Mashamaite Scoops Top Honours At PSL Awards
Kaizer Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite won the Absa
Premiership Footballer of the Season, the players’ player and best defender
prizes at the PSL’s annual awards ceremony in Sandton on Sunday.Mashamaite,
who pocketed R450 000 in prize money, was recognised for his role in helping
the Glamour Boys to a League and MTN8 double in record-breaking fashion in
2014/15. In the Footballer of the Season category he beat teammate Mulomowandau
Mathoho and Pokokwane City midfielder Cole Alexander. For the Players’ Player
of the Season Mashamaite trumped Mathoho and Mamelodi Sundowns ace Teko Modise,
while he denied Mathoho again and Bidvest Wits’ Thulani Hlatshwayo for Defender
of the Season honours.
Full list of winners:
Absa Premiership Footballer of the Season (R250 000): Tefu
Mashamaite.
Absa Premiership Players’ Player of the Season (R150 000):
Tefu Mashamaite.
Absa Premiership Midfielder of the Season (R50 000): Teko
Modise.
Absa Premiership Defender of the Season (R50 000): Tefu
Mashamaite.
Absa Premiership Young Player of the Season (R50 000):
Phumlani Ntshangase.
Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season (R50 000): Moeneeb
Josephs.
Absa Premiership Coach of the Season (R75 000): Stuart
Baxter.
Absa Premiership top scorer (R25 000): Moeketsi Sekola (14
goals).
Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament (R200 000): Dove
Wome.
MTN8 Last Man Standing (R80 000): George Maluleka.
Nedbank Cup Young Player of the Tournament (R50 000):
Tasreeq Morris.
Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament (R150 000): Teko
Modise.
NFD Top Scorer: Phumelele Bhengu (22 goals).
MultiChoice Diski Challenge Player of the Tournament:
Dikgang Ngcobo.
Referee of the Season (R50 000): Phillip Tinyani.
Assistant Referee of the Season (R40 000): Peter Chauke.
The Chairman’s Award: Botha Msila (Bloem Celtic supporter).
Absa Premiership winners: Kaizer Chiefs.
National First Division winners: Golden Arrows.
MTN8 winners: Kaizer Chiefs.
Telkom Knockout winners: SuperSport United.
Nedbank Cup winners: Mamelodi Sundowns.
MultiChoice Diski Challenge winners: University of Pretoria.
SuperSport United
have turned down a hefty offer from Mamelodi Sundowns for the signature of New
Zealand international, Jeremy Brockie. The 27-year-old Kiwi international
has been somewhat of a revelation since making the move to SuperSport earlier
this year, and has scored seven goals in just 13 Absa Premiership games. Now,
following his impressive start to life in South Africa, word is that Sundowns
had tried to tempt Matsatsantsa to sell him at the end of the season, offering
big money to get him to move to Chloorkop. However, given Brockie’s start to
life in Tshwane with SuperSport, the club opted to turn down the bid for their
star striker as they want him to help them challenge for silverware in the
2015/16 campaign. It remains to be seen whether Sundowns will come back with an
improved bid for the forward before the start of next season, though it seems
that SuperSport are adamant to keep hold of him.
Orlando Pirates have confirmed coach Eric Tinkler will
continue to lead the team next season. Tinkler was appointed
caretaker boss of the Soweto giants following the resignation of Vladimir
Vermezovic on December 3. The ex-Bafana Bafana midfielder went on to steer Bucs
to a fourth-placed finish in the Absa Premiership, while they are showing
promising form in the CAF Confederation Cup. Pirates have revealed that Tinkler
will remain in the hotseat next term on their official website, saying: “Orlando
Pirates caretaker coach Eric Tinkler is to continue being in charge of the
Orlando Pirates senior team. Under Tinkler, Pirates is the last South African
team still standing in African competition. Tinker will therefore be at helm
when the 2015/2016 season commence. There is no reason to change anything as
this might have a negative effect on the momentum Eric has managed to build,”
said Sea Robbers chairman Irvin Khoza. “Continuity is important in football. It
is important from both a physical and psychological standpoint. Eric’s hand is
getting sturdier with time. There is no need to interrupt his growing
momentum.”
