PSL Awards: Our picks for the 2024/25 season's top performers
THE Premier Soccer League has officially announced its nominees for the 2024/25 season, recognising the standout performers across all domestic competitions.
From established stars to emerging talents, the nominees reflect the depth of quality in South African football. Here are our picks in each category — and why they deserve the accolade.
Smiso Msomi
Footballer of the Season: Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Costa was central to Sundowns' undefeated league campaign. His creativity, consistent goal contributions, and intelligence in tight spaces made him the most feared attacker in the league. Whether linking play or finishing off moves, he was Sundowns' difference-maker week in and week out — a deserving winner in every respect.
Betway Premiership Coach of the Season: Miguel Cardoso (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Taking over mid-season is tough. Going unbeaten while doing it is extraordinary. Cardoso not only maintained Sundowns' dominance but elevated their tactical approach. With smart rotation, clear structure and quiet authority, he kept a star-studded team focused. His smooth transition and flawless league finish make him the clear standout.
Betway Premiership Young Player of the Season: Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
Mofokeng didn't just show promise — he performed. The 20-year-old became a regular starter for Pirates, delivering big moments with confidence. His flair, maturity, and decision-making under pressure stood out. He was the spark in key matches and carried himself like a seasoned professional, not a teenager finding his feet.
MTN8 Last Man Standing: Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates)
Hotto was pivotal in Pirates lifting the MTN8. He led by example, putting in consistent, high-impact performances on both ends of the pitch. Whether creating, tracking back, or scoring, he was Mr Reliable in crucial knockout fixtures — the kind of influence every coach dreams of in cup competitions.
Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament: Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi FC)
Chipezeze was the heartbeat of Magesi FC's giant-killing run. His penalty shootout saves and leadership from the back turned the Limpopo side into the tournament's surprise package. He was unbeatable at times, inspiring confidence with every stop. In a tournament full of drama, he was the main act.
Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament: Pule Mmodi (Kaizer Chiefs)
In a season of inconsistency at Naturena, Mmodi was a rare highlight. He delivered goals, energy, and intent throughout Chiefs' cup run. His impact was direct and decisive, especially when others faded in pressure moments. Mmodi's performances kept Amakhosi competitive — and gave their fans something to believe in.
Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player: Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
Mofokeng earns another deserved nod here. In the Nedbank Cup, he showed composure beyond his years, unlocking defences and delivering in high-pressure games. His vision and courage on the ball set him apart from his peers. He wasn't just promising — he was instrumental in Pirates' deep run.
Matshelane Mamabolo
Footballer of the Season: Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns)
He was by far the outstanding player of the season, a soloist and conductor of the Sundowns orchestra. Scored goals and made assists while being the heartbeat of the Brazilians.
Betway Premiership: Coach of the Season: Jose Riveiro (Orlando Pirates)
He bravely introduced young players and stoll got Pirates to be super competitive as they narrowly missed out on the championship against a team that had two coaches in the campaign.
Betway Premiership Young Player of the Season: Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
"President of ma2000" sizzled the past campaign.
MTN8 Last Man Standing - Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
The youngster lit up the tournament as the Buccaneers won an unprecedented third successive title.
Carling Knockout Player of the Season - Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi FC)
This one is surely a no contest and anyone who sees it differently should have their head examined. Never has a goalkeeper been so dominant in a competition, the Magesi number one winning the Player of the Match award in just about every game he played. That his team were victorious makes him all the more deserving of the accolade.
Nedbank Cup Player of the tournament: Gaston Sirino - Kaizer ChiefsHe starred in the final and scored that goal as Amqkhoai ended a decade long trophy drought.
Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player: Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates)
Ordinarily, I would give this award to Rele but to call him 'promising' would be an insult for the youngster who has long surpassed that stage. The player who showed promise with some solid performances was defender Mbokazi. New to the elite league having only recently been promoted to the senior side, hardly put a foot wrong as he helped the Buccaneers to the final.
Herman Gibbs
Footballer of the Season: Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns)
The Brazilian is the clear frontrunner for the award after being regarded as the best player in the Premiership. He secured the PSL Golden Boot by scoring 16 goals and also assisted in nine others, playing a crucial role in helping Sundowns achieve their eighth consecutive league title.
Betway Premiership Coach of the Season: Miguel Cardoso (Mamelodi Sundowns)
The Portuguese national has emerged as the frontrunner for the award after an impressive debut in the PSL, spanning seven months. His tenure has seen him claim the Coach of the Month title three times this season. Widely recognised for his tactical acumen, Cardoso focuses on structured gameplay and astute utilisation of space.
