Cape Town City’s Manyama stars with three awards
THE Lebogang Manyama fairytale continued last night when the Cape Town City captain walked away with three accolades at the Premier Soccer League’s annual awards gala dinner, including the award for Footballer of the Season.
Manyama saw off stiff competition from Bidvest Wits captain Thulani Hlatshwayo and Mamelodi Sundowns veteran Hlompho Kekana to win the night’s main award, in a race many described as too close to call.
The night certainly belonged to Manyama as he also walked away with the accolades for the Player’s Player of the Season and the Top Goalscorer.
The star was nominated in four categories, but City colleague Aubrey Ngoma stopped him in his tracks when he edged his skipper to win the award for the Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament.
But Manyama was always expected to be crowned South African football’s best player.
He himself said a few days ago that he was confident of walking away with the award.
“I have to be confident that I will win the award but, at the same time, I have to be humble and respect the two gentlemen [Hlatshwayo and Kekana]‚” Manyama said at the time.
Absa premiership champions Bidvest Wits also enjoyed a successful night, with Gavin Hunt picked as Coach of the Season, while Darren Keet was recognised as the premier league’s Best Goalkeeper after helping the student club to win a maiden PSL title in its 95-year existence, in May.
There were winners for Wits, as captain Hlatshwayo nabbed the gong for Defender of the Season, with Phakamani Mahlambi the Young player of the Season and veteran Daine Klate crowned as the MTN8 Last Man Standing.
Winners:
PSL Footballer of the Season Lebogang Manyama (of team Cape Town City) Absa Premiership Top Goal Scorer Manyama Absa Premiership Player’s Player of the Season Manyama Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits) Absa Premiership Defender of the Season Thulani Hlatshwayo (Bidvest Wits) Absa Premiership Midfielder of the Season Aubrey Ngoma (Cape Town City) Absa Premiership Young Player of the Season: Phakamani Mahlambi (Bidvest Wits) Absa Premiership Coach of the Season Gavin Hunt (Bidvest Wits) Absa-lutely Awesome Goal of the Season Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs, playing against SuperSport United) NFD Top Goal Scorer Sedwyn George (Royal Eagles) Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament: Aubrey Ngoma (Cape Town City) Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player: Nduduzo Sibiya (Golden Arrows) Player of the Tournament: Abbubaker Mobara (Orlando Pirates) MTN 8 Last Man Standing: Daine Klate (Bidvest Wits) Match Officials The Referee of the Season: Phelelani Ndaba Assistant Referee: Luvuyo Pupuma Multichoice Diski Challenge Most precious find: Keletso Makgalwa (Mamelodi Sundowns) Top Goalscorer Tshegofatso Mabaso (Bloemfontein Celtic).