Orlando Pirates were the big winners at the 2024/25 Premier Soccer League Awards ceremony held on Tuesday night, with young sensation Relebohile Mofokeng leading the charge by scooping two major accolades.
The Buccaneers’ stellar domestic campaign was celebrated as several of their standout players were recognized for their exceptional contributions.
Read: Lucas Ribeiro Costa The Big Winner At PSL Awards
Mofokeng’s Double Triumph
Relebohile Mofokeng, whose meteoric rise since joining the Buccaneers’ DDC outfit has been widely noted, emerged as one of the night’s most prominent figures. His instrumental performances in the 2024/25 MTN8 were crucial in securing an unprecedented third successive title for the Soweto Giants.
Mofokeng’s impressive tally of two goals and two assists in four matches earned him the coveted MTN8 Last Man Standing award, where he triumphed over teammate Deon Hotto and Stellenbosch’s Fawaaz Basadien.
Adding to his impressive haul, Mofokeng also clinched the Betway Premiership Young Player of the Season award. While he narrowly missed out on the Players’ Player of the Season and PSL Footballer of the Season awards to Mamelodi Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa, his double win solidified his status as one of the league’s brightest talents.
Buccaneers’ Defensive and Midfield Excellence Rewarded
The awards kept rolling in for the Soweto Giants, particularly acknowledging their formidable defensive prowess. Sipho Chaine was honored with the Betway Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season award, while Nkosinathi Sibisi was named Defender of the Season.
Their combined efforts were pivotal to Orlando Pirates’ outstanding defensive record throughout the campaign, conceding a mere 20 goals in 28 league matches.
Further up the pitch, Makhehleni Makhaula was recognized for his crucial role in the midfield, taking home the Midfielder of the Season accolade. His contributions were instrumental to the Buccaneers’ success.
Emerging Stars Recognized in Cup Competitions
Even in their deep run in the Nedbank Cup, where they narrowly missed out on another three-peat, Orlando Pirates had reason to celebrate. Nineteen-year-old defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who had a breakout season in first-team football, was awarded the Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament. He beat out fellow Buccaneers Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota for the prestigious award.
The club’s pipeline of talent was further highlighted by Siphamandla Msezane, a striker for the Bucs Reserves. His impressive 15 goals in the DStv Diski Challenge earned him the competition’s Golden Boot, following in the footsteps of former Pirates striker Boitumelo Radiopane, who achieved the same feat in the 2021/22 season.
A Dominant Performance and a Look Ahead
In total, Orlando Pirates walked away with seven awards on the night, underscoring their dominance in the 2024/25 season. The team is now set to kick off the 2025/26 season by defending their MTN8 title this weekend. They will host Polokwane City in the quarter-finals at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.