The ever-green Siyabonga Nomvethe stole the show at Sunday night’s Premier Soccer League End of the season awards.

Nomvethe was the big winner on the evening scooping the coveted PSL Footballer of the Year Award alongside the Absa Premiership Player of the Season, Absa Premiership Players Player of the Season and the Absa Premiership Top Goal Scorer Award.

Nomvethe finished as the League’s top goalscorer with 20 goals. He inspired Moroka Swallows to a tenacious Absa Premiership title chase which they ultimately lost on the last day to Orlando Pirates.

He was honoured together with a host of other outstanding individuals in Johannesburg during the PSL Awards.

“We salute all our players this evening,” said PSL CEO, Stan Matthews.

“It’s been a tough season and we need to recognize the achievements of the players and the PSL Awards does just that.”

“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees,” added Matthews.

Below is a list of winners

Absa Premiership Player of the Season – R150 000

Siyabonga Nomvethe

Absa Premiership Players Player of the Season – R150 000

Siyabonga Nomvethe – Winner

Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season – R50 000

Wayne Sandilands – Winner

Absa Premiership Red Hot Young Player of the Season – R50 000

Ronwen Williams – Winner

Absa Premiership Coach of the Season – R75 000

Gordon Igesund – Winner

Absa Premiership Absa-lutely Awesome Goal of the Season – R50 000 Benni McCarthy – Winner

Absa Premiership Top Goalscorer – R50 000

Siyabonga Nomvethe

NFD Top Goalscorer Award – R50 000

David Radebe

Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament – R100 000

Nyasha Mushekwi – Winner

Nedbank Cup Young Player of the Tournament – R25 000

Thabiso Nkoana – Winner

Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament – R200 000

Benni McCarthy – Winner

MTN8 Last Man Standing – R150 000

Oupa Manyisa – Winner

Referee of the Season – R50 000

Victor Hlungwani – Winner

Assistant Referee of the Season – R40 000

Zakhele Siwela – Winner

Gordon Igesund, the Moroka Swallows, kicked off the war of wars as the Birds approach the most sensitive stage of flirting with fate in the Absa Premiership.

Today, Igesund turned the offensive charm as he faced members of the media as part of the build-up to a must-win Absa Premiership encounter against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

Swallows and rivals, Orlando Pirates are the only contenders left for the Absa Premiership contenders. The Dube Birds trail Pirates by two points. The maths is simple: they must win and hope Pirates lose or draw at the Moses Mabhida against Golden Arrows.

It is a situation that doesn’t need a rocket scientist to work out and, Igesund is aware of this.

“Personally, there’s a lot more pressure on Pirates. Everybody expects Pirates to win the league. They’ve got the best team in the league. We’re just happy to be where we are, to be able to go out and maybe snatch it from them,” the Swallows coach said.

“We are very proud to be in contention to win the ABSA Premiership, because at the end of the day our hard work and dedication has final paid off.

“There is a mixture of young and experienced players in our team and we haven’t signed any big name players, but we are successfully second on the log. If you looked at us last season we were battling in the relegation zone and collected a sterling 30 points in the second half of last season and we survived. So to be honest this season was more of a continuation from last season so I am very proud of my boys.”

Igesund said he expects Arrows to do Pirates no favour. He is relying on Arrows to pull an upset against the Bucs.

“As a coach it is my duty to know what is the score in the other game and I know Mushin (Ertugral) is a very experience coach and is not going to hand over the game to Pirates on a silver platter.”

On-form Moroka Swallows player David Mathebula there is belief in the Birds team that they can go all the way on Saturday.

“We have to have faith in ourselves, because playing against Maritzburg United on their home ground is never going to be easy.

“We have to go all out to collect the three points which means we have to go for broke. Personally this has been my best season as I have started in 90% of the games this season where by the other past seasons I didn’t feature much.

“I have scored the most goals in a season with 10 goals and have been nominated for player and players of the season which is a huge motivation for me and I must say I am under the guidance of a very experience coach who has helped me become who I am today.

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Augusto Palacios, the Orlando Pirates coach, has called for calm heads as they enter the most fragile part of the Absa Premiership defence this weekend.

Pirates will face Golden Arrows in an Absa Premiership decider at the majestic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It’s a win-at-all costs for Pirates who are currently on pole. Swallows, the other contenders, are second with only two points separating them and the Sea Robbers.

Palacios said it was important for his players to be in a relaxed mode ahead of this crucial game in Durban.

“In order to relieve pressure we went to do aerobics, we went to the swimming pool, we played volleyball and we had a braai because I did not want the players to practice too much with the ball. I wanted the players to be hungry in the last 2 games and this week we will create other activities,” the Bucs coach said.

“Yes, there is pressure to win here because Pirates is a big team and we know we have to play for the team, the supporters, our families and then for ourselves.”

The star-studded Pirates staged a magnificent come-back against Bloemfontein Celtic this past weekend. Pirates were trailing Celtic 1-0 for the better part of the match, but it took an impressive two goals to change things around and keep their title hopes alive.

