Birkea Amare celebrates CECAFA Women’s U-20 Championship Best Player Award

Ethiopia’s start player Birkea Amare has said winning the Best Player’s Award at the just concluded CECAFA Women’s U-20 Championship will be a a big motivating factor in her football career.

Amare helped Ethiopia come from two goals down and a player-less in the last match against hosts Uganda to win 3-2 on Tuesday at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

Amare was voted the Best Player of the tournament that attracted six teams. “This Award is a big step for me in football and it will keep me working hard to be able to achieve a lot,” added Amare.

Firew Hailegebral, Ethiopia’s head coach praised Amare for the good team work during the tournament. “She was exceptional and motivated her team members on the picth to be able to get good results,” added the coach.

Uganda’s skipper Fauzia Najjemba who finished the tournament with 11 goals scooped the Top Scorer’s Award, while Daphine Nyayenga (Uganda) also picked the best Best goalkeeper’s Award. The hosts Uganda picked the Fair Play Award.

Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Director of the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) said it was always good to recognize best performing players in a tournament because it motivates them.

“We are happy with the level of competition in this competition and hope that next time we shall have all the 12 CECAFA members send teams,” added Mossi.