Tinkler says the
their Confederations Cup tie is far from
over despite a 2-0 lead and two precious away goals in their CAF Confederation
Cup playoff match against AS Kaloum. The Buccaneers will host the second
leg on June 6 in the ascendency, but Tinkler is not taking anything for granted
against the Guinean side in the return leg. “No, it’s far from over. There is
still a lot of work to be done in the second leg,” Tinkler said. “But we made
it tough for them because they will need to score three goals to beat us here.
We need to be disciplined in the second leg, the way we were in the first leg,
and we need that at home. But I’m very proud of the boys they have been doing
well away, I was hoping for a draw but we managed to get two goals which keeps
us in a good position to qualify for the group stages, but like I said, the tie
is far from over and we need to be disciplined at home.”
Dean Furman is on the lookout for a new club after being
released by League One side Doncaster Rovers. The Bafana Bafana
midfielder initially joined the club on loan in 2013 before making the move
permanent that same year and helping them to promotion. Furman tweeted: “Thank
you to everyone at @drfc_official
including the manager & his staff, the great people working behind
the scenes and the fans for all your support over the last 2 or so years.
There’s been some highs & lows with 1 high in particular which I will never
forget! I would like to wish everyone
involved at the club all the very best in the future.” Furman, who made 34
appearances for Rovers this season, will now start the search for a new club in
a higher league and will be hoping his Bafana exploits in the past two years
will have caught the eye.
Ambitious First
Division club Royal Eagles have extended the contract of top-scoring defender
Walter Maponyane and agreed in principle with Mark Mayambela to keep him at the
club. Despite being a central defender, the former Mamelodi Sundowns player
finished the season on 11 goals and has now signed a two-year extension with an
option of a further year. “We have signed and sealed a two-year extension with
Walter because we are very happy with what he did for us as captain this past
season scoring 11 goals as a central defender,” Richard Makhoba, the club GM,
said. With regards to Mayambela, Makhoba says they are keen on retaining him. “We
are happy with what we saw of him after working his way back from injury
towards the end of the season. We have agreed in principle that he will stay at
the club,” said Makhoba. Mayambela joined the club in February after his return
from a brief stint in Sweden. Meanwhile, the club has also confirmed that Abram
‘Wire’ Nteo will be staying at the club as assistant to new head coach
Vladislav Heric. Nteo previously worked with Heric at African Warriors.
Midfield duo Cole
Alexander and Athenkosi Dlala have both been withdrawn from Bafana Bafana’s
Cosafa Cup squad through injury, while striker Puleng Tlolane is under close
observation. Following their two clashes against Lesotho last week and a
day off on Sunday, South Africa were back in training on Tuesday as they were
put through their paces at the AW Muller Stadium at University of Johannesburg.
Yet absent from the squad in training were Alexander and Dlala, who have been
withdrawn from the team following respective injuries. Alexander was
stretchered off in the goalless draw against Lesotho last Thursday after
twisting his ankle and has failed to recover, while Dlala’s is suffering a
recurrence of an old knock and will not be able to recover in time for the
tournament. Meanwhile, Rise and Shine forward Tlolane had a collision with the
Lesotho goalkeeper and will undergo a late fitness test to see if he can be
ready for the tournament. Previously side-lined players Marc van Heerden and
Gift Motupa were given a clean bill of health and trained with their teammates
today.
