16 Jun 2013

The 2012/13 league champions, Mochudi Centre Chiefs dominated the be Mobile Premier League awards on Saturday night.

Under the astute coaching of former Zimbabwe international, Madinda Ndlovu, a lot of Chiefs players displayed top class performances as Magosi successfully defended their league title.

Chiefs’ midfielder, Elvis Meleka won the Player of the Season award at the glittering ceremony held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). The midfielder was a hit with the Kgatleng giants since being signed two seasons ago.

His steady performances in the middle of the park propelled Chiefs to back-to-back league titles. He weighed in with a number of important goals as well, which eventually won him the Player of the Season award, which carried P50 000 prize money. Meleka’s teammate, Galabgwe Moyana was voted the Players’ Player of the Season, which carried a P25 000 prize.

The left footed winger, who was recently snatched by newly promoted Polokwane City in the South African ABSA Premiership, credited his coach for moulding him into a mature player. 

“It is the first award I have ever won in my career and I am humbled by this achievement. I feel especially honoured that I was voted by my peers as their player of the season. The coach encouraged us to work hard and it is the reason why we played so well this season,” Moyana said. 

On his move to one of the biggest leagues in the continent, Moyana said he wanted to make a good impression like fellow countrymen, Mogakolodi Ngele of Platinum Stars and Joel Mogorosi of Bloemfontein Celtics.

“I would not be under any pressure because Polokwane City is a newly promoted team that is aiming to establish itself in the Premier Soccer League. My aim is to break into the first eleven and make a good impression,” he said.

The third Chiefs player to walk away with the award was striker, Kekaetswe ‘Mara' Moloi. He won the Green-Boot award given to the league’s top goalscorer after scoring 24 goals this season.

It was the second season in a row that Moloi won the award after sharing it with Mogorosi last year, when the two players scored 27 goals each. The award carried a P25 000 prize.

To add the icing on top of the cake, Magosi coach Ndlovu was selected as the best coach of the season for successfully guiding the club to the title. The Supporters’ Player of the Season award went to Nico United midfielder, Topo Piet who starred for the Selebi Phikwe club as it finished on second place.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Tebogo Sebego was glowing in his tribute for Chiefs and its players after a stellar campaign. “Chiefs are worthy champions and they deserve the tributes. They showed they are a well-oiled machine by defending the trophy,” he said.

Botswana Telecommunications Corporation chief executive officer, Paul Taylor said they were happy as sponsors with the way the premier league brand had grown under the be Mobile backing. The corporation sponsored the league through be Mobile to the tune of P24 million for three seasons. The league winners pocketed P1 million, making the premier league one of the richest competitions in the COSAFA region.

Others awards:

Chairman’s special award - Nicholas Zakhem - Gaborone United director

Referee of the season - Joshua Bondo

Assistant referee of the season - Oamogetse Godisamang

Print journalist of the season - Boitumelo Khutsafalo

Electronic journalist of the season - Monnakgotla Mojaki

Photographer of the season - Oaitse Sejakgomo. ENDS