Mofokeng leads stacked Orlando Pirates cast as PSL awards ditch ‘season-ending party’ image

Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng heads a powerful cast of nominees as the Premier Soccer League (PSL) awards again move away from a “season-ending party” and towards a high-stakes motivational showcase for the new campaign.

The 2025/26 PSL Awards, to be held on Monday 27 July, will double as a statement of intent for the 2026/27 season, with the league champions expected to dominate the ceremony after sweeping a host of major nominations.

Pirates have taken complete control of the prestigious PSL Players’ Player of the Season list, filling all three places through Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis and Kamogelo Sebelebele.

Pirates dominance and Mofokeng’s four-way charge

Mofokeng, who recently sealed a move to Belgium, is the headline act of this year’s awards. The 20-year-old playmaker is shortlisted in four categories: – Player of the Season – Players’ Player of the Season – Midfielder of the Season – Young Player of the Season

His form has made him the benchmark for South African-based talent, and his dominance of the shortlists underlines why he has become a fan favourite and one of the PSL’s most coveted exports.

Midfield rival Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns and fellow Bafana Bafana winger Appollis are also in the running for the top individual honours, challenging Mofokeng in the Player of the Season, Players’ Player and Midfielder of the Season categories.

Sundowns, Durban City and Kaizer Chiefs in the frame

Champions League regulars Mamelodi Sundowns have a strong presence among the nominees, reflecting another powerful domestic campaign.

CAF Confederation Cup-bound Durban City have also forced their way into the conversation, picking up at least two Nedbank Cup nominations after lifting the final major trophy of the season.

Traditional giants Kaizer Chiefs are represented in three categories, including Coach of the Season and Goalkeeper of the Season. However, their most realistic shot at silverware appears to be in the Goal of the Season category, where Glody Lilepo is in contention.

Young stars tipped to benefit most

While much of the spotlight falls on Mofokeng, it is his rivals for the Young Player of the Season award who may reap the greatest long-term rewards from Monday’s event.

TS Galaxy’s Seluleko Mahlambi and Lamontville Golden Arrows’ Isaac Cisse join Mofokeng on the three-man shortlist and are seen as the next wave of talent primed to step into the space he leaves behind in the PSL.

Mahlambi, 21, enjoyed a breakout season and remained a constant attacking threat for Galaxy, even after the Mbombela-based club sold several key players, including Sebelebele, Lebone Seema and Puso Dithejane.

His performances have reportedly pushed him to the top of the shopping list for both Soweto giants Chiefs and Pirates, underlining his rapid rise.

Transfer dilemmas and the ‘next Mofokeng’

Although TS Galaxy are known as a selling club, there is a strong argument that Mahlambi’s development would be best served by staying with the Rockets for at least one more campaign, where he is guaranteed regular football and responsibility.

Whether he remains in Mbombela or secures a big move is not in his hands, but how he channels the attention is. The nomination, combined with mounting transfer speculation, is being framed as an opportunity for Mahlambi to push himself towards the standards set by Mofokeng.

With Mofokeng gone to Europe, a vacancy emerges in the PSL for a new young talisman. Club insiders and observers believe Mahlambi has already shown he has the attributes to seize that role.

For 19-year-old Ivorian midfielder Cisse, the scenario is slightly different. He is reported to have already followed Mofokeng to Belgium, joining Royal Charleroi SC – a move that could accelerate his development away from the South African spotlight.

Awards as pre-season “pep talk”

With clubs deep into their pre-season programmes and the transfer market taking shape following Mofokeng’s European switch, the PSL is positioning Monday’s ceremony as more than just a glitzy conclusion.

By highlighting emerging stars such as Mahlambi and Cisse alongside established headline acts like Mofokeng and Mokoena, the league hopes the awards will act as a collective “pep talk” – a reminder that there are places to be claimed, reputations to be made and, crucially, that the race for next season’s honours has already begun.