The Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) has named Phiona Nabbumba as the deserving winner of the Female Player of the Year, 2022 ahead of the awards gala later this year.
At the USPA monthly assembly held on Monday this week, majority of the members had gone for Kampala Queens WFC player Hasifah Nassuna as the deserving winner for the accolade but the sports journalists governing body has back-pedaled on the initial decision.
“The Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) Executive would like to clarify a genuine oversight with Kampala Queens WFC player Hasifah Nassuna named Female Player of the Year, 2022, instead of Phiona Nabbumba.”
“We want to inform the public that Nabbumba is the USPA Player of the Year, 2022 and that the earlier declaration in favour of Nassuna is null,” USPA said in a missive in regard to the matter.
Nabbumba guided She Corporates to their first league title last season with five goals and eight assists. She was also named the MVP that season following a tremendous performance. Nabbumba also played a considerable role as She Corporates reached the final of the CAF Women Champions League CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers. She was also the best player in that competition after scoring six goals and five assists.
Like Nassuna, Nabbumba was an important figure with the Crested Cranes in the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Algeria.
“While we acknowledge Nassuna’s tremendous efforts and success, plus her legendary status, we believe Nabbumba was the best player in the country in 2022. We apologize to all the affected parties, especially Nassuna, her family and Club Kampala Queens.”
“We dedicate to serving the public better in all our future commitments,” another part of USPA missive read.
However, Nassuna has also taken note of the change and is in agreement that Nabbumba deserves the award.
