THE 2025/2026 PSL Awards on Monday, July 27th, are going to once again break away from the culture of a “season-ending party”, and instead will serve more as a motivation for players that there are seats up for grabs in the upcoming season
League champions Orlando Pirates are expected to dominate proceedings as they account for the lion’s share of nominations. In fact, they completely dominate the PSL Players’ Player of the Season category, in which they have Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, and Kamogelo Sebelebele.
Mamelodi Sundowns follow closely behind, while CAF Confederation Cup-bound Durban City feature in at least two Nedbank Cup categories following their exploits in winning the last cup silverware of the season.
The mighty Kaizer Chiefs are nominated in three categories, including Coach and Goalkeeper of the Season, but their only realistic chance lies with Glody Lilepo in the Goal of the Season category.
With teams already deep in their respective pre-season programmes, and the transfer window having taken a clear direction following Mofokeng’s move to Belgium, the awards ceremony should serve primarily as a pep talk for all players ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
Mofokeng is the frontrunner in four categories: Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season, Midfielder of the Season, and Young Player of the Season.
Sundowns’ Teboho Mokoena and fellow Bafana Bafana winger Appollis are giving him a run for his money in the big categories — Player of the Season, Players’ Player, and Midfielder of the Season.
However, it is the players with whom he is competing for the Young Player of the Season award — Seluleko Mahlambi of TS Galaxy and Isaac Cissé of Lamontville Golden Arrows — who stand to gain the most encouragement when the ceremony takes place on Monday.
21-year-old Mahlambi had a breakthrough season and remained a livewire for Galaxy, even after the Mbombela-based side opened their doors and sold some of their best players, including Sebelebele, Lebone Seema, and Puso Dithejane.
As a result of his exploits last season, Mahlambi is reported to be at the top of the list of players wanted by both Soweto giants, Chiefs and Pirates.
Even though Galaxy are a selling club, it would greatly benefit Mahlambi’s development to stay at least one more season with the Rockets.
Whether he stays or is sold is not up to him, but using the nomination and ongoing speculation surrounding his name as fuel to reach the standard of peers like Mofokeng is entirely down to him.
Mofokeng is a fan favourite, and with him gone, there will be an opening next season for someone to fill that void. Mahlambi has shown he has the capability.
It would much of the same situation for 19-year-old Cissé; however, the Ivorian midfielder is reported to have already followed Mofokeng to Belgium, joining Royal Charleroi SC.
