South African stars and coaches took home big prizes at the inaugural 2023 Cosafa Awards staged in a glittering gala dinner at the Sandton Convention Centre on Thursday night.
A few of the greatest southern African legends, including Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey, Kalusha Bwalya, and Dipsy Selolwane, attended the event.
There were eight player and coach awards, four referee prizes, and five lifetime achievement recipients as Cosafa honoured those who have made an impact in the region.
The awards covered the period from January 2023 to December 2023.
Tau scoops top award
Bafana Bafana and Al Ahly forward Percy Tau, who was not present at the ceremony, scooped the best player accolade.
He beat Zambian international Lameck Banda, as well as Namibian and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile.
Tau led Ahly to CAF Champions League and Egyptian Premier League success and scored for the Red Devils at the Fifa Club World Cup in what was an eye-catching 2023 for the former Brighton & Hove Albion star.
“It is an honour to receive this award; it means so much to be recognised by our region,” Tau said through a recorded video.
“It has always been my goal to represent my country and southern Africa at the highest level and to give hope to those that come from a similar background to me.”
Mokwena on cloud nine
The Sundowns trio of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, forward Thapelo Maseko, and coach Rulani Mokwena all came out on top in their respective categories.
Williams walked away with the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, while Maseko was voted the Men’s Most Promising Player.
For his success in the African Football League with Sundowns, Mokwena was the undisputed Men’s Coach of the Year.
Banyana goalkeeper Andile Dlamini won the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, while coach Desiree Ellis scooped the Women’s Coach of the Year accolade ahead of Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala.
Other winners included former referee Victor Gomes as the Cosafa Referee Legend, while Janine van Wyk and renowned football journalist and commentator Mark Gleeson were bestowed with the Player and Media Lifetime Achievement awards, respectively.
Cosafa awards’ winners:
Men’s Player of the Year
Percy Tau (South Africa)
Women’s Player of the Year
Racheal Kundananji (Zambia)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Rulani Mokwena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Dr Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies & South Africa)
Men’s Most Promising Player
Thapelo Maseko (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
Women’s Most Promising Player
Leticia Chinyamula (Ascent Academy & Malawi)
Cosafa: Best Male Referee
Jerson Dos Santos (Angola)
Cosafa: Best Female Referee
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)
Cosafa Most Promising Referee
Tsiaro Randriambololoma (Madagascar)
Cosafa Referee Legend
Victor Gomes (South Africa)
Lifetime Achievement for Services as a Player
Janine van Wyk
Lifetime Achievement in Services to Refereeing
Felix Tangawarima
Lifetime Achievement in Services to Women’s Football
Fran Hilton-Smith
Lifetime Achievement in Services to Coaching
Sunday Chidzambwa
Lifetime Achievement in Services to the Media
Mark Gleeson