Coach of the Season
Stuart Baxter admits it feels good to have won the league twice now with Kaizer
Chiefs after he was sacked by Bafana Bafana a decade ago. Chiefs won the league
with a record 69 points and 21 wins and also lifted the MTN8 trophy at the
start of the season to complete a memorable 2014/15 campaign. Baxter said his Absa
Premiership Coach of the Season award was “nice to have, not a must-have” and
that “winning the Absa Premiership was a must-have as the best team wins the
League trophy”. But the Briton, who coached the national team from 2004 until
late 2005, feels SAFA should have had more faith in him despite the team’s
failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. “There was some sort of scepticism
about my tenure as the Bafana coach,” Baxter told the Chiefs website. “That’s
also why I was so eager to take the job at Kaizer Chiefs when it was offered. I
wanted to prove that people were wrong at the time. We’ve won two doubles in
three seasons, so I probably got it a bit more right this time,” he adds. “However,
it also shows that SAFA didn’t make such a bad decision and maybe I should have
been given a bit more time to get things right.”
Jomo Cosmos boss Jomo
Sono conceded that Black Leopards deserved the victory, but still counts on
home advantage in his side’s remaining play-off fixtures. Cosmos were
defeated 2-0 away to Lidoda Duvha on Sunday afternoon, with Sono admitting that
the home side made the most of their chances in front of goal. “I think
they took their chances. However, the experienced coach held onto hope as his
side still have three more fixtures to play, and took solace from the fact that
two of those are home games. “But it’s not over yet. It’s still a long way
to go. We have to make sure that they don’t beat us at home. We have to give
them the same medicine they gave us. And then, if we don’t lose all our games
at home then we’re back in contention [for PSL promotion],” he added.
Kaizer Chiefs
midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi is excited for the annual Siyabonga Nkosi Youth
Festival, taking place from June 6 to 17 in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal. The
National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund is the main funder of this year’s
festival, which aims to provide opportunities for youth to showcase their
talent. Coming from the rural community of Mndozo outside Newcastle,
KwaZulu-Natal, Nkosi’s life story is a genuine example of combining vision with
hard work and determination to achieve far-reaching dreams and yet still stay
true to your passion, whilst seeking to develop and see other people reach
their potential. “I feel very excited about the prospects of the festival this
year,” said Nkosi. “Personally I look forward to the event. The buzz is
palpable in Amajuba District Municipality. I am very passionate about community
development. The event is growing every year. I am doing this from the bottom
of my heart. I feel great and proud with my efforts to empower the community. I
would like to thank everyone who has made a contribution – the National
Lotteries Board, our main funder, Newcastle Municipality and the KZN Department
of Sports. I just wish the people will turn out in numbers at the events,”
concluded ‘Siya’.
The scheduled activities are as follows:
• 6 June 2015 –
Siyabonga Nkosi Youth Festival Opening concert (Osizweni Stadium)
• 9 – 11 June 2015
– Siyabonga Nkosi Youth Festival – Youth coaches workshop and coaching clinics,
players workshop (Amajuba College Stadium, Madadeni)
• 10 June 2015 –
Siyabonga Nkosi Youth Festival – Citizens Sports Day (Amajuba College Stadium,
Madadeni)
• 13 – 16 June 2015
– Siyabonga Nkosi Youth Festival Football Tournament (Amajuba College Stadium,
Madadeni)
• 16 June 2015 –
KZN Sasol XI vs Gauteng Sasol XI (Amajuba College Stadium)
• 16 June 2015 –
Ukhozi FM XI vs Celebrity XI (Amajuba College Stadium)
• 16 June 2015 –
Kaizer Chiefs Legends vs KZN Legends (Amajuba College Stadium)
Goalkeeper of the
Season Moeneeb Josephs has attributed his success to Bidvest Wits keeper coach
Andre Arendse. ‘Slimkat’ won his individual prize at the PSL’s annual
awards ceremony held at the Sandton Convention Centre on Sunday night. Josephs
beat off competition from Ajax Cape Town’s Anssi Jaakkola and Patrick Tignyemb
of Bloemfontein Celtic. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Josephs tells
KickOff.com. “But credit should also go to Andre Arendse. He was the one
that was pushing me the whole season. I came back from injury but he pushed me
to the last day and the credit should go to him as well.” The former
Orlando Pirates man preferred not to comment when asked about his ambition to
don the Bafana Bafana jersey again. “No. This is the question I am not
interested in,” he says.
