BLACK & WHITE TAKEOVER: PIRATES SWEEP PSL AWARDS AS MOFOKENG CROWNED KING
- Mpho Dube
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
The Azanian Sport Desk
By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief
The Azanian | Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.
AZANIAFROCOMEDIA – The Catalyst of Impact
JOHANNESBURG– It was a night of black and white at the 2025/2026 PSL Awards on Monday evening, as Orlando Pirates turned the ceremony into their own victory lap after a trophy-laden campaign.
With the new 2026/27 Betway Premiership season kicking off this Saturday, 1 August, the league took time to honour the stars of last season — and Pirates dominated every category that mattered.
The Buccaneers secured a domestic treble last season: MTN8, Carling Knockout and the Betway Premiership title. Durban City were the only ones to break the Pirates party, lifting the Nedbank Cup.
MOFOKENG: THE UNDISPUTED KING
The biggest winner on the night was Relebohile Mofokeng. The former Pirates winger walked away with a clean sweep of the individual awards:
- PSL Footballer of the Season
- Betway Premiership Players’ Player of the Season
- Betway Premiership Young Player of the Season
At just 20, Mofokeng has gone from academy graduate to the face of South African football in 12 months. His pace, composure and big-game goals were central to Pirates’ treble.
BUCS CLEAN SWEEP
It wasn’t just Mofokeng. Pirates filled the team awards board:
- Coach of the Season: Abdeslam Ouaddou — who also won an R11m case against his former side this week
- Midfielder of the Season: Oswin Appollis
- Defender of the Season: Lebone Seema
- Goalkeeper of the Season: Sipho Chaine
- Goal of the Season: Cemran Dansin vs Mamelodi Sundowns
- MTN8 Last Man Standing: Tshepang Moremi
- Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament: Mbekezeli Mbokazi
That’s 8 Pirates players/coaches honoured. A statement of dominance.
OTHER WINNERS
- Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament: Darren Keet (Durban City)
- Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player: Seluleko Mahlambi (TS Galaxy)
- Motsepe Foundation Championship Young Player: Gabriel Amato (Cape Town City)
- Motsepe Foundation Championship Goalkeeper: Mickey Van Der Hart (Cape Town City)
- DStv Diski Challenge Player of the Season: Bennet Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- PSL Referee of the Year: Euguene Mdluli
- PSL Assistant Referee of the Season: Nandipha Menze
WHAT IT MEANS
Pirates didn’t just win trophies last season. They produced the best player, the best coach, the best defence, the best midfield and the best goalkeeper. That’s not a team having a good year. That’s a dynasty being built.
With Ouaddou now settled after his legal win and Mofokeng setting the standard, the question for 2026/27 is simple: Who can stop them?
Sundowns will want the Diski graduate Mokoena to push through. Chiefs are coming off Toyota Cup momentum. But on Monday night, the message from the PSL was clear — it’s Pirates’ league until someone takes it.
The Azanian Sport Desk will be at Peter Mokaba Stadium this weekend as the new season kicks off.
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