The PSL awards are known for sparking controversy and debate, but the voting and selection process has long remained shrouded in secrecy.
FARPost sheds light on the decision-makers and the steps involved in determining the winners of each prestigious award.
HOW THE FOOTBALLER OF THE SEASON IS PICKED?
The 16 DStv Premiership head coaches picked the nominees and cast their votes. Each club’s head coach had a single vote and was not permitted to vote for players from their own team.
Two DStv Premiership coaches who cast their votes this season have revealed that no minimum number of games was specified for players to be eligible for the Footballer of the Season award.
The candidates are judged based on performances in the DStv Premiership, MTN8, Nedbank Cup, and the Carling Knockout Cup.
“We received voting forms detailing the award criteria and instructing us to choose our three top picks for Footballer of the Season. After that, the club submitted the form to the league electronically,” explained a coach who voted.
An audit was then performed to ensure the accuracy of the results. The three players who receive the most votes, based on their performance across all domestic competitions, are revealed as the nominees for the award.
The 2023/24 season nominees are the Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, and Stellenbosch FC’s Iqraam Rayners.
DSTV PREMIERSHIP PLAYER’S PLAYER OF THE SEASON
The DStv Premiership players could nominate and vote for this award. Each club could cast up to 30 votes, but players were restricted from voting for their teammates.
This award differs from the Footballer of the Season accolade in that it focuses solely on performances within the DStv Premiership.
However, it’s very much possible that performances would also influence players in other competitions. Voting forms were distributed to all players participating in at least one DStv Premiership match.
These forms outline the award criteria and require players to select their top choices. Once completed, the clubs collect the forms and submit them electronically to the league. The league then tallies the votes, and an audit is conducted to ensure accuracy.
Based solely on their league performances, the three players with the highest vote totals are announced as the DStv Premiership Player’s Player of the Season award nominees. Williams, Rayners and Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi earned nominations in this category.
THE FIVE PSL AWARDS PICKED BY JOURNALISTS, ANALYSTS AND COMMENTATORS
A panel of esteemed football journalists, analysts, and commentators determined the nominees and winners for the remaining award categories.
The panel consists of individuals who consistently watch league matches as part of their professional roles. The award is for performances in the DStv Premiership only.
A panel of esteemed football journalists determines the following awards: DStv Coach of the Season, DStv Young Player of the Season, DStv Goalkeeper of the Season, DStv Defender of the Season and DStv Midfielder of the Season.
For the DStv Premiership Coach of the Season award, Steve Barker (Stellenbosch FC) is a contender alongside Rhulani Mokwena (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Jose Riveiro (Orlando Pirates). Williams, Badra Sangare [Sekhukhune United] and Sage Stephens [Stellenbosch FC] are vying for the Goalkeeper of the Season accolade.
CUP TOURNAMENT AWARDS
The awards are exclusively given for outstanding performances in the respective cup competitions and are determined by a panel of journalists, analysts, and commentators.
For each tournament, the PSL selects a panel of journalists, analysts, and commentators to participate in the voting process.
These panellists cast their votes, which are then tallied by the PSL. The accolades include the MTN8 Last Man Standing, Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament, Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament and Carling Knockout Cup Player of the Tournament.
Orlando Pirates players Sipho Chaine, Zakhele Lepasa, and Maswanganyi are all up for the MTN8 Last Man Standing award.
Stellenbosch FC dominates the Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament category with nominations for Thabo Moloisane, Devin Titus, and Rayners. In the Nedbank Cup awards, Orlando Pirates’ Tshegofatso Mabasa, Maswanganyi, and Rayners are contenders for Player of the Tournament.
The Most Promising Player category features Shandre Campbell (SuperSport United), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), and Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC).
DSTV DISKI CHALLENGE PLAYER OF THE SEASON DISKI
Challenge head coaches were responsible for nominating and voting for this award. Each club’s head coach had one vote and could not vote for players from their own team.
Cape Town City’s Jody Ah Shene, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ntando Nkosi, and Stellenbosch FC’s Langelihle Phili were the nominees for the DStv Diski Challenge Player of the Season award.
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