Bafana Bafana
continued their preparations for this year’s Cosafa Cup with a 1-1 draw in
their practice match against Lesotho at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru on Saturday
afternoon. The two sides drew 0-0 in Thursday’s international friendly,
with Safa announcing that the second encounter will be regarded as a practice
match. After going behind early in the second half, Clayton Daniels equalised
via the penalty spot to secure a draw against our neighbours, with the side
expected back in the country on Monday to continue their Cosafa Cup
preparations ahead of their opener against Botswana next Sunday.
Bafana XI vs Lesotho: Goss (gk), Modjeka, Daniels, Mngonyama
(c), Khumalo, Alexander, Dlala, Ekstein, Morena, Tlolane, Lark
Subs: Mpoto (gk), Mabokgwane (gk), Nhlapho, Mxoyana,
Sangweni, Sekola, Bhengu
SuperSport United have announced the signing of New Zealand
international defender Michael Boxall from Wellington Phoenix.Boxall
previously played in the MLS in the United States and has represented his
country at all junior levels, with 12 senior caps under his belt. The
26-year-old joins SuperSport on a three-year deal and will join New Zealand
international teammate Jeremy Brockie. SuperSport coach Gordon Igesund has
promised to bring in new signings as the club steps up its mission to challenge
for the Absa Premiership title next season. The club has also confirmed that
Thabo September has signed a one-year extension to his contract, which will
extend his run at the club to 10 years. Meanwehile, negotiations for a
long-term deal with experienced midfielder Daine Klate have fallen through as
the club was unable to agree new terms with the player.
The man originally
accused of being involved in the murder of former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo
Meyiwa is suing police minister Nathi Nhleko and the NPA for R10-million. Zamokuhle
Mbatha spent almost two weeks behind bars after being ‘identified’ as one of
the men involved in the incident in Vosloorus that saw the Orlando Pirates
goalkeeper gunned down. The Star reports that Mbatha is suing Nhleko for
R7.5-million for defamation and the NPA for R2.5-million for wrongful arrest. Head
of detectives Lieutenant Vinesh Monoo claimed on November 3 that “We are sure
that the person we have charged is one of the suspects involved in the
incident”. It is this statement that has Mbatha suing. “The statement was
understood by members of the public, especially soccer fans, both nationally
and abroad, and was intended by Moonoo to mean that I was a criminal who had
murdered Senzo Meyiwa,” Mbatha said. As it stands, the police have still not
found Meyiwa’s killers.
New Mpumalanga Black
Aces coach Muhsin Ertugral has given a clue as to the identity of his assistant
for next season, saying he “knows him very well”. Ertugral has
worked extensively in the PSL, having held the reins at Kaizer Chiefs, Ajax
Cape Town, Santos and Golden Arrows. Speculative reports have suggested
AmaZayoni are lining up Shaun Bartlett to help Ertugral, with the former’s
future uncertain despite leading Arrows to NFD honours this season. The pair
collaborated at Abafana Bes’thende in the 2011/12 campaign, while Bartlett
played under Ertugral at Chiefs in 2007/08.”My assistant coach role is
crucial and all I can say at this point of time is that I know him very well
but we will announce this later,” Ertugral told Aces’ official website. The
Turk added veteran goalkeeper Calvin Marlin will still have a role to play at
the club, as does fitness trainer Elsa Storm.
Orlando Pirates midfielder Daine Klate has signed a two-year
deal with Bidvest Wits. Klate ended off his 2014/15 PSL season at
SuperSport United, on a six-month loan deal, while also in the last six months
of his Pirates contract. The 30-year-old has been locked in negotiations for a
permanent deal with both United and Wits, pending the expiry of his contract at
the Buccaneers, with whom he spent four-and-a-half years. The five-time Absa
Premiership winner has put pen to paper with The Clever Boys, after the
Milpark-based outfit offered “a better deal” to the one Matsatsantsa originally
tabled. The Tshwane-side was unable to match or better the two-year-deal that
Klate has been offered by Wits, and the previously successful combination between
Gavin Hunt and the left-winger looks set to continue in the 2015/16 season.
