The Premier Soccer League has announced that the 2020/21 end of season awards programme will finally be completed this week. Photo: Twitter / PSL

PSL Awards 2018/19: Lorch, Kekana dominate as full list of nominees revealed

The scores may have been settled in the league, but the PSL Awards will decide who the best players and coaches have been in the 2018/19 season.

by Tom Head

13-05-2019 12:21

in Premier Soccer League

The Premier Soccer League has announced that the 2020/21 end of season awards programme will finally be completed this week. Photo: Twitter / PSL

After a gruelling campaign, it’s time to celebrate the players and coaches who made the 2018/19 season in South Africa such a memorable one. The nominees for the PSL Awards list have been revealed on Monday.

Of course, the league campaign came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday, as Mamelodi Sundowns clinched the title with a last-day victory against Free State Stars – a result that ultimately relegated the hosts. Orlando Pirates finished in second after a valiant effort, with Bidvest Wits and Cape Town City making up the top four.

Last year, we saw Percy Tau and Mamelodi Sundowns runaway with the accolades, and the former Masandawana winger has also picked up more personal awards during his first season in Europe. However, things promise to be much more competitive this year.

Who has been nominated for the PSL Awards?

Look no further than the duel between Thembinkosi Lorch of Orlando Pirates (four nominations) and Hlompho Kekana of Mamelodi Sundowns (three nominations). Their battle for league supremacy may be over, but they are set to fight out for the biggest individual prizes on offer at the PSL awards.

There is also a respectable nod for Benni McCarthy, who could scoop his first ever “Coach of the season” award.

#AbsaPrem Coach of the Season:

Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Milutin Sredojević (Orlando Pirates)
Benni McCarthy (CTCFC) #PSLAwards19 #SLChat
— Soccer Laduma (@Soccer_Laduma) May 13, 2019

Meanwhile, Tebogo Mokoena (SuperSport United), Bongani Sam (Bloemfontein Celtic), Gift Links (CTCFC) are all in contention to win the “Young player of the year award”.

PSL Awards 2018/19 list – here are all the nominees:

In the league…

Footballer of the Season: Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns) Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates) Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Coach of the season: Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Milutin Sredojević (Orlando Pirates), Benni McCarthy (Cape Town City FC / CTCFC)

Players’ Player of the Season: Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Young Player of the Season: Tebogo Mokoena (SuperSport United), Bongani Sam (Bloemfontein Celtic), Gift Links (CTCFC).

Defender of the Season: Thamsanqa Mkhize (CTCFC), Ricardo Nascimento (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sifiso Hlanti (Bidvest Wits)

Midfielder of the Season: Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Goalkeeper of the Season: Peter Leeuwenburgh (CTCFC), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament: Terrence Mashego (TS Galaxy), Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya (Kaizer Chiefs), Zakhele Lepasa (TS Galaxy).