By 
Orlando Pirates arrive at Monday night’s Premier Soccer League Awards not just as participants, but as the standard-bearers of South African football. Boasting a staggering 19 nominations across seven categories, the Soweto giants enter the virtual ceremony poised to cap off a historic 2025/26 campaign.
The crown jewel of the evening, the PSL Footballer of the Season, sees the Sea Robbers hold a formidable two-thirds majority. Oswin Appollis and dynamic winger Relebohile Mofokeng both earned spots on the ultimate shortlist alongside Mamelodi Sundowns anchor Teboho Mokoena. Selected exclusively by the head coaches of all 16 Premier Division clubs, the nod carries serious weight—a direct nod from the tactical minds who spent the entire season attempting, and often failing, to contain them.
The respect extends straight to the dressing room floor. In the Betway Premiership Players’ Player of the Season category—voted on by peers across the league—Pirates claim total dominance. Appollis and Mofokeng feature once more, this time joined by electric teammate Kamogelo Sebelebele.
Mofokeng’s final domestic act before securing a high-profile move to Europe sees him heavily tipped for Young Player of the Season. He contends with former Lamontville Golden Arrows star Isaac Cisse and TS Galaxy’s Seluleko Mahlambi.
Behind every well-oiled machine is a tactical mastermind, and Head Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s stellar debut campaign gets its rightful recognition. Ouaddou finds himself nominated for Coach of the Season, locking horns with Mamelodi Sundowns’ Miguel Cardoso and the Kaizer Chiefs duo of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.
The club’s presence is felt across every positional division:
- Goalkeeper of the Season: Sipho Chaine leads the pack after a historic season in which he posted a record-setting 21 clean sheets, going up against Brandon Petersen (Kaizer Chiefs) and Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC).
- Defender of the Season: Twin towers Nkosinathi Sibisi and Lebone Seema anchor the nominations following a record-breaking defensive campaign, competing against Sundowns’ Khuliso Mudau.
- Midfielder of the Season: Appollis and Mofokeng clash yet again with Mamelodi Sundowns’ Mokoena.
- Goal of the Season: Cemran Dansin represents the club for his breathtaking left-footed volley against Sundowns.
The cup competitions echo the same story of dominance. Having successfully defended their MTN8 title, Orlando Pirates achieved a clean sweep in the Last Man Standing category. With Appollis, Sebelebele, and Tshepang Moremi occupying all three nomination slots, the award is guaranteed to return to Orlando. Meanwhile, Mbekezeli Mbokazi—who has since earned a move to the United States—carries the torch for Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament alongside Marumo Gallants duo Washington Arubi and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.
Perhaps most pleasing for the Pirates faithful is the strength of the pipeline. Lebo Mohlala and Mpho Padime are both up for DStv Diski Challenge Player of the Season, squaring off against Sundowns’ Bennet Mokoena—a testament to the club’s steadfast commitment to youth development.
Whether measuring elite professional output or elite prospective talent, the message across South African football is unmistakable. Broadcast live on the SuperSport PSL Channel and SABC Sport from 7:00 PM, the night belongs to Soweto.