Betway Premiership Young Player of the Season: Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
He has emerged as one of the brightest talents in South African football, showcasing outstanding skill, poise, and influence at Orlando Pirates, even at such a young age. Renowned for his exceptional dribbling, playmaking prowess, and ability to deliver in crucial moments, he truly stands out in the Premier Soccer League.
MTN8 Last Man Standing: Fawaaz Basadien (Stellenbosch FC)
He was recently named Stellenbosch Player of the Season and is recognised as the top left-back in South Africa. His contributions were vital in guiding Stellenbosch to the MTN8 final. He is on the radar of the 'Big Three' clubs due to his versatile play and impactful set-piece execution.
Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament: Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi FC)
The Zimbabwean goalkeeper was exceptional throughout the campaign, earning four Player of the match accolades. His crucial contributions were key in Magesi's impressive triumph over Sundowns in the final.
Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament: Pule Mmodi (Kaizer Chiefs)
His strategic play led to the pivotal penalty in the final. His dynamic performance at the beginning of the match played a significant role in achieving an early goal, putting pressure on the Buccaneers right from the start.
Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player: Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates)
The 19-year-old defender has quickly emerged as one of the standout talents within the Orlando Pirates squad. With his strong presence on the field, he has effectively commanded the defence in his role as a centre-back.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
10 minutes ago
- The South African
FIVE Kaizer Chiefs' transfer targets that got away
Kaizer Chiefs have been linked to many quality players over the years, but they have often missed out on signing them. Amakhosi have struggled to finish in the top eight of the Betway Premiership for two consecutive seasons, despite bringing in nearly 20 players since 2023. Last season, the Glamour Boys signed ten new players, but only three of them stood out among the rest. Over the past three years, Kaizer Chiefs have been connected with some of the best players in the PSL and across Africa. Here, we highlight five notable players who were on Amakhosi's radar but were never signed for various reasons. Fiston Mayele Mayele is undoubtedly one of the top five best strikers in Africa today. The 30-year-old Congolese player helped Pyramids win the CAF Champions League for the first time. In 2023, Amakhosi were advised to pursue this talented striker, but they opted instead for Ranga Chivaviro. If the Chiefs management had listened, they could have secured one of Africa's deadliest strikers. Oswin Appollis The Bafana Bafana winger was heavily linked to Amakhosi but surprisingly joined rivals Orlando Pirates earlier this month. Kaizer Chiefs boss Kaizer Motaung Jr. admitted last year that the club held talks with Polokwane City's chairman, Johnny Mogaladi, regarding the winger. Khanyiso Mayo Mayo has been linked with Amakhosi since 2022 but missed out on a transfer last year after an offer from Algerian giants arrived just hours before Kaizer Chiefs could act. With only one striker signed for the season, some fans believe the club needs to invest heavily in a prolific forward. Elias Mokwana Mokwana has always been on Amakhosi's radar, but Esperance moved quickly to secure him after the speedy winger impressed at the Africa Cup of Nations last year. Fawaaz Basadien Basadien is currently regarded as the best left-back in the country. Kaizer Chiefs attempted to sign the 28-year-old defender, but their offer was considered too low by Stellenbosch. It seems Amakhosi gave up easily and instead chose to purchase Bradley Cross from Golden Arrows. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
10 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Chiefs coach optimistic about new season after Netherlands camp
The weather was also amazing, which helped, Better than training in 40 degrees in Spain," said Nabi. Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi feels optimistic about the upcoming season following their preseason camp in the Netherlands. During their camp, Amakhosi played five pre-season training games, losing four of them and only registering one win. ALSO READ: Ouaddou hopes Spain victory will boost Pirates confidence They lost 2-1 against Vitesse, 4-0 against Utrecht and 1-0 against NEC Nijmegen. They then redeemed themselves with a 1-0 victory against PEC Zwolle before losing 2-1 against FC Twente in their final preseason friendly. 'We saw a lot of positives in our training matches against very strong Dutch opponents,' Nabi told Chiefs media. 'The players have started to understand the way I want them to play and they jell well as a strong unit.' 'Our camp took place in beautiful surroundings,' added Nabi. 'The fields on which we trained were in perfect condition and our opponents were really good. As a result of all this, the pre-season camp was beneficial to everyone. 