Sinan RAJUB SENOGA
The 2022/23 FUFA Women Super League seasons officially concluded last week with Kampala Queens crowned champions for the first time in history.
Last season’s champions She Corporate and Olila High School were subsequently relegated to the second tier following their abysmal performance in the closing half of the campaign.
Swift Sports has made a star studded selection of 11 performers who stood out as the best line up of the concluded season.
The selection is dominated by Kawempe Muslim and Kampala Queens who were also the best performing teams in the league.
Goalkeeper
1. Daisy Nakaziro (Kampala Queens)
The best goalkeeper of the league with no doubt. Daisy kept a total of nine clean sheets, more than any other shot stopper to swoop her third ever golden glove. Having previously won it in 2018/19 and 2021 with Lady Doves.
Daisy Nakaziro has now won 3 golden gloves. 1st player to do so.
• Named best goalkeeper with Lady Doves in 2018/19 & 2021.
• Named best goalkeeper with Kampala Queens in 2022/23.
Fatuma Matovu, Ruth Aturo, Juliet Adeke & Daphine Nyayenga have all won 1 golden glove each. pic.twitter.com/yNU7IaNhYt
— SINAN 🇺🇬 (@SinanRajub) May 1, 2023
Defenders
2. Samalie Nakacwa (Kawempe Muslim)
Samalie Nakacwa has come of age. She has enjoyed a meteoric rise transiting from a budding striker who never lived to the expectations to arguably the best right back in the country in the last three seasons.
She balances her primary role of defending perfectly well with going forward and whipping in a good number of teasing crosses.
3. Jolly Kobusingye (Kawempe Muslim)
Another workaholic defender on the books of Kawempe. The former Tooro Queens player was impressive with a number of solid defensive shifts and consistently made roving movements down the left flank.
4. Patricia Akiror (Kampala Queens)
Some call her Varane, after the French defender on account of her calmness in the Kampala Queens defense.
Akiror joined Kampala Queens in the closing half of last season and since then perfectly supplemented her defensive partner Lukiya Namubiru who was recently shifted from offensive positions to defense.
Akiror’s cool head in defending makes her one of the best defenders in the league.
5. Aisha Nantongo (Kawempe Muslim)
Very few players in the league give 101% on the pitch, if at all it exists, and Nantongo is one of them.
The Kawempe Muslim captain once again put up a solid and consistent performance to guide her side to a respectable finish. An absolute captain’s shift!
Midfielders
6. Josephine Ndagire (Makerere University)
Ndagire’s performance can not go unnoticed as Makerere University raced to safety. Her strength is ball retention and initiating attacks.
The lanky midfielder scored three goals in the process and earned the slot ahead of Shakira Mutiibwa (Kampala Queens) and Kawempe’s Rhoda Nanziri.
7. Shakira Nyinagahirwa (Kawempe Muslim)
The league’s MVP and top scorer after scoring 12 goals as Kawempe Muslim raced to finish second on the table.
With a tight schedule coupled with school engagements, Nyinagahirwa was shifted from the central midfield to playing on the right hand side and did not disappoint.
Her impressive performance stretches from the 2021/22 season where she was the shining light of the Kawempe Muslim team that finished distant 7th.
Her versatility and industrious exploits make her a very special player.
8. Shamira Nalugya (Kampala Queens)
Kampala Queens assistant captain has lived to the expectations after her transfer to the club at the start of last season. She scored five goals last term and a couple of assists and managed to replicate her exploits with the same number of goals.
Nalugya perfectly played a playmaking role at the club and promises the same as the club goes for the Zonal Qualifiers.
Forwards
9. Resty Nanziri (Kampala Queens)
The Crested Cranes forward has been deployed in the lead striker role at Kampala Queens and made a return of 11 goals, one behind the eventual top scorer.
Nanziri was arguably the best player in the first round but went off the boil in the closing half but still remained the striker in the league.
10. Catherine Nagadya (Uganda Martyrs)
Nagadya has starred in what turned out to be a disappointing campaign for her side Uganda Martyrs.
The U20 starlet led by example with seven goals scored and provided 10 assists in the 16 games. No player provided more assists than her. She takes up Hadija Nandago’s place in the best XI.
11. Ashiat Nalugwa (UCU Lady Cardinals)
Nalugwa is the league’s most improved player having scored only one goal in the previous season.
She took up Hasifa Nassuna’s boots as UCU’s go-to girl and scored 10 goals, just behind Nyinagahirwa and Nanziri.
Nalugwa scored close to half of the goals UCU managed and spent the better part of season vying for the golden boot.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Shakira Mutiibwa (Kampala Queens)
2. Rhoda Nanziri (Kawempe Muslim)
3. Hadija Nandago (Kawempe Muslim)
