Stanbic Black Pirates star Sydney Gongodyo was on Tuesday named among the winners of the Fortebet Real Stars Sports Monthly Awards for the month of April in a function held at Lazio Bar and Restaurant in Kololo, Kampala.
Gongodyo who is an eightman was among the six winners of the day. He beat competition from fellow Rugby Premier League players, that is; Aaron Ofoyrwoth (Platinum Credit Heathens) and Pius Ogena (Kobs).
Gongodyo is credited for guiding Pirates to the joint-lead of the table with the Sea Robbers staying perfect in April. In the same month, the side completed a rare league double over holders Heathens and were the first team to do so since Kobs in 2014.
Gongodyo away from guiding his forwards well to win all the four games in April was man of the match against Heathens, a game they won 8-6 to be back in the title chase. He has 20 points for his side for the month of April and is standing fifth overall in the league with 10 tries.
Pirates face Kobs this Saturday in a season finale encounter at Legends Grounds in Kampala. It’s a winner takes it all affair because the two sides are joint-leaders of the 10-team league with 75 points apiece. Third placed Heathens have 72 points and will be hoping that the league leaders share spoils, a result that can see them retain the title if they post a bonus point win against Rams.
In the first round of the campaign, Pirates lost 25-30 to Kobs after a nervy ending to the game at Kings Park Arena in Bweyogerere. Gongodyo believes that his side will turn tables around at Legends and return home with the winners’ accolade.
“Such games are intense so we have to pay attention to detail in training. It’s the last game of the season so we have to give it our all,” Gongodyo said adding that; “we trust and believe in ourselves and we know we can push our opponents to the limit.”
It was the first time Gongodyo won the award and he noted that; “this is a starting point and it means that if you work hard you will get what you deserve.”
Meanwhile, the other winners for the month of April are; Netball – Christine Namulumba Kango (Prisons Netball Club), Football – Charles Bbaale (SC Villa ), Cricket – Aweko Consy (Victoria Pearls captain), Golf – Juma Abiti (Boys’ Junior Golf Team) and Basketball – Sarah Ageno (JT Lady Jaguars).
Bbaale, the SC Villa striker beat the stiff competition of Shakirah Nyinagahirwa from Kawempe Muslim with 5 goals in 5 games. Bbaale helped his side to collect 9 points out of the possible 15.
Aweko, the Victoria Pearls Captain, finished the 2023 Victoria Series held at Lugogo Cricket Oval in Kampala as the best bowler with seven full wickets in the tournament Uganda. She also won one woman of match award at the tournament and as well picked another woman of the match award Capricorn Eagles in Namibia. The Captain left Namibia with a total of 6 wickets and a tournament Uganda won after beating hosts Namibia by 3 runs.
Namulumba the Prisons all rounder, in the last four games for her team scored 181 goals and they came against UCU, Busia Greater Lions, KCCA and NIC.
Abiti bagged the award in absentia because he was Uganda’s best overall player at the All Africa Junior Team Championship that was held at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa, Kigo and emerged seventh best overall player in the tournament. He shot a gross score of 308 (78, 78, 76, 76) off four rounds at the event and his consistency contributed to Uganda’s boys’ junior golf team qualification to the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup after they finished second in their category.
Ageno, the JT Lady Jaguars star played 4 games out of 5 and collected a game score of 71 points, 47 rebounds, 18 assists and 5 blocks. She adds 3 woman of the match awards on those beautiful statistics.
Meanwhile, the awards ceremony was graced by Real Stars Sports Agency CEO, Isaac Mukasa, Mbatidde Resty from Fortebet while Jude Color Solutions was represented by Henry Zzimbe.
Nice one Sydney.