24 Jul 2022

Gaborone United dominated the Botswana Football League award ceremony at the University of Botswana on Saturday.

The 2021/2022 premier  league champions, Gaborone United, received five awards in different categories adding on their title triumph that brought an end to their 13-year title drought.

GU’s team manager, Owe Mmolawa, kick stated the night when he was crowed manager of the season while the team coach Innocent Morapedi walked away with coach of the season award.

It was a night for the The Reds as the team also produced defender of the season in Tshepo Maikano. 

The Red’s goal keeper,Goitseone Phoko walked away with both player of the season and goalkeeper of the season awards. 

Phoko’s honors were no surprise as he kept 21 clean sheets and played all 30 league games for GU.

Consequently, he wo a total of P75 000, the most lucrative being the Player of the Season award, worth P50 000, while his other award was valued at P25 000.

Jwaneng Galaxy’s striker, Thabang Sesenyi, was crowed player’s player of the season and top goal scorer pocking P100 000 in total. 

After netting 24 goals, Sesenyi breached the over 20 goals per season mark which has been elusive since the 2016-2017 season.

Midfielder of the season award went to Orapa United’s Gofaone Mabaya. 

The youthful former Eleven Angels player beat to the crown veteran campaigners in Tendai Nyumasi of Sua Flamingos and Jwaneng Galaxy’s Gilbert Baruti.

Other honors were the referee of the season, which went to Tirelo Mositwane for the second season running while the assistant referee of the season was won by Lucky Kegakologetswe. 

Itumeleng Mathikga and Leungo Tsogang won woman referee of the season and young referee of the season award respectively.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gaborone mayor, Austin Abraham, applauded the league for a successful completion of the  season, despite COVID 19 pandemic challenges.

He said government would continue to support football, particularly towards the successful bidding of the AFCON 2027. 

“It is in the nation’s interest that we develop a competitive football league that will produce quality national team players,” he said.

He said the football governing body should package the game in an appealing manner to lure in potential sponsors and investors.

BFL chairperson, Nicholas Zakhem, said football had experienced growth, which was a step in the right direction towards attainment of professionalising football in the country.

He said players welfare remain BFL top priority in the league’s endeavor to turn into a professional entity. Ends