Mamelodi Sundowns
striker Nyasha Mushekwi – currently on loan at Djurgadens IF – has sent
reminders about his talent by racing to the top of the goalscoring charts in
Sweden, just six weeks after officially joining. The Zimbabwean has scored
seven goals in the opening eight League games, which have helped propel
Djurgadens to fourth place and pushed him to the top of the scorers list. The
goals will enhance his chances of winning a long-term contract with
Djurgardens, with his current Sundowns contract expiring next month. Mushekwi
spent five weeks on trial before signing at the end of March as the club needed
a back-up striker following injuries to their frontline, but the Zimbabwean has
instead thrust himself into first choice forward. The 27-year-old spent most of
last year battling with a knee injury which forced him to cut short his loan
spell at Belgian club KV Oostende, where he was meant to spend all of last
season. Due to the biting of their winter in Sweden their football season
starts at the beginning of April and runs up to the end of October instead of
August to May like in most European countries. Mushekwi scored 40 goals in 53
starts during his three years playing for Sundowns.
Bafana Bafana
defender Kwanda Mngonyama was the big winner at Maritzburg United’s annual
awards ceremony in Pietermaritzburg’s City Hall last week. Mngonyama
scooped the player of the season and players’ player accolades for the Team of
Choice. The 21-year-old is on loan at United from Mamelodi Sundowns, and will
push for first team action when he returns to Chloorkop in the off-season,
especially with Downs bidding farewell to Dutch captain Alje Schut. Mngonyama,
who is currently preparing with Bafana for the Cosafa Cup, grew in stature when
he teamed up with John Pantsil at the back following Mohammed Awal’s sale to
Saudia side Al-Shabab FC in January. Ghanaian striker Mohammed Anas won the
Golden Boot with seven goals in all competitions, while Deolin Mekoa claimed
the top rookie prize. Long-serving goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters picked up the
Chairman’s Award, as did Zola Luthuli.
Mpumalanga Black Aces
have confirmed that Jacob Sakala will be reverting to his old job as technical
advisor/scout following the appointment of Muhsin Ertugral as the new head
coach. Sakala was brought in as caretaker coach in mid-March to replace
Clive Barker following a slump in form by the club and took charge of 10 games
with three wins, five draws and two defeats. Mario Morfou, the Aces chairman,
confirms that the 60-year-old will move back to the comforts of his old job. “Sakala
was brought in to me when he was still in the Vodacom [ABC Motsepe League] three
years ago and did very well for us by winning promotion [to the PSL],” says
Morfou. “We then unfortunately hit a bad
patch of form this past season and he actually came forward and said I am
prepared to take the club out of the relegation zone. He told us ‘don’t look
for anybody else because I will do it’. So we said no problem and he was
prepared to take the team for the next eight [League] games. Sakala is now
happy to go back to his old position, which is going out and finding African
players. If you have seen the players that he has brought us, he has brought us
Tendai Ndoro, he has brought us [Kwabena] Adusei and he even found [Thabo]
Qalinge for us. So he will go back to
the role where he is comfortable and where he wants to be in,” said Morfou.
Bloemfontein Celtic
have confirmed the signing of Ugandan international Geofrey Massa on a
three-year contract. Massa, who scored eight goals this season for
University of Pretoria, will be introduced to the Siwelele fans before the
start of the 2015/16 season. Celtic boss Max Tshabalala tells the club’s
website that Massa is a great addition to the squad. “We are happy that we
managed to sign a top player like Massa. This goes to show that we are serious
about our mission to reinforce the squad and challenge for a respectable
position on the log. His experience and prowess will assist us in achieving our
goal,” he said.
Ajax Cape Town
midfielder Granwald Scott has been rewarded by the club for his impressive
performances during the 2014/15 season. The 27-year-old was named the Urban
Warriors’ Player of the Season as well as the Players’ Player of the Season
accolade last Tuesday.
