PSL awards a night for stars

By Mohau Ramashidja

Stars came out, not to play this time, but were dressed for the night to attend the annual Premier Soccer League awards hosted at gold reef city, Lyric theatre.

The awards were in smooth sailing as the first lady of sport Carol Manana and Thomas molambo harnessed the ceremony to the successful end.

The night kick off with some entertaining performances by Chommie then moved on to the Telkom knock out challenge awards.Out on national duty, the ‘smiling assassin’ Knowledge Musona walked away with the Telkom knock out player of the season award worth R200 000, price money.

The second tournament to render out awards was the MTN 8. Though Orlando Pirates were the big winners of the tournament, Moroka Swallows’ Siyabonga Nomvete came out to be the last man standing in the tournament and walked away with R150 000 in his pocket.

The Ke yona Nebank cup was the third tournament to honour players who remain outstanding throughout. Although Pirates proved dominance in the night by walking away with the Nebank first price, they were adamant to be to prove dominance in the Nedbank young player of the season award. Being in a very stiff category consisting of Thobani Mngwango, Raymond Monana; the Gautrain Tlou Segolela outpaced his competitors to claim the award worth R25 000.Pirate being an envy of envy team for their spectacular performance, it was Andile ‘Gattusso’ Jali who did the honours of adding salt in to an open wound and walked away with the R 100 000 of the Nedbank cup player of the tournament award.

With 303 appearances for Orlando Pirates, captain Lucky Legoathi was easily noticed amongst the crowd due to his ups and downs to go and fetch all trophies Pirates had won during the 2010/2011 season.

Approaching the twilight of the season Pirates and Ajax Cape town were skating on slippery ice, with both teams hoping that their opposition would make a slippery mistake and fall in the attempt to win the League. It was Olando Pirates who came out victorious to obtain the title when the premier soccer league came to its end.

Even though the PSL campaign ended,Ajax Cape Town had something to pride themselves with. ThulaniSerero, walked away with 4 out of 5 awards he was nominated for namely: Absa Premiership Player of the Season, Absa Premiership Players' Player of the Season, Absa Premiership Red-hot Young Player of the Season and PSL Footballer of the Year.

Fans were in a shock of their lives as Ajax amsterdum bound Thulani Seroro commanded respect from his opposition who thought that Pirates where distend for a walk in the park in the award ceremony. “Good players were up for it like Jali, Jimmy Tau and Knowledge Musona. They did well and I am surprised that I took all four,” he said.

South Africa was in shock when Kaizer Chiefs Itumeleng Khune Didn’t make it to the short list of the Absa Premiership goalkeeper of the Season. And this time around it was Bloemfontein goalkeeper Patrick Tignyembe who claimed the R50 000 award.

A three year season Reign of Super Sport coach Gavin Hunt was cut short as a new face made its appearance to obtain the coach of the season award. After a hard work during the season Ruud Krol walked away with the R75 000 coach of the season award.

The Absa-lutely asome goal of the tournament award went in favor of Tlou Segolela and the ‘smiling assassin’ Knowledge Musona prevailed to be the top goal scorer of the season standing at 15 goals.  

The First Division teams were given attention and Black Leopards Rodney Ramagalela came out to be the top goal scorer of the First Division Inland Stream. Carara Kicks Atusaye Nyondo proved to be the top goal scorer in the First Division Costal stream walking away with R25 000.

Oland Pirates’ captain Lucky Legwathi walked away with the Chairman’s Award, resulting to a R100 000 in his pocket.

To conclude the proceedings of the evening, objective men in the field of play– otherwise known as match officials and referees were honored for their duties throughout the PSL season. Daniel Bennet was spotted as a referee of season who showed no fear or favor towards teams and players.  And a match official who emerged to be impressive among the rest was none other than Zakhele Siwele.