Relebohile Mofokeng completed a clean sweep of the major individual prizes as Orlando Pirates dominated the Premier Soccer League’s annual awards ceremony on Monday night.
The 21-year-old, who left Orlando Pirates after the World Cup to join Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Pro League, was named Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year after a standout campaign in which the Buccaneers won the Betway Premiership for the first time since 2012.
Mofokeng also retained the Young Player of the Year award he secured last season, taking his tally to three trophies on the night and underlining his status as the PSL’s outstanding talent of the campaign.
Pirates’ title-winning season was reflected throughout a virtual ceremony that turned into a near clean sweep for the Soweto club, who ended Mamelodi Sundowns’ eight-year stranglehold on the league.
Ouaddou lands coaching honour in debut season
Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was named Coach of the Season after guiding Pirates to the championship in his first campaign in charge, a feat that brought an emphatic close to Sundowns’ long-running domestic dominance.
Under Ouaddou, Pirates not only reclaimed the league crown but also produced several of the division’s leading performers, with the club’s players taking home a string of position-based awards.
Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was rewarded for a record-breaking season in which he conceded only 12 goals, earning the Goalkeeper of the Season prize after anchoring the league’s most resilient defence.
Defender Lebone Seema collected the Defender of the Season honour, while Oswin Appollis was recognised as the league’s outstanding Midfielder of the Season, further underlining the balance and strength that characterised Pirates’ title run.
Camren Dansin added to the club’s collection by winning Goal of the Season for his long-range strike in a 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns last year, a spectacular effort that became one of the campaign’s most replayed moments.
Cup specialists rewarded
Pirates’ success extended beyond league recognitions into the domestic cup competitions, lifting their total awards for the evening to 10.
Tshepang Moremi was named MTN8 Last Man Standing, an accolade reserved for the standout performer in the MTN8 competition, acknowledging his influence as Pirates claimed yet more silverware.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi secured the Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament award after playing a pivotal role in the Buccaneers’ triumph in that competition in December. Mbokazi has since moved abroad, having left Pirates in January to join Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire in the United States, but his performances earlier in the season were deemed unmatched in the Carling Knockout.
Keet and Mahlambi recognised in Nedbank Cup
Beyond Pirates’ dominance, there was recognition for standout performers in the Nedbank Cup.
Durban City’s veteran goalkeeper Darren Keet was named Nedbank Cup Player of the Year after helping his side to a historic victory in the competition, a run in which his experience and shot-stopping proved decisive.
TS Galaxy’s Seluleko Mahlambi picked up the Nedbank Cup Young Player of the Tournament award, having impressed throughout the competition despite his team finishing as beaten finalists.
The ceremony, held virtually, confirmed a season firmly shaped by Orlando Pirates’ resurgence, with Mofokeng’s triple triumph and Ouaddou’s coaching award symbolising a campaign that shifted the balance of power away from long-time champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