Here are the award
winners:
Golden Boot Award – Tashreeq Morris (9 goals in all
competitions)
Young Player of the Season – Rivaldo Coetzee
Player’s Player of the Season – Granwald Scott
Player of the Season – Granwald Scott
The winners of the
2015 Cosafa Cup will walk away R500 000 richer, the organisers of the regional
football tournament have revealed. Cosafa
announced the prize-money on Tuesday, which will also see the runners-up claim
R250 000, while R125 000 will go to the third placed team. “The other losing
semifinalist will take home R100 000 while the winner of the Plate competition
will receive R75 000,” Cosafa Secretary General Sue Destombes said. “Aside from
the team prizes there are also three individual awards for outstanding players
at the tournament,” she added. The Most Valuable Player, Golden Boot winner and
Goalkeeper of the tournament will each receive R20 000. “It takes the total pot
of prizes over the R1.1-million and that means there is plenty of incentive for
teams and players alike,” Destombes said.
Mpumalanga Black Aces
boss Mario Morfou has officially confirmed the signing of defender Limbikani
Mzava from Bloemfontein Celtic. Mzava – who made 18 appearances for Celtic
this season – has signed a three-year contract with Aces and is set to start
training with the club when they return for pre-season in June. Morfou also said
that the club is yet to make a decision on veteran midfielder Tinashe
Nengomashe. “Yes, he [Mzava] has signed a contract with us. We will
announce the other new players and those leaving the club in due course.” Meanwhile,
new Aces coach Muhsin Ertugral told journalists during a pre-conference at
Melrose Arch that he is looking forward to reinforcing both the defence and
strike-force.
SAFA president Danny
Jordaan has been appointed as the new mayor for the Nelson Mandela Bay
municipality. Port Elizabeth-born Jordaan, who recently received another
doctorate in administration, replaces 83-year-old Benson Fihla. Businessman
Bicks Ndoni has been appointed as his deputy. The reshuffle is believed to be a
strategic move by the ANC, which is widely believed to be heading for an
electoral defeat by the opposition DA in next year’s local government
elections.
SA players abroad: Darren
Keet still can’t catch a game, Thulani Serero ended the season playing off the
bench, while Ayanda Patosi was in Europa League qualifying action on the
weekend.
DARREN KEET
Keet was again on the bench for Kortrijk as they were
hammered 5-2 by Charleroi. It is the third time in five matches his side have
conceded four or more goals.
KAMOHELO MOKOTJO
Mokotjo played for FC Twente as they ended their Dutch
league season on a high with a 3-1 win at Heerenveen. His last game for the
club before they try to cash in on their star midfielder? Possible …
AYANDA NKILI
Nkili scored for Orebro in their Swedish Cup game against
Goteborg, but his side ended up losing 2-1.
RICARDO NUNES
The former Bafana Bafana keft-back played for Polish side
Pogoń Szczecin in their 2-0 championship playoff loss at Górnik Zabrze.
AYANDA PATOSI
Patosi played for Lokeren as they were held to a 2-2 draw in
the first leg of their UEFA Europa League playoff tie. The second game is on
Saturday.
LEBOGANG PHIRI
Phiri came off after 73 minutes of Sunday’s 2-0 away win
over Silkeborg. Brondby remain third in the Danish league.
THULANI SERERO
Serero finished his league season in Holland coming off the
bench on the hour-mark as Ajax Amsterdam lost 2-1 at already relegated
Dordrecht. Ajax had already confirmed second place.
TIYA SHIPALANE
Shipalane netted his second goal of the season in Carolina
Railhawks’ disappointing 2-2 draw with New York Cosmos in the USA second-tier.
Disappointing because they led 2-0 into the first minute of injury-time but
conceded twice.
MICHAEL TRAVIS
Travis suffered the disappointment of missing out on
promotion after Scottish League One Forfar Athletic’s 3-0 loss to 10-man Alloa
Athletic from the Championship. Travis had scored in midweek as his side took a
3-1 lead into the second leg, but couldn’t hold on to their advantage.
SIYANDA XULU
Bench, again.