16 games played on a home and away basis were witnessed as the long awaited FUFA Drum third edition finally got underway.
33 goals were scored at this level with the man of the match accolade topped up by 100,000 ushs courtesy of Nile Special awarded to the most outstanding player at the end of every game.
Here are all the players who won the man of the match accolade from the different match days in the round of 16.
Match day 1
Bukedi 1-1 Kampala
Kampala’s Travis Mutyaba late equaliser at Butalejja grounds won him the man of the match accolade.
Lango 0-0 Ankole
In a highly contested encounter at the fully packed Akiibua stadium, Lango’s Joachim Ojera emerged man of the match following his impressive and flashing performance.
Bugisu 3-0 Sebei
Bugisu’s Usama Arafat bagged a brace for the home side and had and impressive display. Taking home the Man of the match accolade was therefore inevitable.
Busoga 1-2 Teso
In a highly anticipated Eastern derby, Teso defied odds by shocked the home side Infront of their own backyard at Saza grounds in Iganga. Rwanda based forward Ben Ocen broke the deadlock for Teso and gave the home side a tough evening through out to take home the Man of the match gong.
Match day 2
Kigezi 0-0 Buganda
Another highly contested encounter witnessed at the Kabale Municipal Stadium. The home side went pound for pound with the Inaugural champions with skipper David Ndihabwe bossing the midfield through out the game. He went on to be named man of the match as a result.
West Nile 5-0 Karamoja
The first encounter in the third edition that witnessed goals raining with the hosts West Nile doing what was expected of them. Forward Ibrahim Dada might have scored a brace but left back Rashid Okocha was outstanding and was voted man of the match.
Tooro 1-0 Rwenzori
Another entertaining encounter it was and a derby in “Runya-Kitara” at Buhinga stadium in the tourism city of Fort Portal. Tooro won it late but this didn’t stop Rwenzori skipper Gaddafi Kacancu from scooping the Man Of the match accolade after a very terrific performance all through the 90 minutes.
Bunyoro 0-0 Acholi
The 2019 champions Acholi started their title defence campaign in a barren stalemate in Hoima with the hosts dominating most of the proceedings through out the 90 minutes. Bunyoro’s Mungu Jakisha was the man to watch as he gave the visitors a torrid evening.
He went on to be named man of the match.
Match day 3
Kampala 3-0 Bukedi
Kampala eased passed the 2019 finalists 3-0 to cruise into the quarter finals.
Martin Kizza bagged a brace before missing a penalty and it’s such display that made him voted Man Of the match.
Acholi 1-0 Bunyoro
Like it was in the first leg, the return was also 50-50 before Huud Mulikyi netted late for the home side to send them to the quarters. He went on to be named man of the match.
Buganda 2-1 Kigezi
The Inaugural champions might have won to go through but Kigezi gave them a good run for their money just like it was in the first leg. At 1-1 at halftime, the result was favouring the visitors following a barren stalemate in Kabale before Joshua Lubwama fresh from guiding the Sand Cranes back to the AFCON Beach Soccer Tournament won it from a beautiful free kick at Nakisunga grounds.
Viane Ssekajugo was named man of the match.
Karamoja 0-1 West Nile
The visitors might have won the tie narrowly but this should be attributed to the home side goalie Sukuru Hajj who pulled off a number of stunning saves in both halves. Him (Sukuru) taking home the Man of the match accolade was unavoidable.
Match day 4
Rwenzori 0-0 Tooro
A highly contested encounter just like it was in the first leg. Rwenzori had a chance to level matters but skipper Gaddafi Kacancu had his penalty saved by Tooro custodian Simon Tamale who was eventually named man of the match purposely for the penalty save.
Teso 1-1 Busoga
A do or die game it was for Busoga as they came in this encounter with one mission, revenge and qualification but Teso was up to the task and comfortably managed to pull off a draw thanks to Ibrahim Orit equaliser who went on to be named Man Of the match.
Sebei 4-4 Bugisu
Arguably the most entertaining game in the round of 16 the witnessed goals raining minute after minute. At one point Sebei led before they were denied their first ever win in the tournament’s history courtesy of Arafat Usama brace before he was named man of the match just like it was in the first leg.
Ankole 0-1 Lango
Another entertaining and highly contested encounter it was in Ibanda. Lango emerged victorious thanks to Denis Omedi lone strike to take home the man of the match gong.
