Nomvethe or Sangweni: let's have Siyabongas all round for South Africa's Footballer of the Season, thank you

Siyabonga very much: Nomvethe receives
his award from Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula

THE row over the PSL Footballer of the Season award handed to Moroka Swallows veteran Siyabonga Nomvethe on Sunday night refuses to go away.

Orlando Pirates fans are adamant their own Siyabonga - Sangweni - deserved the ultimate accolade on a night when the 34-year-old "Bhele" won FOUR awards, picking up cheques worth R600,000 in slightly less than an hour. While prospective gamblers at the surrounding Gold Reef City were desperately prospecting for a few rands around them, South Africa's footballing fraternity were left open-mouthed as Nomvethe - fresh from scoring a hat-trick on his return to Bafana Bafana in a friendly against club side Impala Warriors earlier in the day - was forced to use his aching legs to get to the stage time and again.

Three of those awards were won without serious debate.

The R50,000 PSL golden boot, named after the late Buccaneer Lesley Manyathela, was a matter of mathematics. Nomvethe reached 20 League goals this season and ended eight clear of his rivals, including the 34-year-old Benni McCarthy.

He also scooped the R150,000 PSL Player of the Season accolade ahead of team-mate David Mathebula and Sangweni.

And a quick count of votes among his peers saw Nomvethe take the Player's Player of the Season cheque for R150,000.

But it was the R250,000 Footballer of the Season - awarded by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula to the best player in all competitions, not just the PSL - that got the Ghost's goat.

While Nomvethe shone in the League and failed with coach of the season Gordon Igesund's Swallows in the cups, Sangweni played 28 League games for the Buccaneers, scoring vital goals against Bloemfontein Celtic and Golden Arrows in the title-clinching final two games.

He also played in EVERY knock-out match, where Pirates won the MTN8 trophy and the Telkom Knock-out, where Sangweni was voted defender of the tournament.

Just like last year, when Ajax Cape Town's Thulani Serero won the award - voted for by the 16 PSL coaches - ahead of Andile Jali, Augusto Palacios was making Ruud Krol-style waves.

Pirates' Peruvian caretaker coach - still not sure of his future next season - told kickoff.com: "I think our man deserved it on merit. Of course Sangweni is disappointed.

"I respect what Nomvethe did, but I feel Sangweni deserved this one. Sangweni was also a part of the national team throughout the season, so for me personally this was his award. 

"I don't dispute what Nomvete did, but Sangweni did well in ALL competitions."

And of course he's right. With seven goals in all competitions, the 30-year-old from Empangeni, whose younger brother Thamsanqa has just left Amazulu for Sundowns, did do the business.

But here's the problem. There were so many other prominent Pirates who did well in all competitions during another historic treble-winning season for the Sea Robbers.

Benni McCarthy, who won the ABSA-lutely stunning goal of the season for his overhead kick, also picked up the Telkom Knock-out goal and player of the tournament awards. And he produced the two late goals which won the title in Durban just over a week ago.

And then there's the captain, Lucky Lekgwathi who, at 35, scored what was eventually the most important goal of the season, the last-gasp effort which overcame stubborn SuperSports United a month ago.

The 35-year-old from GaRankuwa would have been my choice as South Africa's best player this season - but he wasn't nominated for ANY award on Sunday night.

Perhaps Sangweni's failure shows just how much talent the Pirates had on show rather than how much other Premier coaches dislike the black-and-white.

Sangweni himself, of course, showed no sign of discomfort. He told Soccer Laduma: “Nomvethe deserved the big award. Honestly, Bhele worked hard this past season - I’m happy for him, which is why I congratulated him and would like to congratulate him once again.

“I can’t blame anyone because those who selected him believed he was more deserving. We see things differently, as some people think I should’ve won the award but that’s how football is. I have no hard feelings about it because being nominated in almost every award means I did well and I’m happy about it.”

So Siyabongas all round it is. And for my money, Nomvethe's goal glut was THE story of the season. He scored more goals in percentage terms than Robin van Persie scored for "one man team" Arsenal, and the man from KwaMashu almost single-handedly propelled the Dube Birds from relegation fodder to championship contenders.

For that, Bhele deserved everything he got on Sunday night, which was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion.

But one last question: Where was the voice of the PSL, Robert Marawa of MetroFm, SABCtv and SuperSport? I know, but I'm afraid I can't tell you.

You can follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol or watch my regular Monday morning appearances on eNews and eTV Sunrise. And read www.thenewage.co.za every Tuesday for my "Neal and Pray" column.

The 2012 ABSA Premier awards... and the winners are...

THIS is moment we've all been waiting for, off the field, as the climax to the South African football season approaches on the pitch. The ABSA Premier awards nominees for 2012. Fascinating. It's never easy to decide these things but these are the glaring ommissions.No mention of Siphiwe Tshabalala, the handsome Bafana Bafana hero of the 2010 World Cup who has worked so hard amid the chaos of Amakhosi's political problems this season.
No mention of Lucky Lekgwathi, the veteran Orlando Pirates captain, approaching 40, who works tirelessly and produced THAT last-gasp goal against SuperSport United a fortnight ago.
No mention of Kenney Mweene, so vital in Zambia's 2012 AFCON triumph and the rise of the Free State Stars, the little stars of Bethlehem who are threatening to finish right up the top of the Premier League this season, among the big boys.

