06 March 2023 | Athletics

Nile Special USPA Monthly Awards 2023:

• Best of February: Jacob Kiplimo (Long distance athlete)
• Promising Talent Award: Eric Ofoyuru (Badminton)
• Supportive / Assist Award: Nick Natuhereza (Basketball)

The Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) convened the monthly assembly on Monday, March 6, 2023, at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala city. Jacob Kiplimo unanimously won the USPA/Nile Special Sports personality for February 2023. This followed his gold medal won at the 2023 World Cross Country Championship in Bathurst city, Australia where another Ugandan, Joshua Cheptegei finished third to take bronze. Commendations: The assembly recommended Badminton teenager Mohammed Fadilah Shamikah Raif, the Gazelles (female basketball national team) as well as the Uganda Hippos’ duo of Rogers Mugisha and Rogers Torach. Shamika won gold in the Women’s singles category at the 2023 All Africa Senior Badminton Championships in South Africa despite being a junior. She also won three bronzes (Women’s Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles) in the Uganda Junior International Challenge 2023. The Gazelles took the runners-up slot in the Zone V Afro Basket Championship whilst the Uganda Hippos’ players Mugisha and Torach were named in the best eleven of the group stages in the Africa U20 Nations Cup. Special awards: Promising Talent Award: Eric Ofoyuru, a 14-year-old Badminton player won the promising talent award. The Pearl of Africa Badminton Academy player made it main Draw of the Uganda Junior International Challenge. Ofoyuru is the 2021 World Secondary School Badminton Champion and National School Games MVP. He collected 180 votes ahead of Uganda Hippos’ Rogers Mugisha (175 votes), Asubo Gafford Ladies’ Kamuyati Naigaga (155 votes) and Amos Ayokobua (115) of KCCA FC U17 side. Supportive / Assist Award: Celebrated basketball administrator-cum-coach Nick Natuhereza clinched the inaugural supportive/ assist award. Natuhereza is credited for improving a lot of players and guiding careers. As the Technical Director at the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA), he ably stepped in for Gazelles coach Albert Antuna during the Zone V Afro basket qualifiers. Natuhereza collected a total of 185 votes to beat Uganda Badminton Association Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Simon Mugabi (180 votes), Asubo Gafford ladies’ Zaitun Namaganda (140 votes) and coach Rogers Nkugwa (95 votes).

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