“It’s an honour to have this kind of players in my team, I have players who play for Bafana Bafana and one player from the Zambian national team (Chansa). “

“I am very happy with the character we showed, we know that we made an earlier mistake, we did not play the way we needed to play in the first half, but in the second half we pushed our midfield more forward and attacked more from the wings.”

“I must give credit to the players, it was not an easy game because Celtics were unbeaten for six games and they have a solid defence, but we knew the goal would come if we continued to pressure and it did arrive.”

“When the chairman visited us today in the hotel, he made it very clear that it is not about three points but six points.”

Palacios said the Arrows game will be tough this weekend.

“We go to another difficult away game and we need only a win, because if we draw we are out.”

“Our minds are very clear and that is: win the next game, after we win the next game, then we can be champions, but I cannot say we have we have won the league until then.”

The nominees for the 2011/2012 Absa Premiership Awards, in no particular order are:

Absa HOT Young Player

Lucky Baloyi – Kaizer Chiefs

Ronwen Williams – SuperSport United

Lehlohonolo Masalesa – Bidvest Wits

Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season

Wayne Sandilands – Mamelodi Sundowns

Ronwen Williams – SuperSport United

Moeneeb Josephs – Orlando Pirates

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

Absa Premiership Coach of the Season

Gavin Hunt – SuperSport United

Gordon Igesund – Moroka Swallows

Steve Khompela – Free State Stars

Absa Premiership Player of the Season

David Mathebula – Moroka Swallows

Siyabonga Sangweni – Orlando Pirates

Siyabonga Nomvethe – Moroka Swallows

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Mark Gleeson

FOR supporters and footballing purists, two decisions made by the Premier Soccer League in recent days signal a stark warning that the game’s direction is moving away from core values.

Both reflect the shift from the needs and interests of fans to a growing dependence on keeping sweet the corporate sector that sponsors the sport.

One is a major issue, the other a minor one. But both demonstrate a fundamental shift in priorities. The PSL is now more concerned with pleasing the sponsors than looking after the fans.

This is how:

Deciding to stage the Nedbank Cup final at Orlando stadium, when the two finalists both come from Pretoria; and

Not taking the Absa Premiership trophy to Orlando stadium tomorrow, even though Orlando Pirates could wrap up the title.

In effect, logistics are holding hostage two of the potential high points of the season as marketing considerations have taken precedence over common sense.

The decisions show a lack of perspective of what is really important about the game and a disregard for the interests and joy of the fans.

Though a neutral venue is preferable for a cup final, it is irrelevant this year because both Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United use Atteridgeville stadium. The venue is convenient for the bulk of the fans and would ensure a close to capacity – if not sold out – crowd, the perfect backdrop for one of the most important games of the year.

The same cannot be guaranteed at Orlando. Too many Tshwane fans will not be able to make the expensive trip to Soweto.

But the PSL has explained that it does not want to stage the final in Atteridgeville because the stadium is essentially not aesthetically pleasing or convenient. While this might make sense to the marketers, try explaining to a fan that the change rooms are not the same size or the VIP area is too small to accommodate the swanky guests.

The PSL is also disregarding the fans in its decision not to take the league trophy to Orlando stadium tomorrow in case Pirates win the league title.

There is the possibility of a scenario in which Pirates emerge victorious, find out that their rivals have faltered, break out into the spontaneous celebration of the sort that makes sport so great, but find out that the trophy has been left behind.

Why? Because the sponsors want time to build a stage, have streamers in the air and their head honcho on hand for the trophy presentation.

So the trophy will only be handed out on the last day of the season on Saturday next week, when there will still be a celebration but without the soul of the immediacy of sweet victory. The sparkling spontaneity is stripped out of the game by the suits who now seemingly control soccer.

Admittedly, the PSL’s main revenue comes from TV and sponsors and not gate takings. But it is the passion of the fans that makes its product. Leaving them behind is to forget the essence of the game.

Sundowns’ Absa Premiership clash with SuperSport United on Saturday has all the makings of a classic, with much at stake.

The team that fails to win at the Lucas Moripe Stadium will see its title aspirations go up in smoke, and there is also the matter of this game being a dress rehearsal to the Nedbank Cup final a few weeks later.

And then there is the matter of the history and the competitive rivalry of these two Pretoria rivals.

Mamelodi Sundowns are the Tshwane club with the history; the attractive brand of football, ‘piano and shoeshine football’.

Sundowns were seen as the flag bearers for playing the game in true South African style, with players such as Ernest Chiwali (Mtawali), Chancey Gondwe, Zane Moosa Roger Fetumba, Daniel Madau, Joel Fire Masilela and Bennett Masinga at the forefront of an attractive carpet football mentality.

From the late 1980’s onwards, Sundowns’ style translated into trophies as they won the NSL title in 1988, 1990 and 1993, and lifted the PSL trophy in 1997/ 98, 1998/ 99, 1999/ 2000, 2005/ 06 and 2006/ 07.

