentamu and Shaban.

For the other gong, our shirt nine yet again beat Karisa for the Playmaker of the Season after racking nine assists. The two tied on the tally but Manzoki was selected ahead for garnering more goals.

Manzoki scored 18 goals as we won our fifth league title with five games to spare. With the tally, he won the golden boot, but also won the Goal-scorer of the Season on the evening.

Our skipper, Halid Lwaliwa, also won big as he scooped the Defender of the Season Award, beating defensive partner Livingstone Mulondo and Arua Hill SC’s Bright Joseph Vuni.

Siraje Ssentamu was also voted the Midfielder of the Season, with the rock getting the nod over our own Bobosi Byaruhanga and Soltilo Bright Stars’ Marvin Joseph Youngman.

Our Brazilian Coach, Roberto Oliveira has as expected, won the Coach of the Season after showing absolute dominance in his maiden campaign.

Robertinho won the title with a record 18 point difference (74) over the runners-up, KCCA FC (56).

Five Vipers players were selected in the Best Eleven, including Lwaliwa, Byaruhanga, Ssentamu, Karisa and Manzoki.

To cap off a joyous evening, our patron, Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa has been recognized with a Platinum Award for his continuous support towards the development of football in the country.