The 2025/26 Premier Soccer League season was nothing short of excitement, ecstasy, emotions, and jampacked action, with the two-horse league title race seeing Orlando Pirates topple Mamelodi Sundowns on the last day to claim their first PSL crown since the 2012 season.
Sundowns, though, may have lost a title that they managed to lift eight times in a row, to win the CAF Champions League, which they last won a decade ago.
We also saw Kaizer Chiefs complete their best-ever league finish in six years, when co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef guided them to the number three spot and qualified for the CAF Confederations Cup next season.
The new kids on the block, Orbit College, unfortunately suffered automatic relegation after their loss to Orlando Pirates in their final league match.
Sipho Chaine (Goalkeeper of the Season)
There is a famous old sports maxim by Sir Alex Ferguson that goes: “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.” And that was the case with Pirates this season, as Sipho Chaine’s 21 clean sheets in 30 games were key in helping the team win the league title.
With his new record at play, the Bafana Bafana shotstopper will most likely defend his Goalkeeper of the Season crown.
Relebohile Mofokeng (Player of the Season)
Captain Yama2000, as the young starlet is known, will most likely upgrade to the Player of the Season category, as his performances, especially in the second half of the season, pushed Pirates to their first league title in 14 years.
Mofokeng was key in the Buccaneers winning the league this season, and his emotional reaction after the final game against Orbit was evident in what the title meant to him in what is potentially his final season at the club.
Brandon Petersen (Goalkeeper of the Season)
After a jaw-dropping second half of the season performance between the sticks for Amakhosi, Brandon Petersen will surely be part of the Goalkeeper of the Season conversation.
Petersen was outstanding in helping Chiefs complete a third-place finish with his match-winning saves and reflexes in goals.
He was second in the clean sheets leaderboard with 15.
The 31-year-old may have lost a place in the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad, but he won the hearts of football fans across the country.
Teboho Mokoena (Midfielder of the Season)
His performance in the CAF Champions League second leg final against AS FAR was a reminder of why Teboho Mokoena is regarded as one of the best players in his generation.
The midfield workhorse improves every time he steps on the pitch and will surely be in contention for the Midfielder of the Season accolade alongside teammate Jayden Adams, Marcelo Allende, and Nuno Santos. Thalente Mbatha, Lebohang Maboe and Golden Arrows youngster Siyanda “Skhwishi” Ndlovu will also make this category one of the toughest to decide, as they also showed up this past season.
Oswin Appollis (Player of the Season)
The consistency of Oswin Appollis in the Orlando Pirates jersey in his first season at the club was second to none.
Appollis may not have single-handedly carried Pirates to the league title, but he was probably the most important player and the heartbeat of coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team.
The World Cup-bound Bafana star will be up there with teammate Relebohile Mofokeng as one of the best players this season.
Lebone Seema (Defender of the Season)
Arguably one of the most underrated players this season, Orlando Pirates’ emerging star Lebone Seema was instrumental in helping Chaine attain the record 21 clean sheets.
Abdeslam Ouaddou (Coach of the Season)
The lanky Moroccan-French mentor will go down as one of the best coaches at Pirates, as he managed to deliver a league title in his first season at the club.
Ouaddou picked up from where his predecessor, Jose Riveiro, left off and was successful in toppling Sundowns in the league.
- Orlando Pirates won the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League title, their first since 2012, by overtaking Mamelodi Sundowns on the final day.
- Mamelodi Sundowns, despite losing the league, won the CAF Champions League, their first in a decade.
- Kaizer Chiefs achieved their best league finish in six years, securing third place and qualification for the CAF Confederations Cup.
- Key individual awards and recognitions highlighted include Sipho Chaine as Goalkeeper of the Season and Relebohile Mofokeng likely Player of the Season for Pirates.
- Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was named Coach of the Season after leading Pirates to the league title in his debut season.
We also saw Kaizer Chiefs complete their best-ever league finish in six years, when co-coaches Cedric Kaze and
Sipho Chaine (Goalkeeper of the Season)
Relebohile
Captain Yama2000, as the young starlet is known, will most likely upgrade to the Player of the Season category, as his performances, especially in the second half of the season, pushed Pirates to their first league title in 14 years.
After a jaw-dropping second half of the season performance between the sticks for
Petersen was outstanding in helping Chiefs complete a third-place finish with his match-winning saves and reflexes in goals.
He was second in the clean sheets leaderboard with 15.
Teboho Mokoena (Midfielder of the Season)
His performance in the CAF Champions League second leg final against AS FAR was a reminder of why Teboho Mokoena is regarded as one of the best players in his generation.
Oswin Appollis (Player of the Season)
Appollis may not have single-handedly carried Pirates to the league title, but he was probably the most important player and the heartbeat of coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team.
Lebone Seema (
Arguably one of the most underrated players this season,
Abdeslam Ouaddou (Coach of the Season)
Ouaddou picked up from where his predecessor, Jose Riveiro, left off and was successful in toppling