The last time the Brazilians won the league title was in 2006/ 2007, when they topped the table by 10 points over Silver Stars under the guidance of Neil Tovey and Michel Gamondi.

But since then, Sundowns have had to watch enviously across the city as SuperSport went on to win three successive titles under Gavin Hunt, echoing the achievements of their neighbours nearly a decade back.

While Matsatsantsa finished first in 2007/ 2008 and 2008/ 2009, Downs could only muster fourth and ninth placed finishes.

In the 2009/ 2010 season, Sundowns were again pipped to the post by their city rivals, SuperSport finishing champions with 59 points and Downs ending on 58.

United’s recent history stretches back just 18 years, to 1994, when M-Net bought the status of Pretoria City, whose history goes back considerably longer.

Thomas Madigage, Abram Raselemane, Peter Khoabane, Molefi Ntsoelengoe and Patrick Mayo are some of the players that starred for the club in its earlier years.

Of the SuperSport players that have shone for the club in recent years, a large contingent have in fact been tempted across the city to go and play for Sundowns, adding more spice to Saturday’s fixture.

These include Katlego Mphela, Elias Pelembe, Teko Modise (via Pirates), Calvin Marlin, Anthony Laffor. Hlompho Kekana (via Celtic) and Siboniso Gaxa.

Matsatsantsa are have several ex-Downs players on their books, including Franklin Cale, Mabudi Khenyeza and Sibusiso Zuma.

Now Patrice Motsepe’s club again find SuperSport standing in their way as they Brazilians look to try and catch Orlando Pirates at the top of the log.

Sundowns currently trail Bucs by three points and have a vastly superior goal difference, meaning that if Pirates lose one of their last two remaining games, and Downs win both of theirs, they could be champions, although only if Moroka Swallows fail to take maximum points from their last two matches

n what promises to be a week full of suspense, anxiety and drama, the Absa Premiership title race will be heading for an epic ending.

At this stage, with up to five teams still in the running for the R10 Million winner’s cheque, a better finish could not be asked for.

“The Absa Premiership presents a unique scenario that will see this competition undecided in the penultimate week for the 5th consecutive season running and this showcases the competitive nature of the Premiership and how clubs are striving to take home the prized trophy,” said Lynn Naude, Absa General Manager Sponsorships.

Regardless of this weekend’s outcome, the trophy will be handed out on 19 May 2012 and any of three venues will be on call to host the 2011/2012 Absa Premiership Champions.

“The PSL is ready for whatever possibility and permutation is thrown at us,” said PSL CEO, Stan Matthews. “We are prepared to make the occasion of the 19th May a memorable one with a helicopter on standby to ensure that the trophy reaches the Champions.

“In the interest of all stakeholders, we went with the best global practice where the trophy gets handed on the last day. We didn’t take the decision lightly as we consulted widely with all stakeholders and also our international partners,” added Matthews.

Fans across the country stand to benefit from the vibe, hype and excitement around various activities planned for the final week and at the stadiums.

There seem to be a general consensus in South African football now that it’s way too early to predict the destination of the Absa Premiership trophy this season.

To say the league race is tight will be both an exhausted cliché and maybe an awful understatement. This one – this Absa Premiership title battle – will go to the wire.

On Tuesday, the race continues but it is Wednesday that is likely to have an impact in the log standings at the top.

The battle for number one is intensifying but another drama is playing itself out in the bottom half o the table where at least six teams are facing the prospects of relegation – three of those teams are desperately searching for renewed fortunes.

On Tuesday night Kaizer Chiefs – who are fourth – will travel to Polokwane to take on Maritzburg United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Chiefs have 40 points – six points shy of log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates who are on par with points.

Amakhosi though will be looking to narrow the gap. They have a lot in their plate following the ‘amicable’ split with long-term coach, Vladimir Vermezovic.

On Wednesday, Orlando Pirates will make the short trip to Dobsonville to take on Moroka Swallows in the Soweto derby. Bragging rights might be at stake, but it the motivation for both these teams will be to keep up with the leaders.

Pirates are second but Gordon Igesund has built a formidable Fort in this Swallows sides and they are also still in the mix to claim top honours. Swallows are currently third with 42 points. A win will take them within touching distance to the leaders.

Sundowns, who have been leading the log since the start of the New Year will host Platinum Stars – a side that has seemingly turned the corner and undergone reincarnation.

At the bottom, Santos will be looking to bounce back from their Cup competition exit when they welcome SuperSport United at Athlone. Santos are second from bottom with 20 points.

Jomo Cosmos, rooted rock bottom, will travel to their alternative home ground in Port Elizabeth to face Bloemfontein Celtic at the Nelson Mandela Stadium. Cosmos, who are on 16 points, need both goals and results.

There is no denying that they have been playing romantic football, but ask any hopeless romantic – romance alone doesn’t pay bills. Results, and that alone, will elevate their position in the log.

Fellow strugglers, Black Leopards will travel to Charles Mopedi to play tricky Free State Stars.

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