Nyasha Mushekwi was the only shining beacon for Zimbabweans in the Absa Premiership in South Africa, when he scooped the Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament worth a whopping R100 000. Mushekwi scored six goals in Mamelodi Sundowns’ 24-0 hammering of Powerlines in the opening round of the cash-rich competition. He scooped the accolade at the Premier Soccer League (PSL) end-of-year awards held on Sunday night in Johannesburg. Mushekwi, together with Method Mwanjale and Esrom Nyandoro, could have received R500 000 each from the team’s billionaire owner Patrice Motsepe had they managed to win the league and cup double.
Unfortunately, for the three, they lost the league to Orlando Pirates and then 2-0 to SuperSport in the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday. Other Zimbabweans who performed below par in South Africa included Ajax Cape Town’s Khama Billiat, who had trials at Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam in January and could still be offered a contract. At Kaizer Chiefs, there was veteran midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha, Willard Katsande, Lincoln Zvasiya, Zhaimu Jambo and Brian Abbas Amidu, who was signed in January, but got very little game time.
AmaZulu’s Tapuwa Kapini, Carlington Nyadombo and Ramson Zhuwawo, only just managed a top-eight finish after a struggle while Terrence Mandaza of Platinum Stars also struggled, mainly due to numerous technical bench changes. The night, however, belonged to Moroka Swallows’ 34 year old veteran Bafana Bafana striker Siyabonga Nomvethe, who took home R650 000.
The rejuvenated 34-year-old was crowned PSL Footballer of the Year, while also earning the league’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year accolades. This is the second time that Nomvethe has earned the two awards, having collected the same gongs in the 1999-2000 season.
The Birds’ frontman also won the Premiership’s top scorer award with 20 goals in the league, where his side finished second behind Orlando Pirates in the tightly-contested title race.
Below is a list of winners: Absa Premiership Player of the Season — R150 000 Siyabonga Nomvethe Absa Premiership Players’ Player of the Season — R150 000 Siyabonga Nomvethe Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season — R50 000 Wayne Sandilands Absa Premiership Red Hot Young Player of the Season — R50 000 Ronwen Williams Absa Premiership Coach of the Season – R75 000 Gordon Igesund Absa Premiership Absa—lutely Awesome Goal of the Season – R50 000 Benni McCarthy Absa Premiership Top Goalscorer — R50 000 Siyabonga Nomvethe NFD Top Goalscorer Award — R50 000 David Radebe Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament — R100 000 Nyasha Mushekwi Nedbank Cup Young Player of the Tournament — R25 000 Thabiso Nkoana Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament – R200 000 Benni McCarthy MTN8 Last Man Standing — R150 000 Oupa Manyisa Referee of the Season — R50 000 Victor Hlungwani Assistant Referee of the Season — R40 000 Zakhele Siwela
