It was another case of so close yet so far for St Lawrence University in the Pepsi University Football League (UFL).
This is after they lost 0-3 the UFL final last Sunday to Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), as was the case in 2022. Notably, it is hard to argue against UMU being worthy winners of the 2024/25 University football championship.
Throughout this football season, they remained unbeaten, winning eight and drawing three of the their 11 games. They also scored 24 goals and conceded only five, which points to how dominant UMU have been this UFL season.
However, despite UMU’s dominance, through the use of Opta Index, which grades players across a wide pool of metrics, the best eleven from the tournament was relatively spread out.
The picks come from the team performances and individual brilliance, where some teams like Bugema, Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), and debutants Muteesa I Royal University, punched beyond their weight.
1. SADAT MUSASIZI, GOALKEEPER (IUIU): He was so instrumental in the team’s performance this season helping them qualify all the way to semi final, a stage they had never reached in the past seven seasons competing in the Pepsi University football league.
They had never gone past the group stages. Because of Musasizi, they scored 5 goals in 10 games.
2. DERRICK KATO, RIGHT-BACK (ST LAWRENCE): He has been so consistent helping St Lawrence University play in their 3rd Pepsi University football league.
3. ISMAIL LUBEGA, LEFT-BACK (NKUMBA): Although Nkumba stopped in the quarter-final stage, Lubega stood out because of his marauding ability that complemented his solid defending.
4. PATRICK MUTEBI, CENTRE-BACK (UGANDA MARTYRS): He was a good command in defence. He was exceptional, helping the Nkozi-based University to concede only five times throughout.
5. VINCENT AGAKU, CENTRE-BACK (ST LAWRENCE): A solid individual in the St Lawrence defence and a very competitive defender. Being a second year student, next season may prove more fruitful to him if he maintains his standards.
6. NICHOLAS JUNGA, DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER (UGANDA MARTYRS): Due to Junga’s consistency, the curtain he provided in front of his defence, helped them be impregnable.
7. INNOCENT MATEGA, WINGER (ST LAWRENCE): Patrolled the right wing commendably. His forward movement made St Lawrence a real goal threat always.
8. CALVIN EMAYU, LEFT WINGER (UGANDA MARTYRS): With some good number of games in his legs, having played in the Masaza cup last season, Emayu was exceptional on the left wing. He troubled St Lawrence in the final, including opening up the scoring in that game.
9. RONNIE ZIRABA, ATTACKING MIDFIELDER (ST LAWRENCE): He had a good season in the middle of the pitch, which culminated in his team reaching the final. He showed the knack to create goals.
10. GILBERT WANNUME, STRIKER (KAMPALA UNIVERSITY): While his side stopped in the quarters, Wannume’s display in front of goal saw him turn out as joint top-scorer with six goals.
11. RONALD OBEDGIU (UGANDA MARTYRS): The forward capped the season with one of the three goals his team scored in the final, hence ending with six goals, too.