No matter, we must accept these things, just like we have to accept Irvin Khosa and Kaizer Motaung launching their precious Charity Cup rubbish right in the middle of the Premier League melting pot and before the Nedbank Cup final. Ludicrous.

I have no bias. Though I am taking flak from Orlando Pirates Ghosts as the final round of Premier League fixtures approaches, my loyalties remain with the now-defunct Umlazi Bush Bucks, champions way back in 1986.

Though I have been predicted Moroka Swallows would rise from the ashes of relegation contenders last season, I believe the Buccaneers will triumph this week against the Golden Arrows in Durban and retain their title.

Without further ado, let's have a look as the nominees... with my suggested winners and why... please feel free to debate by adding your comment below.

Absa HOT Young Player:

• Lucky Baloyi – Kaizer Chiefs
• Ronwen Williams – SuperSport United
• Lehlohonolo Masalesa – Bidvest Wits

Toughest category of all. Baloyi has certainly impressed during a troubled season. And next season promises to be even tougher with Stuart "Dodgy CV" Baxter in charge of the Amakhosi. I spotted Masalesa earlier this season, but Wits have been terrible of late. Williams has been impressive  but he operates behind Gavin Hunt's stingy back four, and I guess Bloemfontein Celtic's Tower Mathoho is out of the age range, so it has to be LUCKY BALOYI.

Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season:

• Wayne Sandilands – Mamelodi Sundowns
• Ronwen Williams – SuperSport United
• Moeneeb Josephs – Orlando Pirates

There's no questions Josephs has offered a lot for Pirates. I believe he spoke for the players during the campaign to get rid of coach Julio Leal and his glowing affirmation of caretaker Augusto Palacios was fascinating on Robert Marawa's Thursday Night Live last week. But as a goalkeeper, while superbly vocal, he lacks the reflexes of Williams, the distribution of Kaizer Chiefs' oft-injured Itumeleng Khune and the presence of Free States Stars' AFCON winning No 1 Kennedy Mweene. Taking all those factors into account, the best all-round goalkeeper and a classic shot-stopped? WAYNE SANDILANDS.

Absa–lutely Awesome Goal:

·         Clifford Mulenga – Golden Arrows vs Bloemfontein Celtic

     ·         David Mathebula – Moroka Swallows vs Orlando Pirates
      ·         Benni McCarthy – Orlando Pirates vs Maritzburg United
Personally, I was looking for Bernard Parker's superb free-kick in the first Soweto Derby this season but Goal of the Season will always throw up too many contenders. For me it has to be McCarthy, on as a subsitute for the Buccaneers, raising his creaking 34-year-old body in to position for an overhead kick which matched that of Wayne Rooney's classic. It was late in the game and secured three points against Arrows which may just be the ones that matter by Saturday night. BENNI McCARTHY.

Absa Premiership Coach of the Season:

• Gavin Hunt – SuperSport United
• Gordon Igesund – Moroka Swallows
• Steve Khompela – Free State Stars

For me, Hunt ruled himself out of contention with his anti-referee rant after the Unlucky last-gasp defeat against Pirates a fortnight ago. Too much Sir Alex Ferguson. Igesund has, as I've said so often, taken his Birds from relegation fodder to championship contenders in a year with a carefully composed collection of rejects, alcoholics and veterans. This weekend, he could well clinch that title. But for me, the talkative Khompela takes the cake. His little Stars of Bethlehem have been on my agenda all season. A small-town side without much money have pushed the big boys all the way. He should have been offered the Chiefs job ahead of Baxter and I suspect his elevation to Pitso Mosimane's assistant with Bafana will only be temporary. He has all the attributes to lead his country at AFCON here next year. STEVE KHOMPELA

Absa Premiership Player of the Season:

• David Mathebula – Moroka Swallows
• Siyabonga Sangweni – Orlando Pirates
• Siyabonga Nomvethe – Moroka Swallows

Mathebula, rejected by the glamour clubs, has been immense this season. Goals, distribution, tracking back. Sangweni, scored of a vital winner at Celtic last week, has been equally important for Pirates, in a category where his captain Lucky Lekgwathi also deserves a mention. But how can we look beyond a 34-year-old whose 20 goals have single-handedly propelled the Swallows into contention and put him ahead of all the big name top scorers in the ABSA Premier League in recent years? SIYABONGA NOMVETHE.

Absa Premiership Player’s Player of the Season:

·         Teko Modise

      ·         David Mathebula
      ·         Siyabonga Nomvethe

There were glimpses of the old Buccaneering Modise this season under Johan Neeskens at Sundowns. A brilliant engine, an eye for the defence-splitting pass. But it all fell apart for Downs and their Dutch master at the crucial point of the season. We have talked about Mathebula and Tshabalala in this category, and no doubt the players cast a few votes for McCarthy, Lekgwathi and Sangweni too. But for me, the old gunslinger stands supremer once more. SIYABONGA NOMVETHE.