The highly anticipated 2025 Premier Soccer League (PSL) Awards have finally come and gone, and as expected, fans have opinions…lots of them.
The annual PSL Awards serve as a space to celebrate standout performances from players, coaches and officials. Despite previously being held in June, this year was different as the league had to delay proceedings to July instead due to the champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, participating in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Although the awards are based on the league, they also cover significant performances in tournaments such as the Nedbank Cup, MTN 8, Diski Challenge and the Carling Knockout Cup.
The winners were announced as follows:
Footballer of the Season: Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Players’ Player of the Season: Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Goal of the Season: Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Top Goalscorer (Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot): Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns), scoring 16 goals
• Coach of the Season: Miguel Cardoso (Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Midfielder of the Season: Makhehleni Makhaula (Orlando Pirates)
• Defender of the Season: Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates)
• Goalkeeper of the Season: Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates)
• Young Player of the Season (U‑21): Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
• MTN8 Last Man Standing: Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
With South Africa being an incredibly passionate soccer nation, it comes as no surprise that these selections garnered some mixed reactions from fans, as some agree with them, while others believe their favourite player should have come away with more.
Selections such as Orlando Pirates’ rising star Relebogile Mofokeng as the Young Player of the Season have garnered some backlash, as some fans believe there were a number of youngsters who pulled off better performances throughout the season. However, Lucas Ribeiro’s nod as Player of the Season appears to have been more accepted by the masses.
Both in a row I get it they didn’t want to give it khoza but nkota deserved it
You can’t win young player of the season twice in a row
— Lifeofaghettostar (@ghettostar_22) July 29, 2025
I really wanted Rele Mofokeng to win POTS n FOTS… I would have loved seeing them cry blood ryt now
Anyway this Brazilian reject deserves it really…👏🏿👏🏿 pic.twitter.com/u0tnOnndGP
— TT (@titi_titzz) July 30, 2025
Orlando Pirates got their ass whipped in the PSL, Nedbank Cup, CAF Champions and Carling Cup so their chairman put players in almost every category to console them with awards #PSLAwards25 #PSLAwards2025 pic.twitter.com/Kl8nAacSd0
— Thato (@t_thatomokhele) July 29, 2025
Also see: South Africans remember the disbanded Scorpions amid high profile allegations
