Orlando Pirates attacker Thembinkosi “Nyoso” Lorch was the biggest winner at the Premier Soccer League awards that took place at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) on Sunday night.
Lorch took home the much sought after Footballer of the year award and the all-important Players’ Player of the Year award.
PSL Footballer of the season and ABSA Premiership Players Player of the season
Thembinkosi (Nyoso) Lorch #PSLAwards19 pic.twitter.com/hN3ldrHllh
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 19, 2019
In both awards, he beat competition from the Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Hlompo Kekana and Themba Zwane.
Lorch had played a critical role in the Absa Premiership campaign this season which saw Pirates being pipped by two points by Sundowns to the finishing line.
Having played a total of 40 matches with 15 goals and five assists, Lorch is not surprised that fellow PSL players and the coaches have voted for him in this award.
After winning his record-equaling fourth league title this season, Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane pipped Pirates head coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic and Cape Town City’s Benni McCarthy to the coach of the season award.
Mosimane not only successfully defended his league title but this award too.
After years’ of playing second fiddle in these awards, Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana finally took home the midfielder of the season award beating his teammate Themba “Mshishi” Zwane and Lorch to it.
It’s been a special season for Kekana, playing over 50 matches in all competitions this season and he’s happy to have finally won this award.
After producing 12 clean sheets and played in all the 30 matches this season for Supersport United, Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen “Ronza” Williams deservedly got the goalkeeper of the season award ahead of Sundowns’ Denis Onyango and Cape Town City’s Peter Leeuwenburgh.
After years of being voted into the top three, Williams excited to have finally won this award.
#PSLAward19 Chairman’s award recipient Sugar Ray Xulu.
Dr Khoza awarded him with the award last night. pic.twitter.com/wb5bIpw4kM
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 20, 2019
PSL Footballer of the Season: Thembinkosi Lorch
Absa Premiership awards
Goalkeeper of the Season: Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)
Defender of the Season: Ricardo Nascimento (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Midfielder of the Season: Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Young Player of the Season: Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United)
Absa-lutely Awesome Goal: Vincent Pule
Top Scorer: Mwape Musonda (Black Leopards, 15 goals)
Coach of the Season: Pitso Mosimane
Players’ player of the season: Thembinkosi Lorch
Assistant Referee of the Season: Emmanuel De Sani
Referee of the Season: Abongile Tom
Dr Khoza:
“I have a dream that soon we will have an all-South African final in the @CAF_Online Champions League. I have a feeling we are moving closer to that dream.” #PSLAwards19— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 19, 2019
#PSLAwards19
Chairman’s Award recipients:– Sugar Ray Xulu
– Siyabonga Nomvethe
– Lindiwe Dube @LindiweDube— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 19, 2019
– Report by Velile Mnyandu
