After completing one of the most successful seasons in the club’s recent history, Orlando Pirates have capped off their campaign by dominating the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Awards, walking away with almost every major individual honour.
Having already lifted the Betway Premiership, MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup trophies, the Buccaneers continued their dominance off the pitch as players and coaching staff were recognised for their performances throughout the 2025/26 season.
The biggest winner of the evening was undoubtedly Relebohile Mofokeng.
The 21-year-old playmaker completed an extraordinary season by winning Footballer of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season, cementing his place as one of South Africa’s brightest football talents before completing his move to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
The Footballer of the Season award is widely regarded as the highest individual honour in South African club football. It recognises the player judged to have had the greatest overall impact throughout the league campaign, considering consistency, influence, performances in key matches and overall contribution to the team’s success.
Winning the Players’ Player of the Season award carries particular significance because the recipient is chosen by fellow professional footballers. The award is often viewed as one of the greatest compliments a player can receive, as it reflects recognition from opponents and teammates who compete against one another throughout the season.
Mofokeng’s performances were central to Pirates’ domestic success, with the young midfielder consistently producing goals, assists and match-winning displays during one of the club’s strongest campaigns in years.
Pirates’ dominance extended well beyond Mofokeng.
Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was named Coach of the Season after guiding the Soweto giants to an impressive domestic treble. The award recognises the coach whose tactical leadership, consistency and overall results stood above the rest of the league.
The Buccaneers also swept several positional awards.
Oswin Appollis was named Midfielder of the Season, while Lebone Seema received the Defender of the Season award. Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was recognised as the league’s best shot-stopper after another consistent campaign between the posts, and Pirates also claimed the Goal of the Season award through Cemran Dansin for his strike against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Collectively, the awards underline just how dominant Orlando Pirates were throughout the domestic season, with excellence recognised across every area of the team, from goalkeeping and defence to midfield, coaching and individual brilliance.
The only major Premiership individual award that escaped Pirates was the Golden Boot.
That honour went to Golden Arrows striker Sede Junior Dion, who finished the league campaign with 14 goals, making him the Premiership’s top scorer.
Unlike the Footballer of the Season award, which considers a player’s overall contribution, the Golden Boot is awarded purely to the player who scores the most league goals during the season.
The shortlist for Footballer of the Season reflected the quality of performers across the league.
Alongside Mofokeng, Teboho Mokoena and Oswin Appollis were nominated after outstanding individual campaigns, but it was the Pirates star who ultimately claimed South African football’s highest individual accolade.
The evening also paused to honour one of South African football’s brightest talents.
Late Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams was posthumously presented with the PSL Chairman’s Award, with league chairman Dr Irvin Khoza paying tribute to his contribution to South African football.
The Chairman’s Award is reserved for individuals whose impact extends beyond statistics, recognising exceptional contribution, service or legacy within the game.
For Orlando Pirates, however, the night ultimately belonged to a club that transformed domestic dominance into individual recognition.
After lifting three major trophies during the season, the PSL Awards served as confirmation of what many supporters had witnessed throughout the campaign: Pirates were not only the country’s most successful team, but also home to many of its standout performers.