'One of the conditions of having a good season is having a good pre-season – that's where the foundation is laid.' Why Chiefs played two friendlies in two days 'We didn't only want quality opponents,' Nabi explained, 'we also wanted quantity. Parallel with this, we did some tough physical work at training, even doing double-sessions on the day before a match. 'We did this to have the players play games feeling extremely fatigued. That was not only to prepare the team for the league season, but also for the CAF Confederation Cup games for which we will often have to travel for long hours. That's when players will have to perform while feeling very tired. 'We even had two sessions the day after one of the friendlies, with the objective of getting the players mentally ready. That's also why we organised back-to-back matches twice, playing a friendly two days in a row. It allowed us as well to give maximum opportunities to all the players to get minutes.' Nabi happy with new signings Nabi was also happy with how the new signings who joined the pre-season camp in the Netherlands, including Nkanyiso Shinga, Ethan Chislett, Thabiso Monyane and Flavio Silva adapted to their new surrounding. 'They need to fully jell with the group. However, they are all adapting nicely, and they start to understand what I expect from them. Our objective was to sign new players that will bring us to a higher level compared to last season.' Chiefs youngsters impress Nabi was also impressed with the three youngsters coming from the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy, Thulani Mabaso, Kabelo Nkgwesa and Naledi Hlongwane. The trio were part of the preseason camp in the Netherlands, with Hlongwane netting the winner against PEC Zwolle. 'We don't want to rush them,' said Nabi, 'however, I am always willing to give maximum opportunities to young talents. If you are good enough, you are old enough to play. That's my philosophy.' Nabi also praised the club management for organising the Netherlands before taking a veiled dig at their Soweto rivals, Orlando Pirates, who held their camo in Spain. 'It was all extremely professional, from the hotel staff to the quality of the opponents. The weather was also amazing, which helped, Better than training in 40 degrees in Spain.' ALSO READ: Ex-Pirate describes Chiefs as 'a breath of fresh air' Meanwhile, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has released the provisional fixtures for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. Chiefs are set to kick off the 2025/26 season against Stellenbosch FC away on 10 August. Chiefs' first five fixtures: 10 August: Stellenbosch FC (A) 13 August: Polokwane City (H) 19 August: Richards Bay (H) 27 August: Mamelodi Sundowns (A) 30 August: Golden Arrows (A)
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
‘Incredibly special journey,' says coach Foote after U20 Championship triumph
The Junior Boks beat New Zealand in the final in Italy on Saturday night. The South African U20 rugby team hold the winner's trophy aloft after beating New Zealand in the World Rugby U20 Championship final in Rovigo on Saturday. Picture:Riley Norton and his all-conquering Junior Springboks will arrive back in South Africa mid-morning Monday as their country's newest heroes. The Junior Boks won their first world title in 13 years when they defeated their New Zealand counterparts at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Rovigo, Italy on Saturday evening. The win came just hours after the Springboks, currently two-time world champions, ended their midyear Test campaign with a comfortable victory against Georgia in Mbombela. They're next in action against Australia in the Rugby Championship. The Junior Boks, who beat Australia, England and Scotland in pool play in Italy and Argentina in the semi-finals, edged their biggest rivals 23-15 in the final. 'Gees won it for us' Coach Kevin Foote said his players' grit and spirt helped them get across the line. 'Defence is all about character, and there were moments when New Zealand were right on our line, but we held firm,' said Foote after the final. 'From a coach's perspective, you can't ask for more than that. It was a real South African defensive effort and gees (spirit) that won it for us.' Foote, who took over as Junior Boks head coach at the end of last year, also described his winning squad as a special group of young players. 'I love our country and the Springboks, and I love working with this age group,' he said. 'Win for everyone back home' 'To see these young men grow from training in December to what they've achieved now is amazing. Being on this journey with them has been incredibly special, and I'll never take it for granted.' Captain Norton, who led from the front, said: 'The ball was so slippery, and your fundamentals had to be spot on in these conditions, which was tough. There were a few handling errors due to the incredible humidity, and our jerseys were absolutely drenched in sweat, but I think we handled the conditions well. This win is for everyone who supported us back home.' The Junior Boks captain also credited their intense training in Stellenbosch for helping them adapt to the Italian summer heat. 'We actually adapted very well to the local conditions, even though it was winter when we left Stellenbosch,' said Norton. 'That's thanks to our conditioning and the fact that we're used to training in similar summer weather back home.'
