Johannesburg - For the second consecutive season, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana Midfielder, Teko Modise, scooped the PSL’s most coveted Award at the League’s annual end of season Awards ceremony at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City.
 
Modise saw off his Pirates teammate, Lucas Thwala, and Golden Arrows’ Richard Henyekane for the R250 000 prize that was judged by the 16 PSL coaches.
 
The mercurial midfielder played a starring role in Pirates’ charge for the title that saw the Buccaneers finish runners-up to SuperSport United in the league, and was instrumental in Bucs winning the Telkom Knockout cup.
 
For Thwala, whose form at the back played a major role in Pirates conceding the least goals in the League (20), all was not lost and Bucs’ stalwart walked away with R150 000 for winning the Absa Premiership Player of the Season award.
 
“It was certainly a great evening for all,” said PSL chairperson, Dr Irvin Khoza.
 
“Recognition plays a great part in our sport and I’m really glad and honoured to be part of these awards where we pay tribute to the true stars of our game.”

The sponsors in the cup competitions also presented awards.
 
In the Telkom Knockout finalists Ajax Cape Town’s Franlyn Cale beat Mabhudi Khenyeza and Pirates’s Benson Mhlongo to the R200 000 Player of the Tournament award.
 
Gert Schalkwyk, then with Kaizer Chiefs, won the R150 000 Last Man Standing award for the MTN8 competition.
 
After the Nedbank Cup Final was won 1-0 by Moroka Swallows, two awards went to the First Division upstarts Pretoria University, who impressed with their flair on the road to the final. Mthokozisi Yende was the Player of the Tournament and Andile Jali the Most Promising Player.
 
The R100 000 Chairman’s Award was shared between two of PSL’s longest-serving stalwarts, SuperSport goalkeeper Andre Arendse and Bloemfontein Celtic’s Malawian midfielder, John Maduka. The two each picked up R50 000.
 
Jerome Damon won the Referee of the Season award and Enock Molefe Assistant Referee for the second consecutive year.
 
Other Absa Premiership awards were:
 
Goalkeeper of the season - Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars) R50 000
 
Young Player of the season - Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United) R50 000
 
Coach of the season - Gavin Hunt (Supersport United) R75 000
 
Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot Award - Richard Henyekane (Golden Arrows) R75 000
 
Abso-lutely Awesome Goal of the season - Ryan Botha (Moroka Swallows) R50 000