Tefu Mashamaite once again won big, the Kaizer Chiefs captain scooping two awards at the club’s end of season function at Vodaworld to add to the three PSL gongs he captured.
But there was consolation for his central defence partner Erick Mathoho who had walked away empty handed from the PSL ceremony where many felt he should have got something. The defender aptly nicknamed “Tower” also walked away with two accolades on a night when most of those who contributed to Amakhosi’s slick championship triumph were duly rewarded.
All of Mandla Masango, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Tshepo Masilela swelled their bank accounts significantly following their sterling showing in a season that saw Chiefs, not only dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns as league champions, but doing so by breaking all manner of records en route to reclaiming the title – including the most number of points (69) in the 16-team Premiership era as well as a run of 20 matches unbeaten.
The club also gave out their monthly player awards and even there it was Mashamaite and Mathoho who dominated – the defenders again grabbing two awards apiece, a feat also achieved by midfielder George Lebese.
Mashamaite walked away with the main award as the club’s Player-of-the- Season and was also voted Fan’s Player-of-the-Season.
Not to be outdone, Mathoho got the nod from the club’s fans by capturing the KC Online Player-of-the-Season gong as well as the Fair Play Award.
In this game though, it is the Player’s Player Award that just about everyone coverts – the accolade being voted for by fellow professionals, in this case teammates.
And that honour went to leftback Tsepo Masilela, who for once enjoyed an injury free season to play an influential role in Chiefs being as miserly in defence as they were in conceding a mere 14 league goals all season.
Masango had arguably his best season in Chiefs colours, the winger playing more games than he ever did and dishing out a good number of match-winning performances.
For his effort Masango was not only the club’s top scorer but was also rewarded with the Most Improved Player-of-the-Season award.
Letsholonyane’s strike against Platinum Stars was voted the best goal of the season.
All the awards
Player-of-the-Season: Tefu Mashamaite R100 000
Fan’s Player-of-the-Season: Mashamaite R50 000
Players’ Player-of-the-Season: Tsepo Masilela R50 000
Top Goalscorer: Mandla Masango R25 000
Most Improved Player-of-the-Season: Masango R25 000
Fair Player-of-the-Season: Erick Mathoho R20 000
KC Online Player-of-the-Season:
Mathoho R20 000
Goal of the Season: Reneilwe Letsholonyane R20 000
Player of the Month Winners(R10 000 per month)
August: Masango
September: Letsholonyane
Octorber: Masilela
November: Lebese
December: Mathoho
February: Mashamaite
March: Mathoho
April: Lebese
May: Mashamaite - The Star